Steve Crowley

  • Professor of Politics

Education

  • BA, Hamilton College, 1982
  • PhD, University Michigan Ann Arbor, 1993

Biography

Stephen Crowley, professor of the Department of Politics, is a scholar of the politics of Russia and Eastern Europe, with a focus on labor and the political economy of postcommunist transformations. His teaching centers on Russia and Eastern Europe, peace and conflict studies, revolutions, and globalization.

Fall 2024

Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies — POLT 119
Russian and Eurasian Politics — POLT 265

Spring 2025

Revolutions — POLT 211
Social and Political Change in Eastern Europe — POLT 214

Notes

Stephen Crowley Article Published in "The Nation"

June 11, 2024

Professor of Politics and Chair of Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies Stephen Crowley published an article titled "Does Putin Want to End the War in Ukraine? It’s Time to Find Out" in The Nation.

Stephen Crowley Interviewed on Democracy Now

February 28, 2024

Professor of Politics Stephen Crowley was interviewed on Democracy Now about funding for Ukraine and ways to bring the war to an end.

Stephen Crowley Article Appeared in "Responsible Statecraft"

February 14, 2024

Professor of Politics Stephen Crowley wrote "Pass Ukraine aid, but make it conditional on ending the war" for Responsible Statecraft.

Stephen Crowley Article Appears in "The Nation"

January 24, 2024

Professor of Politics Stephen Crowley’s article “In Russia, Clear Signs of War Fatigue” appeared in The Nation.

Stephen Crowley Interviewed by BBC World Service

January 10, 2024

Professor of Politics Stephen Crowley was interviewed by the BBC World Service about how the war is affecting Russia's economy.

Stephen Crowley Participated in Roundtable at Tartu Conference on Eurasian Studies

July 11, 2023

Stephen Crowley participated in the Plenary Roundtable entitled “Putin’s War: What Future for Russia?” at the Seventh Annual Tartu Conference on Eurasian Studies, at the University of Tartu, Estonia. He also served on the conference program committee, and presented a paper entitled "Sanctions, Economic Hardship, and Social (In)Stability in Russia."

Stephen Crowley Presented a Talk at University of California, Berkeley

November 9, 2022

Stephen Crowley presented a talk entitled “Sanctions, Economic Hardship, and Social (In)stability in Russia” at the University of California, Berkeley’s Institute for Slavic, Eastern European and Eurasian Studies. He published an article with the same title on the website Riddle. He was interviewed by the BBC World Service about the impact of sanctions on Russian society and potential for social protest.

Stephen Crowley Writes article with Hardy Merriman '21 for The Hill

March 31, 2022

Professor of Politics Stephen Crowley co-wrote with Hardy Merriman '21 “How the Russian people can end Putin's war” for The Hill. Crowley also participated in a “Ukrainathon,” a 24-hour marathon of expert lectures in support of Ukraine. He gave an extended interview about Russia and Ukraine to the Archipelago, a radio program (and podcast) based in Athens, Greece.

Stephen Crowley Discusses His Recent Book in Podcast

March 1, 2022

Professor of Politics Stephen Crowley recorded an interview about his recent book, Putin's Labor Dilemma, on the SRB Podcast. In November and December 2021 Crowley was a fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study at the University of Bologna.

Stephen Crowley Gives Book Talk at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars

October 25, 2021

Professor of Politics Stephen Crowley gave talk on his book, Putin's Labor Dilemma, at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars in Washington, DC.  Watch a video of the event here.

Stephen Crowley publishes new book, 'Putins's Labor Dilemma'

August 26, 2021

The latest book by Professor of Politics Stephen Crowley, Putin's Labor Dilemma: Russian Politics Between Stability and Stagnation, is now out from Cornell University Press. The book questions the popular assumption that Russia's workers are Putin's "core supporters," and explores the challenges the Russian leadership faces between undertaking painful reforms to boost economic growth, and preventing economic grievances from leading to demands for political change.

Stephen Crowley Gives Talk, Records Podcast

February 11, 2020

Professor of Politics Stephen Crowley gave a talk on his research and recorded a podcast at the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Russian & East European Studies.

Stephen Crowley Writes Op-Ed

November 25, 2019

Professor of Politics Stephen Crowley wrote an op-ed in the Plain Dealer calling on Senator Rob Portman of Ohio to push back against President Trump's policy on Ukraine to instead promote a peace process in the region.

Stephen Crowley Interviewed

July 31, 2018

Stephen Crowley, professor of politics, was interviewed for WCPN’s The Sound of Ideas and WVIZ’s Ideas to provide perspective on a summit between President Trump and Vladimir Putin.

Stephen Crowley Authors Op-Ed

March 10, 2017

Professor of Politics Stephen Crowley’s opinion piece “To Resist Trump, Divide His Supporters” appeared on Truthout.

Stephen Crowley Selected as Fellow

April 29, 2016

Stephen Crowley, professor of politics, chair of Russian and eastern European Studies, and chair of peace and conflict studies, has been named a Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars fellow. Crowley’s fellowship begins in September and continues through May 2017.

Stephen Crowley Publishes

February 11, 2016

Stephen Crowley, professor of politics, chair of Russian & east European studies, and chair of peace & conflict studies, has co-written the article “Is Putin about to face a ‘colored revolution’?” Co-written by Irina Olimpieva, the article was published in The Washington Post.

Steve Crowley Discusses Ukraine

March 19, 2014

Professor of Politics Stephen Crowley has given two radio interviews recently on the situation in Ukraine. On March 19, he discussed developments in that country on WEOL’s Morning Show When asked if his knowledge of the region had allowed him to sense a crisis was coming, Crowley said, “I don’t think anybody predicted exactly what would happen in Ukraine. But there’s always been tension, particularly centered around Crimea, between Russia and Ukraine.” Noting that Crimea had long been a part of Russia and that its populace is overwhelmingly Russian speaking and Russian oriented, Crowley said “Putin and Russia have seen Crimea as a special case” and that he doesn’t expect Russia will press militarily any further into Ukraine. Crowley’s entire interview is archived on the WEOL website. On February 26, Crowley joined two other panelists for a segment on WCPN’s The Sound of Ideas titled “What Next in Ukraine,” which can be accessed on WCPN’s website.”

Steve Crowley Talks Sochi with WCPN

February 19, 2014

Cleveland NPR affiliate WCPN invited Professor of Russian and Eastern European Studies Steve Crowley to participate in a conversation about the political and security issues of the 13th Olympic games in Sochi, Russia. The program aired Monday, February 10, and is available for listening on the WCPN website.

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