Jim Butterfield

Director of Graduate Studies, Professor

3352 Friedmann Hall
(269) 387-5696

Personal Web site

Jim Butterfield received his Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame in 1989. His research interests focus on the role civil society organizations play in advocacy and development. He has area specialization in both the former Soviet Union and Africa. Twice visiting associate at the University of Cape Town's Centre for African Studies, he has undertaken projects on development NGOs and policy advocacy, the role of municipal-community service and economic development partnerships, and social mobilization for poverty alleviation in poor communities.

In 2009-10, he was a Fulbright Scholar in Russia based in the political science department at Saratov State University, where in addition to teaching a course on democratization to fourth year students he conducted research on small business associations and advocacy at the local and regional level.

Among his publications are articles in Comparative Politics, Communist and Post-Communist Studies, Middle Eastern Critique, The Journal of Peasant Studies, Comparative Economic Studies and Nationalities Papers, in addition to a co-edited volume (with Judith Sedaitis) on social movements in the former Soviet Union.

Dr. Butterfield has also served as consultant to numerous projects on decollectivization, rural development, land reform and local government reform in Russia and Uzbekistan. Dr. Butterfield's teaching interests include courses on Russian and Central Asian politics, poverty, democratization and institutional design, and other themes in comparative politics.