profile image for Stephen Deets

Stephen Deets

  • Professor
Academic Division: History & Society
781-239-6419
Stephen Deets is a Professor of Politics, teaching courses on international and comparative politics, ethnic conflict, and sustainability.

With a strong background in post-communist democratization, his research focuses on a variety of issues related to ethnic politics, particularly ideas of minority rights, institutional forms involved in minority rights protection and representation, and how ethnic politics can impact public policy. He has published on Hungarian nationality policies, elections in East Europe and Lebanon, and social services in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Lebanon. In addition, he has co-authored several articles on sustainability in management education.

Before receiving his Ph.D., he spent a decade at the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Responsible for cooperation with the East European academies, he organized projects on nuclear non-proliferation, terrorism, small business development and entrepreneurship, and a host of environmental issues.

Academic Degrees

  • Ph D, University of Maryland, Department of Government and Politics
  • MA, Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs
  • BA, The Johns Hopkins University

Academic Interest / Expertise

Comparative Politics; International Politics; Postcommunism; Ethnic Conflict

Courses

  • Degree Courses 2025

    • FCI 1000 FOUNDATIONS OF CRITICAL INQUIRY
  • Degree Courses 2024

    • HSS 2028 GLOBAL POLITICS
    • SES 2000 SOCIO-ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS
  • Degree Courses 2023

    • HSS 2033 COMPARATIVE POLITICS
    • FCI 1000 FOUNDATIONS OF CRITICAL INQUIRY
    • HSS 2028 GLOBAL POLITICS

Publications

Journal Articles

  • Deets, S.G., Abou Harb, L. (2024). Understanding Cycles of Protest and Elections in Lebanon. Contemporary Arab Affairs. Vol: 17, Issue: 3. Brill. link
  • Deets, S.G. (2024). Protest, Violence, and Illiberal Populism in Turkey 2013-2019. Middle East Policy. Taylor and Francis. link
  • Deets, S.G. (2023). Liberal Democratic Mayors in Illiberal Populist Regimes: Istanbul's Challenges. Nationalities Papers. link
  • Deets, S.G. (2023). Liberal Mayors in Illiberal Regimes: Budapest’s Challenges. Problems of Postcommunism. link
  • Erzurumlu, S.S., Deets, S.G., Nersessian, D., Rodgers, V.L. (2023). Strategic Engagement of Business with Sustainable Development Goals: A Systems Thinking Approach. Business Strategy and the Environment. Wiley. link
  • Deets, S.G. (2022). To Hope or Not to Hope: Liberalism, Neoliberalism, and Learning from Lebanon’s 2022 Elections. Nationalism and Ethnic Politics. link
  • Deets, S.G. (2022). Understanding Weak Local Governance in the Neoliberal City through the Case of Skopje 2014. Communist and Post-Communist Studies. Vol: 55, Issue: 3, Page: 1-23. link
  • Deets, S.G., Rodgers, V.L., Erzurumlu, S.S., Nersessian, D. (2020). Systems Thinking as a Tool for Teaching Undergraduate Business Students Humanistic Management. Humanistic Management Journal. link
  • Deets, S.G., Skulte-Ouaiss, J. (2020). Breaking Into A Consociational System: Civic Parties in Lebanon’s 2018 Parliamentary Election. Ethnopolitics. Taylor & Francis. link
  • Deets, S.G., McClelland, B. (2018). Europeanization in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Recent Lessons from the Dairy Sector. Problems of Postcommunism. link
  • Deets, S.G. (2018). Consociationalism, Clientelism, and Local Politics in Beirut: Between Civic and Sectarian Identities. Nationalism and Ethnic Politics. Vol: 24, Issue: 2, Page: 133-157. link
  • Deets, S.G., Greenberg, D., Erzurumlu, S.S., Hunt, J.M., Manwaring, M.M., Rodgers, V.L., Swanson, E. (2017). Signing to Living PRME: Learning from a Journey Towards Responsible Management Education. The International Journal of Management Education. Vol: 15, Issue: 2, Page: 205-218.
  • Deets, S.G. (2017). Israel, Palestine and Nonterritorial Governance: A Reconfigured Status Quo. Middle East Policy. Vol: XXIV, Issue: 1, Page: 108-128. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.. link
  • Deets, S.G., Skulte-Ouaiss, J. (2016). Jumping out of the “Hobbesian Fishbowl” and Into the Fire: Lebanon, Elections, and Chronic Crisis. Demokratizatsiya: The Journal of Post-Soviet Democratization. Vol: 24, Issue: 4, Page: 523-540. George Washington University, Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies. link
  • Deets, S.G. (2015). Networks and Communal Autonomy as Practice: Health, Education, and Social Welfare in Lebanon. Ethnopolitics. Vol: 14, Issue: 4, Page: 329-353. Routledge. link
  • Deets, S.G. (2010). Review Essay: Sovereignty, Networks and Norms . Nationalities Papers. Vol: 38, Issue: 4, Page: 561-567.
  • Deets, S.G., Vetterlein , A., Stroschein , S. (2009). Everyday Post-Socialism . Introductory Essay for a Special Forum in Journal of International Relations and Development. Vol: 12, Issue: 4, Page: 349-354.
  • Deets, S.G. (2009). Wizarding the Classroom: Teaching Harry Potter and Politics. PS: Political Science and Politics.
  • Deets, S.G. (2009). Constituting Interests and Identities in a Two-Level Game: Understanding the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros Conflict. Foreign Policy Analysis. Vol: 5, Issue: 1, Page: 37-56. link
  • Deets, S.G., Koubak, K. (2008). The Czech Greens Revived. Environmental Politics. Vol: 17, Issue: 5, Page: 815-821.
  • Deets, S.G. (2008). The Hungarian Status Law and the Specter of Neomedievalism in Europe. Ethnopolitics. Vol: 7, Issue: 2-3, Page: 195-214.
  • Deets, S.G., Dawisha, K. (2006). Political Learning in Post-communist Elections. East European Politics and Societies. Vol: 20, Issue: 4, Page: 691-728.
  • Deets, S.G. (2006). Public Policy in the Passive-Aggressive State: Health Care Reform in Bosnia-Herzegovina 1996-2001. Europe-Asia Studies. Vol: 58, Issue: 1, Page: 57-80.
  • Deets, S.G. (2006). Re-imagining the Boundaries of the Nation: Politics and the Development of Ideas on Minority Rights. East European Politics and Societies. Vol: 20, Issue: 3, Page: 419-446.
  • Deets, S.G. (2005). Constitutionalism and Identity in Eastern Europe. Nationalities Papers. Vol: 33, Issue: 4, Page: 489-516.
  • Deets, S.G., Stroschein, S. (2005). Dilemmas of Autonomy and Liberal Pluralism: Examples Involving Hungarians in Central Europe. Nations and Nationalism. Vol: 11, Issue: 2, Page: 285-305.
  • Deets, S.G. (2002). Liberal Pluralism: Does the West Have Any to Export?. Journal of Ethnopolitics and Minority Issues in Europe. Issue: 4.
  • Deets, S.G., Stroschein, S. (2002). Minorities, Kin States, and the 2001 Hungarian Status Law. Analysis of Current Events. Vol: 14, Issue: 1, Page: 14-18.
  • Deets, S.G. (2002). Reconsidering East European Minority Policies: Liberal Theory and European Norms. East European Politics and Society. Vol: 16, Issue: 1, Page: 30-53.

Books

  • Deets, S.G., Noble, R., Breymeyer, A. (1996). Biodiversity Conservation in Transboundary Protected Areas . National Academy Press.
  • Deets, S.G. (1993). Romania's Energy Sector: National Academy Press.
  • Deets, S.G. (1993). The Economics of Sustainable Agriculture: American and Bulgarian Perspectives : National Academy Press.

Book Chapters

  • Deets, S.G., DiCarlo , L. (2011). What is the Context? Fostering Entrepreneurial Leaders' Social Awareness: The New Entrepreneurial Leader: Developing Leaders Who Shape Social and Economic Opportunity. Page: 184-201. Berett-Koehler Publishers, Inc..

Book Reviews

  • Deets, S.G. (2021). Review: Joseph Marko and Sergiu Constantin, eds. Human and minority rights protection by multiple diversity governance: History, law, ideology and politics in European perspective. Routledge, 2019.. Vol: 27, Issue: 4, Page: 517-519. Nationalism and Ethnic Politics. link
  • Deets, S.G. (2011). Book Review: Global Trends in Eastern Europe by Nikolai Genov . Vol: 38, Issue: 5 . Nationalities Papers.
  • Deets, S.G. (2006). Ethnic Politics in Europe: The Power of Norms and Incentives by Judith Kelley: Nations and Nationalism. Vol: 12, Issue: 1, Page: 166-168.
  • Deets, S.G. (2001). From Voting to Violence by Jack Snyder: Nationalities Papers. Page: 252-255.
  • Deets, S.G. (2001). When History Is a Nightmare: Lives and Memories of Ethnic Cleansing in Bosnia-Herzegovina by Steven Weine: Traumatic StressPoints. Vol: 15, Issue: 1.

Conference Proceedings

  • Deets, S.G. (2006). Pulling Back from Neo-Medievalism: International and Domestic Politics of the Hungarian Status Law: The Hungarian Status Law: Nation Building and/or a Minority Protection. Slavic Research Center.
  • Deets, S.G. (2001). Nationalism and Constitutionalism in Eastern Europe: Minorities and Tolerance in Central and Eastern Europe and the NIS: Conference Proceedings. Page: 9-21.
  • Deets, S.G. (1996). National Discourse and the Formation of Irreconcilable Symbols: The Case of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros Dam. Page: 115-132. Institute on East Central Europe, Columbia University.

Other

  • Deets, S.G. (2015). Baltimore is Not Ferguson. Monkey Cage Blog, Washington Post. link
  • Deets, S.G., Jenne, E. (2010). Political Context Matters: The Banality of Hungary's Dual Citizenship Law and Slovakia's Response : Dual Citizenship for Transborder Minorities? How to Respond to the Hungarian-Slovak Tit-for-Tat. EUDO Citizenship Forum. link
  • Deets, S.G. (2005). Reflecting on the Balkans: Pentecost. Theater Department of Miami University of Ohio.
  • Deets, S.G., Baker, J., Bosch, D., Bukaveckas, P., Hatfield, K., Zale, A. (1995). Agricultural Impacts on Water Quality in Lithuania and Latvia: Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Page: 128-136.

Presentations

  • Creating the Opposition in Lebanon's 2022 Election Deets, S. Skulte-Ouaiss, J. Abou Harb, L. International Studies Association Summer Conference, Ifrane, Morocco (2023)
  • Effectiveness of Liberalizing Mayor in Illiberal Populist Regimes Deets, S. Association for the Study of Nationalities Convention, ew (2023)
  • High Stakes, Taboos and Risks in the Classroom: Opportunities for Creativity Deets, S. International Studies Association Annual Convention, Montreal, Canada (2023)
  • Liberal Mayors in Illiberal Regimes: The Case of Budapest Deets, S. Association for the Studies of Nationalities, Online (2022)
  • Protest, Violence, and Illiberal Populism in Turkey 2013-2020 Deets, S. Patriotism, Protest Politics and Political Violence, Belfast, UK (2022)
  • Liberal Mayors in Illiberal Regimes: The Case of Istanbul Deets, S. Babson Faculty Research Seminar, Babson College (2022)
  • Liberal Mayors in Illiberal Regimes: The Case of Istanbul Deets, S. International Studies Association Annual Convention, Nashville, TN (2022)
  • From a Status Quo Election to Nationwide Protest: Understanding Anti-System Sentiment in Lebanon Deets, S. International Studies Association Annual Convention, Online (2021)
  • Teaching During the Pandemic: Reflections on an Unusual Year Deets, S. International Studies Association Annual Convention, Online (2021)
  • Skopje 2014: The Local Politics of Nationalism and Kitsch in a Neo-Liberal City Deets, S. CEEISA-ISA Joint International Conference, Belgrade, Serbia (2019)
  • Skopje 2014: Local Citizenship and the Politics of Kitsch in a Neo-Liberal City Deets, S. International Studies Association Annual Convention, Toronto, Canada (2019)
  • The Iron Law of Lebanese Electoral Outcomes: Heads, the Elites Win; Tails, the Voters Lose Deets, S. Skulte-Ouaiss, J. International Studies Association Annual Convention, Toronto, Canada (2019)
  • Building a Lexicon of Sustainability Deets, S. Aspen Undergraduate Consortium: Featuring the Teaching of Business, Cophenhagen, Denmark (2018)
  • Consociationalism, Clientelism, and Local Politics in Beirut: Between Civic and Sectarian Identities Deets, S. Center for European Studies Conference, Glasgow, Scotland (2017)
  • Urban Politics as Arenas for Creating Civic Identity: Elections, Garbage, and Sectarianism in Beirut Deets, S. Association for the Study of Nationalities Annual Convention, New York, NY (2017)
  • Citizens Before Elections or Elections Before Citizens? Deets, S. Skulte-Ouaiss, J. International Studies Association, Baltimore, MD (2017)
  • Nationalism, Europeanization, and Bosnian Agricultural Policy Deets, S. Assocation of the Study of Nationalities Annual Convention, New York, NY (2016)
  • Nationalism, Europeanization, and Economic Interests: The Politics  of Srpksa Dairy Farmers Deets, S. International Studies Association Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA (2016)
  • Communalism and Care: Health, Education, and Social Welfare in Lebanon Deets, S. 18th Annual Association for the Study of Nationalities World Convention, New York, NY (2013)
  • Israel, the Palestinian Territories, and Non-Territorial Governance: Envisioning a Reconfigured Status Quo Deets, S. Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, San Francisco, CA (2013)
  • Communalism and Care: Social Welfare and Health Care in Lebanon Deets, S. Central and East European International Studies Convention, Istanbul, Turkey (2011)
  • Deets, S. Communalism and Care: Social Welfare and Healthcare in Lebanon, Canada (2011)
  • Networks and Composite States: Rethinking Minority Representation and Governance Deets, S. , New York (2010)
  • Networks and Composite States: Rethinking Minority Representation and Governance Deets, S. , New Orleans, LA (2010)
  • The Institutions and Unfulfilled Visions of the Sami Deets, S. , New York (2009)
  • The Institutions and Unfulfilled Visions of the Sami Deets, S. Undisclosed, New York, NY (2009)
  • The European Roma and Travellers Forum: National Autonomy or Interest Group Nationalism? Deets, S. Undisclosed, New York, NY (2008)
  • Regionalism without Regions Deets, S. , San Francisco, CA (2008)
  • Regionalism without Regions Deets, S. Undisclosed, San Francisco, CA (2008)
  • The European Roma and Travellers Forum: National Autonomy or Interest Group Nationalism? Deets, S. Undisclosed, San Francisco, CA (2008)
  • National Autonomy in a Neo-Medieval European Empire Deets, S. Undisclosed, Chicago, IL (2007)
  • Post-Modern Community in an Age of Jihad vs. McWorld: Islamic Banking in the U.S. and Europe Deets, S. Undisclosed, Chicago, IL (2007)
  • Examining the Boundaries of Europe: The Impact of European Minority Rights Norms in Central Asia and the Caucasus Deets, S. Berdieva, D. Global Democracy Conference, Farmville, VA (2007)
  • Reds, Greens, Blues and Browns: Party Development, Electoral Volatility and On-Going Surprises in East European Elections Deets, S. East European Studies Noon Discussion, Undisclosed (2006)
  • Examining the Boundaries of Europe: The Impact of European Minority Rights Norms in Central Asia and the Caucasus Deets, S. Berdieva , D. Undisclosed, New York, NY (2005)
  • Examining the Boundaries of Europe: The Impact of European Minority Rights Norms in Central Asia and the Caucasus Deets, S. Berdieva, D. Undisclosed, Honolulu, Hawaii (2005)
  • Pulling Back from Neo-Medievalism: Domestic and International Politics of the Hungarian Status Law Deets, S. Conference on The Status Law Syndrome: a Post-communist Nation Building or Post-Modern Citizenship?, Budapest, Hungary (2004)
  • The Hungarian Status Law and the Coming of Neomedievalism in Europe Deets, S. Undisclosed, Chicago, IL (2004)
  • Re-imagining the Boundaries of the Nation Deets, S. Conference on The Role of Ideas in Post-Communism, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg (2004)
  • The Hungarian Status Law and the Coming of Neomedievalism in Europe Deets, S. Undisclosed, New York, NY (2004)
  • The Hungarian Status Law and the Coming of Neomedievalism in Europe Deets, S. International Studies Association Convention, Montreal (2004)
  • eral Pluralism, Immigration, and the Strange Politics of Pim Fortuyn Deets, S. Undisclosed, Philadelphia, PA (2003)
  • Liberal Pluralism, Immigration, and the Strange Politics of Pim Fortuyn Deets, S. International Studies Association Convention, Portland, OR (2003)
  • Health Care Reform in the Passive-Aggressive State Deets, S. American Political Science Association, Boston, MA (2002)
  • Meanings of Minority Autonomy in Liberal Democracies Deets, S. Stroschein, S. Association for the Study of Nationalities Convention, New York, NY (2002)
  • Meanings of Minority Autonomy in Liberal Democracies Deets, S. Stroschein, S. International Studies Association Convention, New Orleans, LA (2002)
  • Health Care Reform in the Passive-Aggressive State Deets, S. International Studies Association Convention, New Orleans, LA (2002)
  • Meanings of Minority Autonomy in Liberal Democracies Deets, S. Stroschein, S. American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, Washington, DC (2001)
  • Meanings of Minority Autonomy in Liberal Democracies Deets, S. Stroschein, S. American Political Science Association, San Francisco, CA (2001)
  • Nationalism and Constitutionalism in Eastern Europe Deets, S. Minorities and Tolerance in Central and Eastern Europe and the NIS: Conference Proceedings , Washington, DC (2001)
  • Reconsidering East European Minority Policy: Liberal Theory and European Norms Deets, S. Association for the Study of Nationalities, New York, NY (2001)
  • Constitutionally Guaranteed Minority Rights in Central and Eastern Europe Deets, S. Project on Minorities and Tolerance in Central and Eastern Europe and the NIS, Undisclosed (2001)
  • Reconsidering East European Minority Policy: Liberal Theory and European Norms Deets, S. International Studies Association, Chicago, IL (2001)
  • The Politics of Minority Rights in Europe Deets, S. East European Studies Noon Discussion, Undisclosed (2000)
  • The Divine Comedy of Post-communist Elections Deets, S. Dawisha, K. Conference on International Influence on Democratization in Central and Eastern Europe, Prague (2000)
  • Right-Wing Nationalist Parties in Eastern Europe: Searching for the ‘So What?’ Deets, S. American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, St. Louis, MO (1999)
  • Long Live the Revolution?: Deconstructing Cuba’s Socialist Paradise Deets, S. Roundtable at the Center for Post-Communist Societies, University of Maryland (1999)
  • Science, Democracy, and National Symbols in Postcommunist Europe Deets, S. International Studies Association, Washington, DC (1999)
  • The Search for a ‘European’ Solution: The Unresolved Case of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros Dam Conflict Deets, S. East European Studies Noon Discussion, Wilson Center for International Scholars (1998)
  • The Search for a ‘European’ Solution: The Unresolved Case of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros Dam Conflict Deets, S. American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, Boca Raton, FL (1998)
  • Agricultural Impacts on Water Quality in Lithuania and Latvia Deets, S. Baker, J. Bosch, D. Bukaveckas, P. Hatfield, K. Zale, A. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Undisclosed (1995)
MoreGreen Chevron