Areas of Interest: Globalizing knowledge institutions, networks, and media; cultural articulation of democracy, peace, and energy security
Michael D. Kennedy is professor of international studies at the Institute and professor in Brown's Department of Sociology. Professor Kennedy explores the relationship between knowledge practices and global transformations.
Beginning with studies of intellectuals and professionals in East European social movements and systemic change (e.g. Professionals, Power and Solidarity [1991], Cultural Formations of Postcommunism[2002]), Kennedy now works on cultural politics, knowledge networks and global transformations. His most recent publications have addressed the European Union, universities, social movements, and energy security in these terms.
He has also explored these relationships in academic administration; he served as the University of Michigan's first Vice Provost for International Affairs and founding director of its Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia and Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies; director of its International Institute, Center for Russian and East European Studies, Center for European Studies/European Union Center for Excellence, and Program for the Comparative Study of Social Transformations; as well as the Howard R. Swearer Director of the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University. He currently serves as Executive Committee chair of the Social Science Research Council's Board of Directors.
Kennedy has received awards in recognition of his teaching, including the University of Michigan's Class of 1923 Memorial Teaching Award and the University Teaching Award. Poland's President, Aleksander Kwasniewski, presented Kennedy with the Gold Cross of Merit to recognize the contributions he made to scholarship and education about Poland.
Follow Michael Kennedy on Twitter @Prof_Kennedy.
