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Bruce W. Jentleson

William Preston Few Distinguished Professor of Public Policy
Sanford School of Public Policy
Box 90312, Durham, NC 27708-0312
122 Rubenstein Hall, Box 90312, Durham, NC 27708-0312

Academic Honors


Duke Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award

University Duke Alumni Association · 2020 More about this honor

Joseph J. Kruzel Award for Distinguished Public Service

Scholarly Society American Political Science Association (APSA) International Security Section · 2018

Engaged Scholar Award

National Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver · 2018

Henry A. Kissinger Chair in Foreign Policy and International Relations

National John W. Kluge Center, Library of Congress · 2015

Distinguished Scholar

National Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. · January 2014

Visiting Research Fellow

University Australia National University, School of Politics and International Relations, Research School of Social Sciences · May 2013

Traditional Fulbright Scholarship

National Council for International Exchange of Scholars · 2007

Visiting Senior Research Fellow

International International Institute for Strategic Studies (London) · 2006

Fulbright Senior Research Scholar

International Fundacion de Relaciones Internacionales y Dialogo Exterior (FRIDE), Madrid, Spain · 2006

Visiting Senior Research Fellow

University Oxford University, Changing Character of War Programme, Center for International Studies and Nuffield College · 2006

Senior Fellow

National United States Institute of Peace · 1999

UC Davis Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research

University UC Davis · 1998

Outstanding Teaching in Political Science

National American Political Science Association · 1998

Guest Scholar

Other Brookings Institution · 1992

Guest Scholar

Other Brookings Institution · 1989

International Affairs Fellow

Other Council on Foreign Relations · 1987

Harold D. Lasswell Award for Best Doctoral Dissertation in the Field of Policy Studies

National American Political Science Association · 1985

News Items


Published October 20, 2025
Bruce Jentleson Appointed to U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Committee on Conscience
Published December 29, 2024
Jimmy Carter Remembered as a ‘Genuine Hero’
Published April 9, 2024
Potential Outcomes from the Israel-Hamas War
Published February 21, 2024
Humanizing the Humanitarian Crisis in the Middle East
Published July 24, 2023
Israel Facing ‘Worst Internal Political Crisis in History,’ Says Duke Expert
Published March 23, 2023
Former Israeli Prime Minister Discusses Middle East Issues
Published September 29, 2022
Protests Grow More Frequent As Young Iranians Demand More Freedoms, Experts Say
Published February 28, 2022
Bruce Jentleson on the Truth About Sanctions
Published February 9, 2022
Neither War Nor Quick Solution Expected in Russia-Ukraine Standoff, Experts Say
Published May 28, 2021
The Washington Post
The E.U. wants to toughen sanctions on Belarus. How likely is that to work?
Published May 26, 2021
EU Sanctions on Belarus ‘May Keep Protasevich Alive,’ Expert Says
Published May 18, 2021
The Christian Science Monitor
Can US be honest broker in Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
Published March 22, 2021
Wisconsin Public Radio
A Look At U.S. Foreign Policy Under Biden Administration
Published January 27, 2021
Policy Ideas for the Biden Administrations First Days
Published January 16, 2021
Keen On Podcast
James Goldgeier and Bruce W. Jentleson on America’s New Role in the World Under Joe Biden
Published January 15, 2021
Council on Foreign Relations
Transition 2021: What Can Biden Get Done?
Published January 11, 2021
Wisconsin Public Radio
The State Of America From The Outside Looking In
Published December 9, 2020
Conversation Six
American Public Opinion and Foreign Policy, with Jordan Tama
Published November 18, 2020
The Christian Science Monitor
Under Biden, State Department needs to be rebuilt. But better.
Published November 14, 2020
New York South East Post
Trump, still not conceding defeat, hails vaccine progress
Published November 13, 2020
Duke Today
Duke in the News: Assessing Election Challenges, Vaccine Optimism
Published November 12, 2020
Microsoft News
Trump’s election attacks sow distrust and pose US security threat, experts warn
Published November 12, 2020
The Guardian
Trump’s election attacks sow distrust and pose US security threat, experts warn
Published November 11, 2020
CBS-17
State elections board addresses ‘rapidly spreading misinformation’ as mail-in ballots continue to be processed
Published November 11, 2020
Duke University
Navigating an Unprecedented Presidential Transition
Published November 11, 2020
CBC Radio-Canada
Trump behaviour damaging Biden transition, says former Gore adviser
Published November 11, 2020
Raleigh News & Observer
NC experts see hazards ahead as Trump claims a stolen election
Published November 11, 2020
The Charlotte Observer
NC experts see hazards ahead as Trump claims a stolen election
Published October 15, 2020
Ways & Means Podcast
Secrets of Great Political Leadership
Published July 30, 2020
FeniksPod
An Interview with Bruce W. Jentleson
Published July 7, 2020
WWL First News With Tommy Tucker
Iranian Nuclear Facility Destroyed
Published May 7, 2020
The Wilson Center, NOW Series
Will COVID-19 Transform the Global World Order?
Published April 30, 2020
Policy 360 Podcast
A Wartime President?
Published April 17, 2020
Trinity College Honors 11 for Teaching, Leadership, Diversity
Published April 17, 2020
Sanford School of Public Policy
Alumni Honor Bruce Jentleson With University Teaching Award
Published March 13, 2020
Australian National University
Democrats can exploit Trump’s global failures at election
Published January 21, 2020
WFAE Radio, Charlotte Talks
Previewing The Senate Impeachment Trial
Published January 8, 2020
The San Francisco Chronicle
Not much Democrats can do to stop Trump from striking Iran again
Published December 3, 2019
The Conversation
At 70, is NATO still important? 5 essential reads
Published November 13, 2019
WFAE Radio, Charlotte Talks
Previewing The Road Ahead For Impeachment Probe
Published October 24, 2019
PBS WHYY’s Radio Times
Impeachment probe intensifies
Published July 9, 2019
BBC World TV News
Controversy over British Ambassador and Leaked Emails
Published May 28, 2019
The Wilson Center
U.S. Foreign Policy and the Future of the Liberal International Order
Published May 7, 2019
Duke Adds 21 Faculty to Distinguished Faculty Rank
Published March 1, 2019
War on the Rocks, WarCast
U.S.-North Korea Summit Ends Abruptly: What North Korea Offered
Published March 1, 2019
Washington Post
Abrupt end of summit may have exposed limits of Trump’s strategy on Kim
Published February 28, 2019
Spectrum News
Foreign Policy Experts on Pres. Trump’s North Korea Summit
Published February 27, 2019
Wake with Luke Vargas
Is a deal to end the Korean War on the table in Hanoi?
Published January 15, 2019
Wisconsin Public Radio, The Morning Show
FBI Reportedly Investigated President Trump in Counterintelligence Probe
Published December 5, 2018
WBUR
'Steady And Prudent And Able': The Diplomatic Legacy Of George H.W. Bush
Published November 14, 2018
The Duke Chronicle
“The ‘liberal world order’ doesn’t need to be saved, Duke professor argues at talk”
Published November 13, 2018
Duke at Home in the World Events
“The End of the Liberal World Order?”
Published November 11, 2018
The New York Times
“Trump’s Nationalism, Rebuked at World War I Ceremony, Is Reshaping Much of Europe”
Published October 10, 2018
Duke Global
Bruce Jentleson on America’s Shifting Role on the International Stage
Published September 27, 2018
University of North Carolina, Krasno Event Series
“The Peacemakers: Leadership Lessons from 20th Century Statesmanship”
Published September 10, 2018
Sanford School of Public Policy
Bruce Jentleson Honored for Scholarship, Public Service
Published August 7, 2018
WNHN 94.7, he Attitude with Arnie Arneson Part I
“Millennials are so over the US domination of world affairs”
Published July 26, 2018
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs
“Deep Dish: Avoiding War”
Published July 10, 2018
Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs
Top 10 Podcasts for the 2017-2018 Program Year
Published June 19, 2018
The Kathmandu Post
On Nepal-China relations
Published June 18, 2018
University of Toronto Munk School and Oxford University Press
Global Summitry
Published June 12, 2018
CATO Institute
Statesmanship in the 21st Century
Published June 12, 2018
Wisconsin Public Radio, Carrie Kaufman Morning Show
U.S.-North Korea Summit In Light Of Weekend Kerfuffles With Allies
Published June 11, 2018
CNBC
‘Happy talk’ or ‘catastrophic success’ – the range of Trump-Kim summit outcomes
Published May 26, 2018
Book TV: CSPAN-2
The Peace Makers
Published May 4, 2018
Wisconsin Public Radio, Kate Archer Kent The Morning Show
What Can We Learn About Peace And Global Change From Twentieth Century Leaders?
Published May 1, 2018
Radio National Australia
Peacemaking: Lessons from the 20th Century
Published April 30, 2018
Podcast: CIPS uOttawa – CEPI
Bruce Jentleson’s “The Peacemakers: Leadership Lessons from Twentieth-Century Statesmanship”
Published April 24, 2018
WUNC North Carolina Public Radio
What Can We Learn From 20th Century Leaders?
Published April 24, 2018
Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb
Q&A with Bruce W. Jentleson
Published April 1, 2018
Democracy: A Journal of Ideas
The Liberal Order Isn’t Coming Back: What Next?
Published March 20, 2018
Wisconsin Public Radio, Kate Archer Kent The Morning Show
“Russia Investigation Back In Spotlight After Busy Weekend”
Published March 13, 2018
Jentleson: Tillerson Firing Further Reveals Trump Unqualified
Published March 13, 2018
News Tip: Tillerson Firing Shows Trump Lacks the Temperament to Be President, Expert Says
Published January 24, 2018
The Century Foundation
Strategic Recalibration: A Palmerstonian U.S. Middle East Regional Strategy
Published January 17, 2018
The Century Foundation
Limited Team, Impetuous Leader
Published January 2, 2018
Tommy Tucker Show WWL
What's Going on in Iran?
Published January 1, 2018
Global Asia
Trump’s Global Foreign Policy is Bad News for Asia
Published December 7, 2017
Tommy Tucker Show WWL
Triangle Palestinians, Jews worry Trump's Jerusalem announcement could spark violence
Published December 6, 2017
Christian Science Monitor
What recognizing Jerusalem means for U.S. role as Mideast mediator
Published September 13, 2017
Sanford School 'Leadership 360' Podcast
Jentleson on Leadership: Does History Make Statesmen or Do Statesmen Make History?
Published September 12, 2017
Teaching Trump-Era Politics in the Classroom
Published August 13, 2017
Matisak's Blog
Comments on President Trump's Charlottesville Statements
Published May 10, 2017
Faculty Members Say Firing of FBI Director Challenges Constitution, Democracy
Published June 13, 2016
The Christian Science Monitor
Bruce Jentleson comments: Clinton and Trump -- foreign-policy odd couple with their parties?
Published April 6, 2016
The Hill
Bruce Jentleson: Western democracies’ witch’s brew
Published January 8, 2016
The Christian Science Monitor
Bruce Jentleson comments: Obama seeks his 'Nixon to China' moment
Published December 23, 2015
Foreign Policy
American Fears Greatly Exaggerated
Published December 23, 2015
Foreign Policy
Bruce Jentleson: Reports of American fears have been greatly exaggerated
Published December 15, 2015
NPR’s “Morning Edition”
Bruce Jentleson: Are Americans convinced Obama's strategy against ISIS is working?
Published December 4, 2015
Duke Campaign Stop 2016
Jentleson and Feaver on Tensions Between Russia & Turkey (video)
Published November 9, 2015
The News & Observer
Bruce Jentleson: Killing Rabin, killing the prospect of peace
Published November 9, 2015
the News & Observer
Killing Rabin Killed the Prospect of Peace
Published September 29, 2015
Council on Foreign Relations
Bruce Jentleson, Jenna Karp: Closing the rhetoric-reality gap on the Responsibility to Protect
Published September 4, 2015
The Straits Times
Bruce Jentleson comments: Obama wins enough Congress support for Iran nuclear deal
Published July 16, 2015
CCTV
Bruce Jentleson on the Iran nuclear deal
Published July 15, 2015
The Miami Herald, McClatchy
Bruce Jentleson comments: For Obama, Iran deal was years in the making
Published July 15, 2015
The New York Times, Reuters
Bruce Jentleson quoted: New U.S. president would struggle to ruin Iran deal, experts say
Published July 14, 2015
News Tip: Nuclear Deal with Iran ‘Major Achievement,’ Expert Says
Published July 14, 2015
WWL-New Orleans
Bruce Jentleson comments on Iran nuclear deal