Edward A. Tiryakian
Professor Emeritus of Sociology

I received my B.A. summa cum laude from Princeton University and my Ph.D. in Sociology from Harvard University. Prior to my appointment at Duke I taught at both Princeton and Harvard. At Duke I have served as departmental chair and as Director of International Studies (1989-91), in which capacity I was instrumental in internationalizing the university. I served as the Distinguished Leader of the Fulbright New Century Scholars Program, 2002-2003 . The focus of the program was for a multidisciplinary team of 30, two-thirds from overseas, to study comparatively severe ethnic conflicts and peace processes. I have served (1981-84) as past president of the American Society for the Study of Religion and of the International Association of French-Speaking Sociologists (1988-1992) .I have twice been chair of the Theory Section of the American Sociological Association and am 2005-06 Chair of the ASA History of Sociology section . I have had visiting appointments at Laval University (Quebec), the Institut d'Etudes Politiques (Paris), and the Free University of Berlin. In recent years I have given seminars on European Unity,Sociology of Disasters, History of Social Thought (SOC 138), Sociology of Religion (SOC 151), Modern Nationalist Movements (SOC 179) and cultural and political aspects of Globalization (SOC 222). I have in recent years either attended international conferences and congresses and/or lectured in France, Italy,Lebanon, Israel,Korea,Australia and China.

Office Hours

Wednesday 2:00-4:00 PM

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Contact Information

  • 339 Soc-Psych, Durham, NC 27708
  • Box 90088, Durham, NC 27708-0088

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