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Georg Vanberg

Ernestine Friedl Distinguished Professor of Political Science
Political Science
Box 90204, Durham, NC 27708
140 Science Drive, 219 Gross Hall, Box 90204, Durham, NC 27708

Overview


Georg Vanberg (Ph.D., University of Rochester, 1999) is the Ernestine Friedl Distinguished Professor of Political Science. His research focuses on political institutions, including courts, legislatures, and coalition governance. He is the author of Parliaments and Coalitions (with Lanny Martin, Oxford University Press), and The Politics of Constitutional Review in Germany (Cambridge University Press).  His work has been supported by the National Science Foundation, and was awarded the 2012 Richard F. Fenno Prize of the American Political Science Association for the Best Book in Legislative Studies, the 2013 Award for the Best Paper published in The Journal of Politics, and the 2015 Elinor Ostrom Prize for the Best Paper published in the Journal of Theoretical Politics. He served as editor of the journal Public Choice (2011-2016), and is a past President of the Public Choice Society (2016-18).

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Ernestine Friedl Distinguished Professor of Political Science · 2020 - Present Political Science, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Professor of Political Science · 2013 - Present Political Science, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Senior Associate Dean of Faculty Development in Trinity College of Arts & Sciences · 2022 - Present Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Affiliate of the Duke Center for International Development · 2023 - Present Duke Center for International Development, Sanford School of Public Policy

In the News


Published April 14, 2020
Duke Awards 29 University Distinguished Professorships
Published December 13, 2019
Brexit Is Put to Bed: A Look at What Follows the UK Election
Published September 9, 2019
Explaining Why Conservatives in Britain Rebelled, But Republicans in Congress Have Not

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Recent Publications


Contractarianism, constitutionalism, and the status quo

Journal Article Public Choice · June 1, 2023 The constitutional political economy (CPE) approach as developed by James Buchanan places emphasis on supermajority rules—in particular, a unanimity requirement for constitutional change. Critics argue that this approach “privileges the status quo” in two ... Full text Cite

Constitutions in Times of Financial Crisis

Book · June 30, 2022 This volume assesses the ability of constitutional orders all over the world to cope with financial crises, and the demands for emergency powers that typically accompany them. ... Cite
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Recent Grants


Or Honig Support

Institutional SupportPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Israel Institute · 2017 - 2018

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Education, Training & Certifications


University of Rochester · 1999 Ph.D.

External Links


GeorgVanberg.com