James L. Mahoney

James Mahoney is Gordon Fulcher Professor of Decision-Making and Professor of Political Science and Sociology at Northwestern University. He is a comparative‐historical researcher who works on national development, political regimes, and methodology. He is known for his historical research on Latin America, his theoretical contributions to the study of path dependence and institutional change, and his methodological work on small-N and comparative research. Mahoney's recent books include Advances in Comparative-Historical Analysis (coedited with Kathleen Thelen); A Tale of Two Cultures: Qualitative and Quantitative Research in the Social Sciences (with Gary Goertz); and Colonialism and Postcolonial Development: Spanish America in Comparative Perspective.

Mahoney has been President or Chair of four different Organized Sections of APSA and ASA, served on the Council of APSA, and has been Chair and Associate Chair in Sociology and Political Science at Northwestern. His books include Postcolonial Development: Spanish America in Comparative Perspective and The Logic of Social Science.