Faculty Books
James Mahoney
Professor, Department of Sociology (50%) and
Department of Political Science (50%)
Gordon Fulcher Professor in Decision-Making
Scott Hall, Room 402
(847) 491-2626
james-mahoney@northwestern.edu
Office Hours:
Friday 1:00-3:00 PM in Scott Hall 402
Curriculum Vitae
Personal Website
Areas of Interest
Comparative-Historical Sociology
Development
Methodology
Relevant Link
Department of Political Science
Biography
James Mahoney is a comparative-historical researcher with interests in political development, Latin America, and methodology. His most recent books are A Tale of Two Cultures: Qualitative and Quantitative Research in the Social Sciences (with Gary Goertz; 2012); Colonialism and Postcolonial Development: Spanish America in Comparative Perspective (2010); and Explaining Institutional Change: Ambiguity, Agency, and Power (2010; coedited with Kathleen Thelen).
Mahoney has received several awards for his work on methodology from the American Sociological Association (ASA) and American Political Science Association (APSA). His book on Colonialism and Postcolonial Development received six major awards from sections in ASA and APSA.
Mahoney has been President of the Qualitative and Multi-Method Research Section, APSA, Chair of the Comparative and Historical Sociology Section, ASA, and is Chair- Elect of the Development Section, ASA. He is currently Associate Chair of Political Science at Northwestern.
Courses Taught
Sociology:
SOCIOL 317: Global Development Syllabus
SOCIOL 439: Comparative Historical Analysis Syllabus
SOCIOL 476: Comparative Methods
Political Science:
POLI SCI: 490: Methods of Comparative Analysis Syllabus
Books
A Tale of Cultures: Qualitative and Quantitative Research in the Social Sciences
(with Gary Goertz)
Princeton University Press, 2012
Colonialism and Postcolonial Development: Spanish America in Comparative Perspective
Cambridge University Press, 2010
Explaining Institutional Change Ambiguity, Agency, and Power
(with Kathleen Thelen), Cambridge University Press, 2010
Comparative Historical Analysis in the Social Sciences
(with Dietrich Rueschemeyer), Cambridge University Press, 2003
The Legacies of Liberalism: Path Dependence and Political Regimes in Central America
John Hopkins University Press, 2001
Publications
Need Expert Advice?
Our faculty advisers can help you select Sociology courses, even if Sociology isn't your major or minor.
Attn: Majors & Minors
The Sociology Department wants to know how you like to receive information. Please complete our short survey by clicking here.
Upcoming Events
Colloquium: Kate Kellogg, Sloan School of Business, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
May 23, 2013 • 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Colloquium: Vilma Ortiz, University of California, Los Angeles
May 30, 2013 • 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM













