Robinson Professors

John Paden

Governor Attahiro Bafarawa leads discussion of Nigerian politics with Prof. Paden's Honors Seminar students" (Gov. B was a two term gov. of Sokoto State, Nigeria, and a magor presidential candidate in 2007. He is a visiting scholar at George Mason)

International Studies and Professor of Public and International Affairs at George Mason University. He received his B.A. in philosophy from Occidental College, his M.A. in philosophy, politics and economics from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and his Ph.D. in politics from Harvard University. He has served as Director of African Studies at Northwestern University, Professor of Public Administration at Ahmadu Bello University (Zaria, Nigeria), and Dean, Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, at Bayero University (Kano, Nigeria).

Some of Dr. Paden’s publications include: Religion and Political Culture in Kano (winner of the Herskovits Prize); The African Experience (four volumes); Black Africa: A Comparative Handbook; Understanding Black Africa:

Data and Analysis of Social Change and Nation Building; Values, Identities, and National Integration: Empirical Research in Africa; and Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto: Values and Leadership in Nigeria. His book Muslim Civic Cultures and Conflict Resolution: The Challenge of Democratic Federalism in Nigeria was published by the Brookings Institution in 2005. His recent book with the Institute of Peace is entitled: Faith and Politics in Nigeria: Nigeria as a Pivotal State in the Muslim World, (2008).

Dr. Paden has traveled widely in Europe, Africa, Middle East, and Asia. He was part of a 15-year project to help establish African studies in China. During 2002 to 2006, he has served on a senior-level task force at The Brookings Institution on "United States Policy toward the Islamic world." He is a co-founder of the graduate program in International Commerce and Policy, and is Co-Founder/Co-Director of the Center for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. He has served as director of the summer graduate program in China, focusing on socio-economic changes and cross-cultural trade strategies, and participated in the summer trade programs in Oxford and Geneva.  He serves on doctoral committees in Economics, Public Policy, and Conflict Analysis and Resolution.

Dr. Paden has developed and taught broad-gauged courses, including freshman seminars ("The nature of the non-western world" and "The idea of the nation state"), sophomore honors seminars ("Cross-cultural perspectives: Understanding the giants of Asia and Africa,"), and upper-division courses ("Religion and Post-modernism," "Political Culture and Leadership," "Cultural Dimensions of Globalization," and "The Globalization Debates"). He has helped develop undergraduate minors in Asia Pacific Studies, Islamic Studies, and Afro-American and African Studies. He has served on the undergraduate General Education committee, with a focus on the requirement in global understanding."

In terms of outreach and community service, Dr. Paden has served as an international monitor with the U. S. Delegation during the Nigerian presidential elections in 1999 (Kaduna), 2003 (Kano) and 2007(Katsina). He was part of a team which helped plan the new Nigerian federal capital at Abuja. He has served on review panels at the U.S. Institute of Peace and participated in the Nigeria Working Group, Council on Foreign Relations, and the Nigerian Working Group, Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Fall Courses 2009

GOVT 430: Comparative Political Leadership

Comparative political leadership, relationships between political culture and types of leadership, patterns of leadership recruitment, and linkages between political elites and citizenry. (TR 10:30-11:45 a.m.)

GOVT 490: The Globalization Debate

Seminar focuses on the multiple actors and actions in today's international system, to develop an understanding of the relationships and themes that characterize and condition the existing field of international transactions, exploring its parameters and conceptual approaches from different disciplines. (TR 1:30-2:45 p.m.)

Spring Courses 2010

HNRS 230: Cross-Cultural Perspectives

Issues of family values, gender and social relations, economic perspectives, and national culture are addressed in "Understanding the Giants of Asia and Africa: China and Nigeria." Wherever possible, primary texts in translation will be the basis for seminar discussion. (TR 10:30-11:45 a.m.)

PUBP 503: Culture, Organization, and Technology

Course focuses on the influence of culture in societal, political, economic, and technological processes, national and internationally. Culture is seen as dynamic and interactional. Using case studies, students learn pertinent approaches to the study of culture, from the analysis of organization and social networks to that of belief systems and identities. Students also develop practical skills in observation, participations, and intervention. (W 7:20-10:00 p.m., Arlington)