Jonathan Andrew Harris
Associate Professor of Political Science, NYU Abu Dhabi; Global Network Associate Professor of Politics, Faculty of Arts and Science, NYU
Affiliation: NYU Abu Dhabi
Education: PhD in Government, Harvard University
Research Areas: Institutions and political behavior in Africa

Andy received his PhD in Government from Harvard University in 2012 and was a Postdoctoral Prize Research Fellow at Nuffield College, Oxford from 2012-2014.
Andy studies institutions and political behavior in Africa, with a focus on Kenya. His current research examines (1) the electoral incentives underpinning the distribution of local development projects, (2) the causes and consequences of ethnic violence, and (3) the effect of technical and informational interventions on voter registration. Andy's research draws on a wide variety of evidence, from archival records to randomized control trials to satellite data. Future work examines the functioning of judicial institutions in Kenya, with an aim at improving the quality and quantity of legal judgments heard by local magistrates.
Courses Taught
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How can we understand climate change? On one level, the unfolding climate crisis is a story of graphs, charts, and scientific evidence. On another level, it is a chorus of present and future narratives of those victimized by their predecessors' short-sighted choices. We will engage climate change on both levels. Our discussions center on two works of climate fiction that reify the human costs of climate change through narrative and lay bare the intimate connection between our choices and the climate crisis. These works also draw on the physical and social sciences and humanities to illustrate important themes: geo-engineering; the human cost of climate change; the science of prediction; climate-induced conflict; the ethics of violent protest; interdependence; accountability and governance; and the problematic primacy of human life on Earth. In each meeting, we discuss a few fiction chapters together with shorter works on the science, ethics, and meaning of climate change.
Previously taught: Summer 1 2022, June-Term 2023, Summer 1 2024
This course appears in...
- Core Curriculum > Structures of Thought and Society
- Majors > Political Science > Breadth Electives
- Minors > Environmental Studies > Environment, Culture, and Society
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Social scientists and policy analysts rely heavily on research drawing on observational data. Students learn to manage and analyze such data and to employ statistical techniques that are common in these applications, with an emphasis on how to translate social science theory into empirical research. Topics include review of basic regression analysis, building multivariate analytical models, and regression analysis with limited dependent variables. The course emphasizes practical training in these skills as well as evaluation, replication, and critical analysis of research conducted in the social science literature. The course is designed as an alternative for students in the social sciences who are not taking Introduction to Econometrics.
Prerequisite: SOCSC-UH 1010Q or MATH-UH 2011Q
Previously taught: Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Summer 2019, Fall 2019, Summer 2020, Fall 2020, Summer 2021, Fall 2021, Summer 2022, Fall 2022, Summer 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Summer 2024
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Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Aaron Kaufman - MW 14:10 - 15:25 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
R 08:30 - 09:45 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Aaron Kaufman - MW 15:35 - 16:50 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
R 09:55 - 11:10 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
MW 09:55 - 11:10 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Paul Love III - R 08:30 - 09:45 Taught in Abu Dhabi
This course appears in...
- Majors > Business, Organizations and Society > Methods and Analytics Electives
- Majors > Political Science > Methods Electives
- Majors > Social Research and Public Policy > Methods Electives
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Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
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Students develop a research question, construct a research design that allows them to test potential answers to that question, collect relevant data, analyze the results, and write a senior thesis.
Prerequisite: Senior standing
Previously taught: Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024
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Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Christopher Paik - Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Jonathan Andrew Harris, Benjamin Laughlin, Jeffrey Jensen - F 09:25 - 12:05 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Jonathan Andrew Harris, Benjamin Laughlin, Jeffrey Jensen - F 09:25 - 12:05 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Jonathan Andrew Harris, Benjamin Laughlin, Jeffrey Jensen - F 09:25 - 12:05 Taught in Abu Dhabi
This course appears in...
- Majors > Political Science
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Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
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Students develop a research question, construct a research design that allows them to test potential answers to that question, collect relevant data, analyze the results, and write a senior thesis.
Prerequisite: POLSC-UH 4000
Previously taught: Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024
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Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Benjamin Laughlin, Jeffrey Jensen - F 14:20 - 17:00 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Benjamin Laughlin, Jeffrey Jensen - F 14:20 - 17:00 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Jeffrey Jensen - Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Jeffrey Jensen - Taught in Abu Dhabi
This course appears in...
- Majors > Political Science
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Spring 2025;
14 Weeks