Bio


David Holloway is the Raymond A. Spruance Professor of International History, a professor of political science, and an FSI senior fellow. He was co-director of CISAC from 1991 to 1997, and director of FSI from 1998 to 2003. His research focuses on the international history of nuclear weapons, on science and technology in the Soviet Union, and on the relationship between international history and international relations theory. His book Stalin and the Bomb: The Soviet Union and Atomic Energy, 1939-1956 (Yale University Press, 1994) was chosen by the New York Times Book Review as one of the 11 best books of 1994, and it won the Vucinich and Shulman prizes of the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies. It has been translated into six languages, most recently into Czech in 2008. Holloway also wrote The Soviet Union and the Arms Race (1983) and co-authored The Reagan Strategic Defense Initiative: Technical, Political and Arms Control Assessment (1984). He has contributed to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Foreign Affairs, and other scholarly journals.

Since joining the Stanford faculty in 1986 -- first as a professor of political science and later (in 1996) as a professor of history as well -- Holloway has served as chair and co-chair of the International Relations Program (1989-1991), and as associate dean in the School of Humanities and Sciences (1997-1998). Before coming to Stanford, he taught at the University of Lancaster (1967-1970) and the University of Edinburgh (1970-1986). Born in Dublin, Ireland, he received his undergraduate degree in modern languages and literature, and his PhD in social and political sciences, both from Cambridge University.

Academic Appointments


Administrative Appointments


  • Raymond A. Spruance Professor in International History, Stanford University (1997 - Present)
  • Professor of History, Stanford University (1996 - Present)
  • Professor of Political Science, Stanford University (1986 - Present)
  • Reader in Politics, University of Edinburgh (1984 - 1986)
  • Lecturer in Politics, University of Edinburgh (1970 - 1984)
  • Research Associate, Institute for Strategic Studies, London (1969 - 1970)
  • Assistant Lecturer in Politics, University of Lancaster (1967 - 1969)
  • Research Associate, Department of Government, University of Manchester (1966 - 1967)
  • Senior Research Associate, Center for International Security July 1986 and Arms Control, Stanford University (1983 - 1986)
  • Visiting Fellow, Peace Studies Program, Cornell University (1981 - 1982)
  • Visiting Professor, Department of Government, Cornell University (1981 - 1982)
  • Visiting Fellow, Peace Studies Program, Cornell University (1978 - 1978)
  • Fellow, Norwegian Nobel Institute, Oslo (2011 - 2011)
  • Visiting Professor, University of Rome (Roma Tre) (2011 - 2011)
  • Max von Laue lecturer, Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (2009 - 2009)
  • Visiting Scholar, Pembroke College, Cambridge (2006 - 2006)
  • Fellow, Stanford Humanities Center (2005 - 2006)
  • Fellow, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (2000 - 2001)
  • Fellow, Norwegian Nobel Institute, Oslo (1999 - 1999)
  • Nordlander lecturer, Cornell University (1996 - 1996)
  • Fellow, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (1978 - 1979)
  • DAAD Fellow, Hessische Stiftung Friedens und Konfliktsforschung (1973 - 1973)

Honors & Awards


  • Holder of Norwegian State Scholarship, Institute of Social Economics, University of Oslo (1964 - 1965)
  • Lingua Franca Breakthrough Book, Lingua Franca (1999)
  • Shulman Prize, American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies (Stalin and the Bomb) (1995)
  • Vucinich Prize, American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies (Stalin and the Bomb) (1995)
  • Finalist, History Prize, LA Times (Stalin and the Bomb) (1995)
  • Finalist, BABRA Nonfiction Book Award, Stalin and the Bomb (1995)
  • One of the Eleven Best Books of the Year, NY Times Book Review (Stalin and the Bomb) (1994)
  • Best Books of the Year, Publisher's Weekly (Stalin and the Bomb) (1994)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations


  • Member, Editorial Board, Stanford University Press, Stanford University (2006)
  • Co-director, Stanford Center on International Conflict and Negotiation, Stanford University (2005)
  • P.I., Stanford Center on International Conflict and Negotiation, Stanford University (2000)
  • Member, Board of Overseers, Stanford University Press, Stanford University (1998 - 2000)
  • Director, Institute for International Studies, Stanford University (1998 - 2003)
  • Associate Dean, School of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford University (1997 - 1998)
  • Principal Investigator, MacArthur Consortium on International Peace and Security, Stanford University (1992 - 2003)
  • Co-Director, Center for International Security and Arms Control, Stanford University (1991 - 1997)
  • Chair, International Relations Program, Stanford University (1989 - 1991)
  • Member, Executive Committee, American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies (1996 - 1999)
  • Member, Board of Directors, National Council for Soviet and East European Research (1991 - 1997)
  • Member, Committee on International Peace and Security, Social Science Research Council (1987 - 1992)
  • Member, Board of Directors, Ploughshares Foundation (1990)
  • Member, Board of Directors, Cypress Fund for Peace and Security (2005 - 2010)

Program Affiliations


  • Program in History & Philosophy of Science

Professional Education


  • B.A., Pembroke College, Cambridge University, Modern Languages and Literatures (Russian and Serbo-Croatian) (1964)
  • Graduate student, University of Manchester, Department of Government (1966)
  • Ph.D., Cambridge University, Social and Political Sciences
  • M.A., Cambridge University, Modern Languages and Literatures

Current Research and Scholarly Interests


civil wars; history of nuclear weapons

2023-24 Courses


All Publications


  • The Cold War: A World History (Book Review) JOURNAL OF COLD WAR STUDIES Book Review Authored by: Holloway, D. 2021; 23 (3): 232-235
  • Racing toward Armageddon? SOVIET VIEWS OF STRATEGIC NUCLEAR WAR, 1955-1972 AGE OF HIROSHIMA Holloway, D., Gordin, M. D., Ikenberry, G. J. 2020: 71-+
  • Introduction INTERNATIONAL HISTORY REVIEW Holloway, D., Nuti, L. 2018; 40 (5): 963–64
  • Conclusion: Reflections on the Nuclear Order INTERNATIONAL HISTORY REVIEW Holloway, D. 2018; 40 (5): 1210–18
  • The Soviet Union and the creation of the International Atomic Energy Agency COLD WAR HISTORY Holloway, D. 2016; 16 (2): 177-193
  • Sally Lilienthal, 87 BULLETIN OF THE ATOMIC SCIENTISTS Holloway, D. 2007; 63 (6): 15-15
  • Physics, the state, and civil society in the Soviet Union International Conference on Physicists in the Postwar Political Arena - Comparative Perspectives Holloway, D. UNIV CALIFORNIA PRESS. 1999: 173–192
  • Yulii Khariton (1904-96) - Obituary NATURE Holloway, D. 1997; 385 (6614): 302-302
  • The way it was - Introduction BULLETIN OF THE ATOMIC SCIENTISTS Holloway, D. 1996; 52 (6): 53-54
  • New light on early Soviet bomb secrets PHYSICS TODAY Holloway, D. 1996; 49 (11): 26-27
  • REFLECTIONS ON ARZAMAS-16 POST-SOVIET AFFAIRS Holloway, D. 1995; 11 (1): 80-82
  • The atomic bomb and the end of the wartime alliance Conference on the Rise and Fall of the Grand Alliance, 1941-45 Holloway, D. ST MARTINS PRESS INC. 1995: 207–225
  • HOW THE BOMB SAVED SOVIET PHYSICS BULLETIN OF THE ATOMIC SCIENTISTS Holloway, D. 1994; 50 (6): 46-55
  • SOVIET SCIENTISTS SPEAK OUT BULLETIN OF THE ATOMIC SCIENTISTS Holloway, D. 1993; 49 (4): 18-19
  • ONE YEAR AFTER THE COLLAPSE OF THE USSR - A PANEL OF SPECIALISTS 1992 ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE AMERICAN ASSOC FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SLAVIC STUDIES Breslauer, G., Colton, T., Grossman, G., Holloway, D., Szporluk, R., WINSTON, V. V H WINSTON & SON INC. 1992: 303–30
  • THE CATASTROPHE CHEMTECH Holloway, D. 1991; 21 (2): 80-83
  • Operation Barbarossa: The German Attack on the Soviet Union, June 22, 1941 Soviet Union/Union Sovietique Holloway , D. 1991; 18 (1-3)
  • SAKHAROV,ANDREI 1921-1989 - IN MEMORIAM BULLETIN OF THE ATOMIC SCIENTISTS Holloway, D. 1990; 46 (2): 14-14
  • STATE, SOCIETY, AND THE MILITARY UNDER GORBACHEV INTERNATIONAL SECURITY Holloway, D. 1990; 14 (3): 5-24
  • GORBACHEV NEW THINKING FOREIGN AFFAIRS Holloway, D. 1989; 68 (1): 66-81
  • THE SOVIET PARTY CONGRESS BULLETIN OF THE ATOMIC SCIENTISTS Holloway, D. 1986; 42 (5): 15-19
  • LESSONS OF THE ARMS-RACE BULLETIN OF THE ATOMIC SCIENTISTS Holloway, D. 1985; 41 (7): 80-83
  • THE STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE AND THE SOVIET-UNION DAEDALUS Holloway, D. 1985; 114 (3): 257-278
  • PRESERVING THE ABM TREATY - A CRITIQUE OF THE REAGAN STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE INTERNATIONAL SECURITY Drell, S. D., FARLEY, P. J., Holloway, D. 1984; 9 (2): 51-91
  • Warsaw Pact: Alliance in Transition?, The Holloway , D., Sharp , J. Cornell University Press . 1984
  • Soviet Union and the Arms Race, The Holloway, D. Yale University Press. 1983
  • THE POLITICS OF SOVIET SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SOCIAL STUDIES OF SCIENCE Holloway, D. 1981; 11 (2): 259-274
  • Soviety Nuclear Development International Security Holloway , D. 1980; 4 (3)
  • Innovation in Science - The Case of Cybernetics in the Soviety Union Science Studies Holloway , D. 1974
  • TECHNOLOGY AND POLITICAL DECISION IN SOVIET ARMAMENTS POLICY JOURNAL OF PEACE RESEARCH Holloway, D. 1974; 11 (4): 257-279
  • Science in Russian and Soviety Society Science Studies Holloway , D. 1973
  • The Soviet Approach to MBFR Waverly Papers Holloway , D. 1973; 5
  • Scientific Truth and Political Authority in the Soviet Union Political Opposition in One-Party States Holloway , D. Macmillan. 1972: 152–178