Bio

Michael McFaul is Director at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, the Ken Olivier and Angela Nomellini Professor of International Studies in the Department of Political Science, and the Peter and Helen Bing Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution. He joined the Stanford faculty in 1995.

Dr. McFaul also is as an International Affairs Analyst for NBC News.. He served for five years in the Obama administration, first as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council at the White House (2009-2012), and then as U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation (2012-2014).

He has authored several books, most recently the New York Times bestseller From Cold War to Hot Peace: An American Ambassador in Putin’s Russia. Earlier books include Advancing Democracy Abroad: Why We Should, How We Can; Transitions To Democracy: A Comparative Perspective (eds. with Kathryn Stoner); Power and Purpose: American Policy toward Russia after the Cold War (with James Goldgeier); and Russia’s Unfinished Revolution: Political Change from Gorbachev to Putin.

His current research interests include American foreign policy, great power relations, and the relationship between democracy and development. Dr. McFaul was born and raised in Montana. He received his B.A. in International Relations and Slavic Languages and his M.A. in Soviet and East European Studies from Stanford University in 1986. As a Rhodes Scholar, he completed his D. Phil. in International Relations at Oxford University in 1991.

Academic Appointments

Administrative Appointments

  • Chair, Curriculum Committee, Department of Political Science (2001 - 2004)
  • Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Political Science (2001 - 2004)
  • Co-director, Iran Democracy Project, Hoover Institution (2003 - 2009)
  • Director, Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law (2006 - 2009)
  • Deputy Director, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (2006 - 2009)
  • Director, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (2015 - Present)

Program Affiliations

  • Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies (CREEES)
  • Program in International Relations

Professional Education

  • Ph.D., Oxford University, International Relations (1991)
  • M.A., Stanford University, Russian and East European Studies (1986)
  • B.A., Stanford University, International Relations and Slavic Languages (1986)

Contact

  • Academic
    mcfaul@stanford.edu
    University - Faculty Department: Political Science Position: Professor
    • Hoover Institution
    • Stanford,  California  94305 
    (650) 724-2996 (fax)
    University - Faculty Department: FSI Position: Senior Fellow (650) 724-2996 (fax)
    University - Academic staff Department: HOOVER RESEARCH Position: Hoover Senior Fellow (650) 724-2996 (fax)

Additional Info

  • Mail Code: 6055

Links

Current Research and Scholarly Interests

American foreign policy, great power relations, comparative autocracies, and the relationship between democracy and development.

2024-25 Courses

Stanford Advisees

All Publications

  • Why Putin Invaded Ukraine WAR IN UKRAINE McFaul, M., Person, R., Brands, H. 2024: 34-54

    View details for Web of Science ID 001205695600003

  • WHAT PUTIN FEARS MOST JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY Person, R., McFaul, M. 2022; 33 (2): 18-27

    View details for DOI 10.1353/jod.2022.0015

    View details for Web of Science ID 000819939400002

  • RUSSIA'S ROAD TO AUTOCRACY JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY McFaul, M. 2021; 32 (4): 11-26

    View details for Web of Science ID 000709122700002

  • The Power of Putin in Russian Foreign Policy INTERNATIONAL SECURITY Gotz, E., McFaul, M. 2021; 46 (1): 196-200

    View details for DOI 10.1162/isec_c_00414

    View details for Web of Science ID 000674379900002

  • Pragmatic Idealism in U.S. Foreign Policy: Lessons from the Cold War for Dealing with China, Russia, and Iran Today (forthcoming) McFaul, M. 2021
  • Cold War Lessons and Fallacies for US-China Relations Today WASHINGTON QUARTERLY McFaul, M. 2020; 43 (4): 7–39

    View details for DOI 10.1080/0163660X.2020.1850406

    View details for Web of Science ID 000597344200001

  • Is Putinism the Russian Norm or an Aberration? CURRENT HISTORY McFaul, M. 2018; 117 (801): 251–57

    View details for Web of Science ID 000455969600001

  • Russia as It Is A Grand Strategy for Confronting Putin FOREIGN AFFAIRS McFaul, M. 2018; 97 (4): 82–91

    View details for Web of Science ID 000434904900010

  • Choosing Autocracy: Actors, Institutions, and Revolution in the Erosion of Russian Democracy COMPARATIVE POLITICS McFaul, M. 2018; 50 (3): 305-+

    View details for Web of Science ID 000429396000002

  • From Cold War to Hot Peace: An American Ambassador in Putin's Russia McFaul, M. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 2018
  • Reading Reagan in Tehran: A Strategy of Realistic Engagement WASHINGTON QUARTERLY McFaul, M., Milani, A. 2016; 39 (4): 145-163

    View details for DOI 10.1080/0163660X.2016.1264063

    View details for Web of Science ID 000390698600008

  • Who Lost Russia (This Time)? Vladimir Putin WASHINGTON QUARTERLY Stoner, K., McFaul, M. 2015; 38 (2): 167-187

    View details for DOI 10.1080/0163660X.2015.1064716

    View details for Web of Science ID 000359943200001

  • Moscow's Choice FOREIGN AFFAIRS McFaul, M. 2014; 93 (6): 167–71

    View details for Web of Science ID 000343355100026

  • Introduction: American and European Strategies to Promote Democracy - Shared Values, Common Challenges, Divergent Tools? PROMOTING DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE OF LAW: AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN STRATEGIES Magen, A., McFaul, M. A., Magen, A., Risse, T., McFaul, M. A. 2009: 1–33

    View details for Web of Science ID 000284895100002

  • Advancing Democracy Abroad: Why We Should and How We Can McFaul, M. A. Roman & Littlefield. 2009
  • The myth of the authoritarian model - How Putin's crackdown holds Russia back FOREIGN AFFAIRS McFaul, M., Stoner-Weiss, K. 2008; 87 (1): 68-?

    View details for Web of Science ID 000252669600005

  • The limits of limited reforms JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY McFaul, M., Wittes, T. C. 2008; 19 (1): 19-33

    View details for Web of Science ID 000257925600002

  • Ukraine imports democracy - External influences on the orange revolutione INTERNATIONAL SECURITY McFaul, M. 2007; 32 (2): 45-83

    View details for Web of Science ID 000250558100002

  • Electing to flight: Why emerging democracies go to war. (Book Review) JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY Book Review Authored by: McFaul, M. 2007; 18 (2): 160-167

    View details for Web of Science ID 000245729000016

  • Constructing self-enforcing federalism in the early United States and modern Russia PUBLIUS-THE JOURNAL OF FEDERALISM de Figueiredo, R. J., McFaul, M., Weingast, B. R. 2007; 37 (2): 160-189

    View details for DOI 10.1093/publius/pjm002

    View details for Web of Science ID 000246588900002

  • Virtual politics: Faking democracy in the post-Soviet world. (Book Review) SLAVIC REVIEW Book Review Authored by: McFaul, M. 2007; 66 (1): 167-168

    View details for Web of Science ID 000244543700055

  • Should democracy be promoted or demoted? WASHINGTON QUARTERLY Fukuyama, F., McFaul, M. 2007; 31 (1): 23-45

    View details for Web of Science ID 000251164400002

  • Engaging autocratic allies to promote democracy WASHINGTON QUARTERLY Adesnik, D., McFaul, M. 2006; 29 (2): 7-?

    View details for Web of Science ID 000236030000001

  • A win-win US strategy for dealing with Iran WASHINGTON QUARTERLY McFaul, M., Milani, A., Diamond, L. 2006; 30 (1): 121-138

    View details for Web of Science ID 000242662600009

  • Russian resilience as a great power: A response to ambrosio POST-SOVIET AFFAIRS McFaul, M., Vacroux, A. 2006; 22 (1): 24–33

    View details for DOI 10.2747/1060-586X.22.1.24

    View details for Web of Science ID 000238169000002

  • What to do about Russia POLICY REVIEW Goldgeier, J. M., McFaul, M. 2005: 45-62

    View details for Web of Science ID 000232412200003

  • Chinese dreams, Persian realities JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY McFaul, M. 2005; 16 (4): 74-82

    View details for Web of Science ID 000232740100008

  • Transitions from postcommunism JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY McFaul, M. 2005; 16 (3): 5-19

    View details for Web of Science ID 000230578400001

  • A transatlantic strategy to promote democratic development in the broader Middle East WASHINGTON QUARTERLY Asmus, R. D., Diamond, L., Leonard, M., McFaul, M. 2005; 28 (2): 7-21

    View details for Web of Science ID 000227778200001

  • Democracy promotion as a world value WASHINGTON QUARTERLY McFaul, M. 2005; 28 (1): 147-163

    View details for Web of Science ID 000225489800011

  • Putin and the "delegative democracy" trap: Evidence from Russia's 2003-04 elections POST-SOVIET AFFAIRS HALE, H. E., McFaul, M., Colton, T. J. 2004; 20 (4): 285-319

    View details for Web of Science ID 000226362900001

  • The next Transatlantic project - Promoting democracy from North Africa to Afghanistan INTERNATIONALE POLITIK AHLIN, U., Asmus, R., Everts, S., Hybaskova, J., Leonard, M., McFaul, M., Mertes, M. 2004; 59 (4): 84-88

    View details for Web of Science ID 000221221200012

  • Gorbachev and Yeltsin as leaders. (Book Review) SLAVIC REVIEW Book Review Authored by: McFaul, M. 2004; 63 (1): 200-201

    View details for Web of Science ID 000224295600058

  • The evolving social science of postcommunism - Introduction Conference on Ten Years Since the Collapse of the Soviet Union - Comparative Lessons and Perspective McFaul, M., Stoner-Weiss, K. CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS. 2004: 1–20

    View details for Web of Science ID 000232951500001

  • Russians as joiners: Realist and liberal conceptions of postcommunist europe Conference on Ten Years Since the Collapse of the Soviet Union - Comparative Lessons and Perspective Goldgeier, J. M., McFaul, M. CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS. 2004: 232–256

    View details for Web of Science ID 000232951500008

  • Between Dictatorship and Democracy: Russian Post-Communist Political Reform McFaul, M., Petrov, N., Ryabov, A. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 2004
  • The fourth wave of democracy and dictatorship: Noncooperative transitions in the postcommunist world Conference on Ten Years Since the Collapse of the Soviet Union - Comparative Lessons and Perspective McFaul, M. CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS. 2004: 58–95

    View details for Web of Science ID 000232951500003

  • Russian democracy under Putin PROBLEMS OF POST-COMMUNISM Colton, T. J., McFaul, M. 2003; 50 (4): 12-21

    View details for Web of Science ID 000183924300002

  • Popular Choice and Managed Democracy: The Russian Elections of 1999 and 2000 Colton, T., McFaul Michael 2003
  • Power and Purpose: American Policy toward Russia after the Cold War Goldgeier, J., McFaul, M. Brookings Institution Press. 2003
  • Are Russians undemocratic? POST-SOVIET AFFAIRS Colton, T. J., McFaul, M. 2002; 18 (2): 91-121

    View details for Web of Science ID 000176938500001

  • The liberty doctrine - Reclaiming the purpose of American power POLICY REVIEW McFaul, M. 2002: 3-22

    View details for Web of Science ID 000174827100001

  • The fourth wave of democracy and dictatorship - Noncooperative transitions in the postcommunist world WORLD POLITICS McFaul, M. 2002; 54 (2): 212-?

    View details for Web of Science ID 000174691400003

  • Taliban: Militant Islam, oil, and fundamentalism in central Asia. (Book Review) JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY Book Review Authored by: McFaul, M. 2002; 13 (1): 170-175

    View details for Web of Science ID 000173434300015

  • Explaining party formation and nonformation in Russia - Actors, institutions, and chance COMPARATIVE POLITICAL STUDIES McFaul, M. 2001; 34 (10): 1159-1187

    View details for Web of Science ID 000172271100003

  • America's real Russian allies FOREIGN AFFAIRS Colton, T. J., McFaul, M. 2001; 80 (6): 46-58

    View details for Web of Science ID 000172743100004

  • Realistic engagement: A new approach to American-Russian relations CURRENT HISTORY McFaul, M. 2001; 100 (648): 313-321

    View details for Web of Science ID 000171255800002

  • Elections and voters in post-Communist Russia (Book Review) SLAVIC REVIEW Book Review Authored by: McFaul, M. 2001; 60 (1): 191-192

    View details for Web of Science ID 000170241300044

  • Putin in power CURRENT HISTORY McFaul, M. 2000; 99 (639): 307-314

    View details for Web of Science ID 000089612800001

  • Reinventing Russia's party of power: "Unity" and the 1999 Duma election POST-SOVIET AFFAIRS Colton, T. J., McFaul, M. 2000; 16 (3): 201-224

    View details for Web of Science ID 000089679200001

  • One step forward, two steps back JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY McFaul, M. 2000; 11 (3): 19-?

    View details for Web of Science ID 000088288200002

  • Russian democracy: Still not a lost cause WASHINGTON QUARTERLY McFaul, M. 2000; 23 (1): 161-172

    View details for Web of Science ID 000085018900013

  • Authoritarian and democratic responses to the financial meltdown in Russia PROBLEMS OF POST-COMMUNISM McFaul, M. 1999; 46 (4): 22-32

    View details for Web of Science ID 000081146800003

  • The perils of a protracted transition JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY McFaul, M. 1999; 10 (2): 4-18

    View details for Web of Science ID 000079834200002

  • The rebirth of politics in Russia. (Book Review) AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY Book Review Authored by: McFaul, M. 1999; 104 (5): 1587-1589

    View details for Web of Science ID 000080576400039

  • Getting Russia right FOREIGN POLICY McFaul, M. 1999: 58-73

    View details for Web of Science ID 000084192000007

  • Russia's summer of discontent CURRENT HISTORY McFaul, M. 1998; 97 (621): 307-312

    View details for Web of Science ID 000076306800001

  • Russia's 'Privatized' state as an impediment to democratic consolidation - Part II SECURITY DIALOGUE McFaul, M. 1998; 29 (3): 315-332

    View details for Web of Science ID 000075782900007

  • Russia's 'privatized' state as an impediment to democratic consolidation part I SECURITY DIALOGUE McFaul, M. 1998; 29 (2): 191-199

    View details for Web of Science ID 000074544400008

  • Transition to democracy in Eastern Europe (Book Review) SLAVIC REVIEW Book Review Authored by: McFaul, M. 1998; 57 (1): 174-175

    View details for Web of Science ID 000074078000008

  • A precarious peace - Domestic politics in the making of Russian foreign policy INTERNATIONAL SECURITY McFaul, M. 1998; 22 (3): 5-35

    View details for Web of Science ID 000071521400002

  • Russian electoral politics after transition: Regional and national assessments POST-SOVIET GEOGRAPHY AND ECONOMICS McFaul, M., Petrov, N. 1997; 38 (9): 507-549

    View details for Web of Science ID 000071629500001

  • Russia's 1996 presidential elections POST-SOVIET AFFAIRS McFaul, M. 1996; 12 (4): 318-350

    View details for Web of Science ID A1996WH04900002

  • The allocation of property rights in Russia: The first round COMMUNIST AND POST-COMMUNIST STUDIES McFaul, M. 1996; 29 (3): 287-308

    View details for Web of Science ID A1996VK32600003

  • Russia between elections .1. The vanishing center JOURNAL OF DEMOCRACY McFaul, M. 1996; 7 (2): 90-104

    View details for Web of Science ID A1996UG69800009

  • Revolutionary ideas, state interests, and Russian foreign policy Workshop on Political Cultural and Civil Society in Russia McFaul, M. M E SHARPE INC. 1995: 27–52

    View details for Web of Science ID A1995BF38T00002

  • STATE POWER, INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE, AND THE POLITICS OF PRIVATIZATION IN RUSSIA WORLD POLITICS McFaul, M. 1995; 47 (2): 210-243

    View details for Web of Science ID A1995QB40300002

  • WHY ZHIRINOVSKY CAN WIN - NUT N HONEY NEW REPUBLIC McFaul, M. 1994; 210 (7): 23-?

    View details for Web of Science ID A1994MU60400011

  • RUSSIAN CENTRISM AND REVOLUTIONARY TRANSITIONS POST-SOVIET AFFAIRS McFaul, M. 1993; 9 (3): 192-222

    View details for Web of Science ID A1993MJ74800002

  • A TALE OF 2 WORLDS - CORE AND PERIPHERY IN THE POST-COLD-WAR ERA INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION Goldgeier, J. M., McFaul, M. 1992; 46 (2): 467-491

    View details for Web of Science ID A1992HN86600003

  • THE DEMISE OF THE WORLD REVOLUTIONARY PROCESS - SOVIET-ANGOLAN RELATIONS UNDER GORBACHEV JOURNAL OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN STUDIES McFaul, M. 1990; 16 (1): 165-189

    View details for Web of Science ID A1990DM60600007

  • RETHINKING THE REAGAN DOCTRINE IN ANGOLA INTERNATIONAL SECURITY McFaul, M. 1990; 14 (3): 99-135

    View details for Web of Science ID A1990CC37400006