Back to top

Anders Hardig Senior Professorial Lecturer Politics, Governance & Economics

Degrees
PhD, International Relations, School of International Service, American University, MA, International Relations, Linköping University, Sweden, BA, Political Science, Linköping University, Sweden

Bio
Dr. Anders C. Härdig is the Director of the Global Scholars Program, an accelerated BA program in SIS which gives students a cohort experience and incorporates study abroad programming. Dr. Härdig serves as Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Politics, Governance, and Economics (PGE). His main fields of expertise are international politics and comparative and regional studies with a special focus on social movements and discursive framing in South Asia and Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA). His current research project examines the 2024 “Monsoon Revolution” in Bangladesh and seeks to employ social movement theory to explain the fall of the Awami League government, despite its willingness and capability to use force against protesters.

Dr. Härdig is the recipient of several scholarships and grants, including a Fulbright scholarship, the Smith Richardson Foundation World Politics and Statecraft Fellowship, and multiple grants from the Marcus Wallenberg Foundation. He has worked as a researcher and consultant for American and European companies on projects in Lebanon.

Dr. Härdig’s past publications include "Defending Europe: How Cultural Identity Shapes Support for Ukraine and Armed Resistance Against Russia;" "Stability over Democracy: Western Acquiescence to Tunisia's Authoritarian Slide;" "The Military Coup in Myanmar Presents Opportunities for Buddhist Nationalists;" "Too Many Enemies: Mobilization, Marginalization and Political Violence" (co-authored with Dr. Tazreena Sajjad); “Beyond the Arab Revolts: Conceptualizing Civil Society in the Middle East and North Africa.”
For the Media
To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.

Teaching

Summer 2024

  • SISU-105 Intro to International Studies

  • SISU-306 Adv Int'l Studies Research: Rsrch in Field of Intl Studies

Fall 2024

  • SISU-105 Intro to International Studies

  • SISU-206 Intro to Int'l Studies Rsrch

Spring 2025

  • SISU-206 Intro to Int'l Studies Rsrch

Scholarly, Creative & Professional Activities

Research Interests

Dr. Härdig’s research interests include the politics of the Middle East, particularly civil society and the development of grassroots networks and social movements. His current research examines the impact of Middle Eastern Islamist movement frames in changing the role of political Islam in South Asia. 

Recordings

 Presentation on the changing role of political Islam in Bangladesh at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars, December 9, 2015

Honors, Awards, and Fellowships

  • SIS Dean's Summer Research Award (DSRA), 2015
  • Tekn. Dr. Marcus Wallenbergs Stiftelse för Utbildning i Internationellt Industriellt Företagande Fellowship (Sweden), 2006-2011   
  • SIS Dissertation Fellowship, 2009-2010   
  • Smith Richardson Foundation World Politics and Statecraft Fellowship, 2008-2009   
  • Dean’s Fellowship, SIS, 2005-2008   
  • Fulbright Fellowship (Sweden), 2005-2006