Richard Rubenstein, JD

Research Focus

I study the causes, dynamics, and methods of resolving conflicts involving religion and social structure. Conflicts that appear to be based solely on ideological or political differences often turn out to be generated by social and economic systems as well. My research clarifies the links between systemic and ideological, political, or psychological factors, and tries to use this knowledge to develop better means of resolving structural conflicts involving religious issues.

Current Projects

■ A book in progress – The Sixties in Our Future: Origins of the Next Period of Political Turmoil and Change in America: this book analyzes the causes and dynamics of 960s-1970s movements for political and social change and predicts a recurrence of turmoil in the next decade.

■ A US-Europe-Russia Trialogue: this practice project, set to begin in May 2019, involves US, Europen, and Russian representatives in a series of four “trialogues” aimed at exploring the deep causes of alienation between the parties and possible methods of resolving their disputes over the long run.

Select Publications

■ Rubenstein, R. E. (2017). Resolving structural conflicts: how violent systems can be transformed. London, UK: Routledge.

■ Rubenstein, R. E. (2017). State security, human security, and the problem of complementarity. In E. D. Jacob (Ed.), Rethinking Security in the Twenty-First Century (pp. 225-243). New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.

■ Rubenstein, R.E. (2014). Imagining the other in an age of religious violence. In M. Eid & K. H. Karim (Eds.), Re-imagining the Other: Culture, Media, and Western-Muslim Intersections. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.

■ Rubenstein, R. E. (2010). Reasons to kill: why Americans choose war. New York, NY: Bloomsbury Press.