Seth D. Kaplan is a professorial lecturer in the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University. He teaches, writes, and consults on issues related to fragile states, governance, and development. He is the author of Fixing Fragile States: A New Paradigm for Development, and his upcoming book Betrayed: Politics, Power, and Prosperity will be published in November 2013.
A Wharton MBA and Palmer scholar, Kaplan has traveled extensively doing research in over 60 countries, and speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese and Japanese. He has published widely on development issues in publications such as The Washington Quarterly, Orbis, Policy Review, Journal of Democracy, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and International Herald Tribune.
Kaplan also manages the online Fragile States Resource Center.
Featured Work
DEC 16, 2008 • Podcast
Devin Stewart Interviews Seth Kaplan on "Fixing Fragile States"
Seth Kaplan looks at how weak states can promote and leverage "social cohesion" to help build development from the bottom up.
OCT 14, 2008 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: Saving the Congo
The scale of Congo's resource curse, weak governance, and civil war calls for policy changes beyond anything typically contemplated by the international community.
FEB 26, 2008 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Genuine Power Sharing
In states such as Kenya with a tenuous concept of nationhood, institutions need to distribute resources equitably if they are to foster stability and growth.
APR 5, 2007 • Article
Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Innovations: A West African Union
Debt relief will offer West African states short-term help, but a strong regional organization is needed to cure deep-rooted troubles. Local leaders must be given ...