James A. Robinson

James A. Robinson: Exploring the Political Roots of Prosperity and Power

James A. Robinson, born in 1960 in Sheffield, England, is a British political scientist and economist renowned for his research on comparative political and economic development. As a professor at the University of Chicago and co-author of landmark works with Daron Acemoglu, Robinson has transformed our understanding of how institutions shape nations’ fates.

Educated at the London School of Economics and Yale University, Robinson has dedicated his career to investigating why some countries achieve lasting prosperity while others remain trapped in poverty and instability. His interdisciplinary approach combines economics, political science, and history to study the dynamics of power and state-building.

Robinson gained international prominence with Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty (2012), co-authored with Acemoglu. The book argues that inclusive institutions — those that distribute power and opportunity broadly — are essential for sustained development. Their subsequent work, The Narrow Corridor (2019), explores how societies maintain the delicate balance between liberty and authority.

In addition to his books, Robinson has published extensively on Latin America and Africa, analyzing the historical roots of inequality and governance. His teaching and fieldwork bridge theory with practice, informing debates on democracy, conflict, and institutional reform.

Through his scholarship, Robinson advances a vital message: that political choices, not geography or culture, determine nations’ destinies. His work continues to influence policymakers, economists, and social scientists striving to understand — and change — the structures of power that define our world.