Tamar Gutner Associate Professor Politics, Governance & Economics
- Degrees
- Ph.D., Political Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; M.A., International Relations, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS); B.S., Radio/TV/Film, Northwestern University
- Bio
- Tamar Gutner’s research and teaching focuses on the performance and effectiveness of international organizations, particularly international financial institutions, and their role in global and regional governance. Her current work examines the history of collaboration between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, and the birth and design of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). She is the author of International Organizations in World Politics (CQ Press) and Banking on the Environment: Multilateral Development Banks and Their Environmental Performance in Central and Eastern Europe (MIT Press). Her scholarly articles have appeared in journals such as International Organization, Review of International Organizations, and Global Environmental Politics. Dr. Gutner is also director of the SIS online MA in International Relations Program and previously served as the SIS Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Graduate Education, and earlier, as the director of two MA programs. In 2019 she was a Council on Foreign Relations Fellow at the IMF’s Independent Evaluation Office (IEO). She has received grants and fellowships from the Council on Foreign Relations, The Brookings Institution, MacArthur Foundation, International Studies Association, and the American Council of Learned Societies/Social Science Research Council. Prior to her academic career, she worked as a financial correspondent for AP-Dow Jones in New York and London.
- For the Media
- To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.
Teaching
Spring 2024
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SIS-709 Foundations of Global Govern
Fall 2024
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SISG-762 Global Governance
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SISU-280 Global/Comparative Governance
Scholarly, Creative & Professional Activities
Research Interests
Professor Gutner's research and teaching interests include global governance, international organizations, international political economy, the World Bank, IMF, and AIIB. Her research focuses on the performance and effectiveness of international organizations, particularly international financial institutions.
Selected Publications
- "Why Create Another Development Bank? China and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)." In Contestation and Polarization in Global Governance, edited by Michelle Egan, Kolja Raube, Jan Wouters, and Julien Chaisse (Edward Elgar, 2023).
- "Collaboration, Cooperation, Coordination: A History of the Bretton Woods Twins' Efforts to Work Together," Review of International Political Economy, 2022.
- With Michael Kell, Alisa Abrams, Louellen Stedman. "Working with Partners: IMF Collaboration with the World Bank on Macro-Structural Issues," IMF Independent Evaluation Office, 2020.
- International Organizations in World Politics. CQ Press, 2016.
- "The Politics of IO Performance,"special issue of Review of International Organizations 5:3. Co-edited with Alexander Thompson.
- "When Doing Good Does Not: The IMF and the Millennium Development Goals," in Who Governs the Globe? edited by Deborah D. Avant, Martha Finnemore, and Susan K. Sell (Cambridge 2010).
- Banking on the Environment: Multilateral Development Banks and Their Environmental Performance in Central and Eastern Europe. MIT Press, 2002.
- "World Bank Environmental Reform: Revisiting Lessons from Agency Theory," International Organization, 2005.
- "Explaining the Gaps between Mandate and Performance: Agency Theory and World Bank Environmental Reform," Global Environmental Politics, 2005.
- "The Political Economy of Food Subsidy Reform: The Case of Egypt," Food Policy, 2002.
Work In Progress
- The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: Cooperation, Competition, and Impact
Honors, Awards, and Fellowships
- Council on Foreign Relations, International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured International Relations Scholars, 2019
- Fellow, International Monetary Fund Independent Evaluation Office, 2019
- American University School of International Service, Outstanding Faculty Mentor, 2017
- Darrell Randall Award for Outstanding Service to the University Community, 2014
- International Studies Association, Venture Research Workshop Grant, 2008
- American University Curriculum Development Grant, 2008
- American University School of International Service, Faculty Research Award 2003
- American University Junior Faculty Teaching Release Program 2001-02
- SSRC International Dissertation Research Fellowship 1997-98
- The Brookings Institution Research Fellowship in Foreign Policy Studies 1996-97
- The Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS) Dissertation Award 1996-97
- Harvard-MIT MacArthur Transnational Security Program, summer 1996 research grant
Professional Presentations
- 2016. Chair. "Emerging Frontiers in the Global Economy." American Political Science Association Conference.
- 2015. Paper. "Evaluating the IMF's Performance in the Global Financial Crisis." American Political Science Association Conference.
- 2009. Chair. “NGOs, Democracy, and Development.” Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management Conference.
- 2009. Paper. “IO Performance,” 2nd Conference on the Political Economy of International Organizations, Geneva, Switzerland.
- 2008. Paper and Workshop Chair, with Alex Thompson. “Explaining IO Performance: An Initial Framework.” International Studies Association Conference.
AU Experts
Area of Expertise
International financial institutions, World Bank, AIIB, European Investment Bank, international organizations, international environmental politics, international relations
Additional Information
Professor Gutner's research focuses on the performance and effectiveness of international organizations, particularly international financial institutions, and their role in global and regional governance. She is the author of International Organizations in World Politics (CQ Press) and Banking on the Environment: Multilateral Development Banks and Their Environmental Performance in Central and Eastern Europe (MIT Press). She is currently writing a book on the birth and design of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Dr. Gutner previously served as the SIS Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Graduate Education and director of two MA programs.
For the Media
To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.