George Breslauer

Professional Bio:

George W. Breslauer was born in New York City on March 4, 1946. He received his BA, MA, and PhD degrees in Political Science from the University of Michigan in 1966, 1968 and 1973, respectively. In 1971, Professor Breslauer joined the faculty of the Department of Political Science, University of California at Berkeley, as a specialist on Soviet politics and foreign relations. He advanced through the ranks to full professor of political science, was awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award of the Division of Social Sciences in 1997, and was appointed Chancellor’s Professor in 1998.

Professor Breslauer is the author or editor of 12 books on Soviet and Russian politics and foreign relations, most recently Gorbachev and Yeltsin as Leaders (Cambridge University Press, 2002). He has served as Editor of the scholarly quarterly, Post-Soviet Affairs (1992 to the present). Professionally, he also served on the Board of Trustees, National Council for Soviet and East European Research (1985-1991; Vice Chairman, 1988-1991), served on the Committee on the Contributions of the Social and Behavioral Sciences to the Prevention of Nuclear War, National Research Council (1986-1992), on the Board of Directors, American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies (1990-1993; Executive Committee, 1991-1993).

Professor Breslauer is a member of the American Political Science Association, the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, the World Affairs Council of Northern California, the Pacific Council on International Policy, and the Council on Foreign Relations (New York). At UC Berkeley, Professor Breslauer served as Chair of the Center for Slavic and East European Studies (1984-1994), Chair of the Department of Political Science (1993-1996), Dean of the Division of Social Sciences, College of Letters and Science (1999-2006), and Executive Dean of the College of Letters and Science (2005-2006).