Alex Thurston
Historian and scholar of area studies, contributing expertise on the rise and decline of regional specialists and U.S. foreign-policy institutions.
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Feb 1, 2026 • 10min
Bonus - The Decline of Area Experts w/ Alex Thurston (Preview)
Alex Thurston, historian of area studies and U.S. foreign-policy institutions. He traces midcentury integration of regional specialists into policymaking. He explores why that consensus unraveled, from technocratic shifts to routinized military action. He also examines institutional culture, changing diplomatic careers, and the retreat of foundations supporting area expertise.
