Dr. Ben Zdencanovic

Biography

Ben Zdencanovic is a historian specializing in United States history, with a focus on political economy and social policy. He received his PhD with distinction from Yale University in 2019, where his dissertation won the Edwin W. Small Prize. Prior to joining the University of Cambridge, he taught at the University of Chicago and held postdoctoral fellowships at UCLA and the Yale Jackson School for Global Affairs. His forthcoming book, "Island Enterprise: United States World Welfare, 1940–1955," will be published by Princeton University Press. He is currently working on a new book project entitled "Cold War Poverty: Race, Labor, Manpower and the U.S. Warfare/Welfare State." His research has been published in prestigious journals such as the Journal of Transatlantic Studies, Radical History Review, and Diplomatic History. In addition to academic writing, Ben has contributed to broader audiences through outlets such as the Boston Review, TIME, and the Washington Post. His research has received funding from several sources, including the White House Historical Association and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. In recognition of his work, Ben has won multiple awards including the D.C. Watt Prize from the Transatlantic Studies Association and the Outstanding Paper Prize from the American Political History Institute.

Research Interests