Dr. Jonathan Wyrtzen

Biography

Jonathan Wyrtzen’s teaching and research engage questions related to empire, colonialism, state formation, non-state forms of political organization, ethnicity, nationalism, and religion in socio-political action. His work focuses on society and politics in North Africa and the Middle East, particularly with regards to the interactions catalyzed by the expansion of European empires in the region. His book, 'Making Morocco: Colonial Intervention and the Politics of Identity' (Cornell University Press, 2015), examines how European colonial intervention in Morocco from 1912 to 1956 established a new type of political field and transformed notions of politics and identity formation fundamentally. Wyrtzen's recent research intersects various themes, including the impacts of local and colonial struggles and the reimagination of political identities in the Middle East and North Africa. Wyrtzen has also published extensively, engaging with the legacy of colonialism and its implications on modern nationhood and identity in the region. His broad research interests address the historical and contemporary issues of nationalism and colonial legacies, heavily incorporating interdisciplinary approaches to understanding these complex subjects. Wyrtzen teaches a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses that delve into these topics and contribute to his scholarly impact in the field of Sociology and History, particularly as they relate to the Middle East and North Africa.

Research Interests

Courses