Professor Don DeBats

Emeritus Professor

College of Business, Government and Law

place Social Science South (242)
GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, South Australia

Don DeBats is Professor and Head of American Studies and Director of the Jeff Bleich Center for the US Alliance in Digital Technology, Security, and Governance. His research interests cover contemporary and past US politics; he is a frequent commentator on current US politics and has written extensively on US political history.

His research appointments include the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the National Humanities Center of the United States, and the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities at the University of Virginia. He has been a Visiting Professor at the University of Virginia and the College of William and Mary in the United States.

His degrees are from Michigan State University (Mathematics) and the University of Wisconsin, Madison (MA, History) and PhD (major field: American History; minor field: Political Science).

His current research, supported by the Collaborative Research Division of the US National Endowment for the Humanities, combines the contemporary interest in "the social logic of politics" with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) methodologies to the study of past political engagement and networks, using unique individual level political records from 19th century America.

For the Jeff Bleich Centre he has written on cultural lag associated with the societal impact of rapid technological change.

Qualifications
  • Ph.D. The University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1974 - American History. Thesis entitled “Elites and Masses: Political Structure, Communication and Behavior in Ante-Bellum Georgia.” Minor Field: Political Science.
  • M.A. The University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1967 - American History.
  • B.A. Michigan State University, 1965 - Mathematics.

Professional Employment:

2019+ Director, The Jeff Bleich Centre for the US Alliance in Digital Technology, and Governance,

2012 – 2021 University of Virginia, Visiting Research Professor

2011 - 2014 Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies, Australian Defence College: Visiting Fellow

2009 - 2011 Flinders University, Interim Dean, School of International Studies;

1997+  Flinders University: Head of American Studies; Professor of American Studies; Professor of Politics.

2000 - 2001 College of William and Mary: Visiting Professor, Department of Government.

1989 - 1996 Flinders University: Head of American Studies, Reader in American Studies, Reader in Politics.

1988 - 1989 College of William and Mary: Visiting Professor, Department of Government.

Honours, awards and grants

2018 Award, American Political Science Association, Heinz Eulau Award for best article in the American Political Science Review, 2017 [with Matt Pietryka].

2018 Award, Political Networks Section, American Political Science Association, Political Ties Award for best published article on political networks in any journal, 2016-2018 [with Matt Pietryka].

2015–2016 Robert C. Vaughn Fellow, Virginia Humanities, the University of Virginia.

2016 Award, State Department, United States of America, Certificate of Appreciation.

2014 – 2017 Chair, Board of Directors of the Australian-American Fulbright Commission

2012 – 2016 Member, Board of Directors of the Australian-American Fulbright Commissionb

2012 – 2021 Fellow, Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, the University of Virginia. Research Fellow, the University of Virginia.

2012 Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning, Australian Federal Government, Department of Industry, Science, Research and Tertiary Education

2010 Research Fellowship, Government of Canada.

2009 Fellow, Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, the University of Virginia.

2007 Flinders University, Award for Outstanding Contribution to the University.

2001 - 2002 Fellow, National Humanities Center of the United States, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

1997 Research Fellowship, Government of Canada.

1994 National Endowment for the Humanities, Publication Subvention for Washington County.

1991 Canadian Airlines Canadian Studies Research Award.

Nationally and Internationally Competitive Research Grants

United States National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Collaborative Research Division

 2017-2021

 2012-2016

Australian Research Council (ARC) Large Grants Scheme:

2011-2014

2004-2006

2000-2002

1995-1998

1992-1994

1989-1991

1986-1988

1983-1985

1980-1982

1977-1979

ARC Small Grant/Flinders University Grant:

2008-2010

2003

1999

Key responsibilities

Board Memberships

2019 + Director, The Jeff Bleich Centre for the US Alliance in Digital Technology, Security, and Goverance.

2012 + Academic Advisory Board, Carnegie Mellon University, Australia.

Topic coordinator
AMST3013 The Alliance and the Rise of China
AMST3016 Internship Program: Washington DC
AMST1002 America and the World: The United States in a Global Context
AMST2002 American Politics
POLI3011 People and Politics: Australia, Canada and the United States
AMST7016 Honours Internship Program: Washington DC
AMST7001 American Studies Honours Thesis
Supervisory interests
Comparative US-Australia-Canadian intellectual history
Comparative US-Australia-Canadian political history
Comparative US-Australia-Canadian social history
US social and political history
Higher degree by research supervision
Current
Principal supervisor: American Political Science (5)
Expert for media contact
Canada
History - American
Politics
United States of America
Canadian Politics; Canadian Politics and Society
Comparative Australian-Canadian-US Politics and Political History
US Politics; US Political History; Politics and Society of the United States; US Foreign Policy; US Public Policy; US Elections
Available for contact via
Or contact the media team
+61 8 82012092
0427 398 713
Media expertise
  • Canada
  • History - American
  • Politics
  • United States of America
Interests
  • Canadian Politics; Canadian Politics and Society
  • Comparative Australian-Canadian-US Politics and Political History
  • US Politics; US Political History; Politics and Society of the United States; US Foreign Policy; US Public Policy; US Elections