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William LeoGrande Associate Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Government

Degrees
PhD, Syracuse University
MA, Syracuse University
BA, Syracuse University

Bio
Professor of Government and a specialist in Latin American politics and U.S. foreign policy toward Latin America, Professor LeoGrande has been a frequent adviser to government and private sector agencies. He has written five books, including Our Own Backyard: The United States in Central America, 1977 – 1992. Most recently, he is coauthor of . Previously, he served on the staffs of the Democratic Policy Committee of the United States Senate, and the Democratic Caucus Task Force on Central America of the United States House of Representatives. Professor LeoGrande has been a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow, and a Pew Faculty Fellow in International Affairs. His articles have appeared in various international and national journals, magazines and newspapers.




See Also
SPA Department of Government
For the Media
To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.

Teaching

Fall 2024

  • GOVT-899 Doctoral Dissertation

Spring 2025

  • GOVT-450 Politics in Cuba

Scholarly, Creative & Professional Activities

Selected Publications

William M. LeoGrande on U.S.-Cuban Relations since December 17, 2014

  • "Unlikely Allies:ÌýU.S. and Cuban Armed Forces," in the Cuba Reset series of the blog, February 11, 2016.
  • "A Long Road to Havana,"Ìý, no. 20 (Winter 2015-2016):Ìý108-120.
  • "Obama Needs to Stop Playing Small Ball With Cuba," (online), February 1, 2016.
  • "Let's Make a Deal:ÌýDoing Business inÌýCuba,"Ìý, December 20, 2015.
  • "A New Crisis of Cuban Migration,"Ìý, December 4, 2015.
  • "U.S.-Cuba NormalizationÌýAllows Mexico andÌýCuba to Repair Old Ties," , November 30, 2015.Ìý
  • Peter Kornbluh andÌýWilliam M. LeoGrande, "Cuba Confidential,"Ìý, September-October 2015.
  • "Manufacturing Crisis:ÌýCuban Troops in Syria," , October 29, 2015.
  • "Sabotaging Obama's Cuba Policy,"Ìý, September 19, 2015.
  • "Stop Punishing Cuba's People,"Ìý, August 14, 2015.
  • "Getting to Maybe:ÌýNext Steps in Normalizing U.S.-Cuba Relations,"Ìý, August, 11, 2015.
  • "Fund theÌýUS Embassy in Havana,"Ìý, July 20, 2015.
  • "Beyond Symbolism, Restoring Ties with Cuba Has Practical Benefits,"Ìý online, July 1, 2015.
  • "Our Right to Travel to Cuba,"Ìý, June 7, 2015.
  • "Normalizing US-Cuba Relations:ÌýEscaping the Shackles of the Past,"ÌýÌý91:Ìý3 (May 2015) 473-488.
  • "Diplomatic Travel Blocks U.S.-Cuban Ties," , April 14, 2015.
  • "TheÌýEnd of theÌýBogeyman:ÌýThe Political Repercussions of theÌýU.S.-Cuban Rapprochement," in AU/SSRC Symposium, Implications of Normalization:ÌýScholarly Perspectives on U.S.-Cuban Relations, April 2015.
  • "Delisted in Havana:ÌýTakingÌýCuba Off theÌýState Sponsors ofÌýTerrorism List," , April 9, 2015.
  • "Five Things Cuba Can Do to Speed theÌýNormalization of Relations With the United States,"Ìý, March 5, 2015.
  • "From Hard Power to Soft:ÌýTheÌýShift in U.S. Policy toward Cuba," in Stefanie Ehmsen, Albert Scharenberg, Torge Löding (eds.), (Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, February 2015):Ìý2-8.
  • "The Last Gasp of theÌýCuban Collapsniks,"Ìý online, February 25, 2015.
  • "Normalizing Relations With Cuba:ÌýThe Unfinished Agenda,"Ìý online, January 30, 2015.
  • "Why Real Change in Cuba Won't Come Easy or Fast,"Ìý, December 27, 2014.
  • "The Breakthrough WithÌýCuba:ÌýHow It Happened and What Happens Next,"Ìýinvited lead post in blog series, "90 Miles:ÌýRethinking theÌýFuture ofÌýU.S.-Cuba Relations,"ÌýJanuary 1, 2015.
  • "A New Dawn in Cuba,"Ìý online, December 17, 2014.

Media Appearances

C-SPAN, "", February 29, 2016.

PBSÌýNewshour, "", February 18, 2016.

AU Experts

Area of Expertise

Congress and foreign policy; U.S.–Latin American politics and relations; Cuban history, politics, and relations with the United States; El Salvador; Nicaragua

Additional Information

William M. LeoGrande has written widely in the field of Latin American politics and U.S. foreign policy, with a particular emphasis on Central America and Cuba. LeoGrande most recently co-authored Back Channel to Cuba: The Hidden History of Negotiations Between Washington and Havana. He is the author of Our Own Backyard: The United States in Central America, 1977–1992.He also is an expert on Congress and foreign policy; Cuban history, politics, and relations with the United States; El Salvador; and Nicaragua. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. LeoGrande is coauthor of Confronting Revolution: Security through Diplomacy in Central America and coeditor of both A Contemporary Cuba Reader: Remaking the Revolution and Political Parties and Democracy in Central America. His articles have appeared in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Latin American Research Review, the New York Times, and Los Angeles Times; Miami Herald; Le Monde; and other journals and newspapers. His radio and television appearances include spots on PBS NewsHour,PBS Charlie Rose,ABC’s Nightline, Larry King Live, WAMU's Diane Rehm Show, and several network evening news broadcasts.

For the Media

To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.

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