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Photograph of Tamar Gutner

Tamar Gutner Associate Professor Politics, Governance & Economics

Degrees
Ph.D., Political Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; M.A., International Relations, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS); B.S., Radio/TV/Film, Northwestern University

Bio
Tamar Gutner’s research and teaching focuses on the performance and effectiveness of international organizations, particularly international financial institutions, and their role in global and regional governance. Her current work examines the history of collaboration between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, and the birth and design of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). She is the author of International Organizations in World Politics (CQ Press, 2023 and 2016) and Banking on the Environment: Multilateral Development Banks and Their Environmental Performance in Central and Eastern Europe (MIT Press). Her scholarly articles have appeared in journals such as International Organization, Review of International Organizations, and Global Environmental Politics. Dr. Gutner previously served as the SIS Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Graduate Education, and as the director of the MAIR, GGPS, and IER MA programs. In 2019 she was a Council on Foreign Relations Fellow at the IMF’s Independent Evaluation Office (IEO). She has received grants and fellowships from the Council on Foreign Relations, The Brookings Institution, MacArthur Foundation, International Studies Association, and the American Council of Learned Societies/Social Science Research Council. Prior to her academic career, she worked as a financial correspondent for AP-Dow Jones in New York and London.
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

  • SISG-762 Global Governance

  • SISU-280 Global/Comparative Governance

Spring 2025

  • SIS-709 Foundations of Global Govern

  • SISU-380 Topics in Global & Comp Govern: International Organizations

Scholarly, Creative & Professional Activities

Research Interests

Professor Gutner's research and teaching interests include global governance, international organizations, international political economy, the World Bank, IMF, AIIB, and ADB. Her research focuses on the performance and effectiveness of international organizations, particularly international financial institutions.

Selected Publications

  • The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank: China's Multilateral Experiment. Oxford University Press, forthcoming. 
  • International Organizations in World Politics, 2nd edition. CQ Press, 2023.
  • "Comparative MDB Country Strategies and Approaches: Lessons and Good Practices." Asian Development Bank Independent Evaluation Department, 2024.
  • "Why Create Another Development Bank? China and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)." In Contestation and Polarization in Global Governance, edited by Michelle Egan, Kolja Raube, Jan Wouters, and Julien Chaisse. Edward Elgar, 2023.
  • "Collaboration, Cooperation, Coordination: A History of the Bretton Woods Twins' Efforts to Work Together," Review of International Political Economy, 2023.   
  • With Michael Kell, Alisa Abrams, Louellen Stedman. "Working with Partners: IMF Collaboration with the World Bank on Macro-Structural Issues," IMF Independent Evaluation Office, 2020.
  • International Organizations in World Politics. CQ Press, 2016.
  • "The Politics of IO Performance,"special issue of Review of International Organizations 5:3. Co-edited with Alexander Thompson.   
  • "When Doing Good Does Not: The IMF and the Millennium Development Goals," in Who Governs the Globe? edited by Deborah D. Avant, Martha Finnemore, and Susan K. Sell (Cambridge 2010).   
  • Banking on the Environment: Multilateral Development Banks and Their Environmental Performance in Central and Eastern Europe. MIT Press, 2002.   
  • "World Bank Environmental Reform: Revisiting Lessons from Agency Theory," International Organization, 2005.  
  • "Explaining the Gaps between Mandate and Performance: Agency Theory and World Bank Environmental Reform," Global Environmental Politics, 2005.   
  • "The Political Economy of Food Subsidy Reform: The Case of Egypt," Food Policy, 2002.
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Work In Progress

Honors, Awards, and Fellowships

  • Council on Foreign Relations, International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured International Relations Scholars, 2019
  • Fellow, International Monetary Fund Independent Evaluation Office, 2019
  • American University School of International Service, Outstanding Faculty Mentor, 2017
  • Darrell Randall Award for Outstanding Service to the University Community, 2014
  • International Studies Association, Venture Research Workshop Grant, 2008
  • American University Curriculum Development Grant, 2008
  • American University School of International Service, Faculty Research Award 2003
  • American University Junior Faculty Teaching Release Program 2001-02
  •  SSRC International Dissertation Research Fellowship 1997-98
  • The Brookings Institution Research Fellowship in Foreign Policy Studies 1996-97
  • The Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS) Dissertation Award 1996-97
  • Harvard-MIT MacArthur Transnational Security Program, summer 1996 research grant

Professional Presentations

  • 2024. Paper. American Political Science Conference, “MDB Corporate Strategies as Flawed Accountability Mechanisms,” Philadelphia. 

  • 2023. Paper, with Rasmus Heltberg. International Studies Association Conference, “Conceptualizing and Evaluating IO Efforts to Work Together,” Montreal.

  • 2023. Paper. International Studies Association Conference, “China’s Strategy in International Financial Institutions,” Montreal.

  • 2022. Paper. European University Institute Workshop, “Global Order, International Organisations, and Organisational Options,” “How the IMF and World Bank Navigate Efforts to Work Together,” Fiesole.

  • 2022. Paper. Munich Technical University Workshop on China’s Role in Global Economic Governance,” “China’s Strategy in International Financial Institutions.” 

  • 2022. Paper. American Political Science Conference, “IMF-World Bank Collaboration: How the Bretton Woods Organizations Work Together,” Montreal.

  • 2021. Participant. International Organization Accountability Book Workshop. March.  

  • 2021. Panelist. American Evaluation Association. “Evaluating Intangible Aspects of How Organizations Work Together,” With Rasmus Heltberg. 

  • 2021. Moderator. “IMF Collaboration with the World Bank on Macro-Structural Issues: Outreach Event with the American University School of International Service.”

  • 2016. Chair. "Emerging Frontiers in the Global Economy." American Political Science Association Conference.

  • 2015. Paper. "Evaluating the IMF's Performance in the Global Financial Crisis." American Political Science Association Conference.

AU Experts

Area of Expertise

International financial institutions, World Bank, AIIB, European Investment Bank, international organizations, international environmental politics, international relations

Additional Information

Professor Gutner's research focuses on the performance and effectiveness of international organizations, particularly international financial institutions, and their role in global and regional governance. She is the author of International Organizations in World Politics (CQ Press) and Banking on the Environment: Multilateral Development Banks and Their Environmental Performance in Central and Eastern Europe (MIT Press). She is currently writing a book on the birth and design of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Dr. Gutner previously served as the SIS Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Graduate Education and director of two MA programs.

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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