Nisha Bellinger

Program Lead, Global Studies Program; MA Political Science Program Director, School of Public Service, Boise State University.

Associate Professor, Political Science and Global Studies, School of Public Service, Boise State University.

Assistant Professor, Political Science and Global Studies, School of Public Service, Boise State University.

Assistant Professor, Department of Social Sciences & Cultural Studies, Montana State University – Billings.

Adjunct Faculty, Department of Government, Stephen F. Austin State University.

Ph.D., Political Science, University of Missouri.
Primary Field: Comparative Politics, Secondary Field: International Relations.
Dissertation Title “The Political Economy of Human Well-Being.”

M.A., International Relations, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India.

B.A., Political Science (with Honors), St. Xavier’s College, University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India.

• Bellinger, Nisha. 2018. Governing Human Well-Being – Domestic and International Determinants. Palgrave Macmillan.

• Son, Byunghwan and Nisha Bellinger. 2022. “The Health Costs of Authoritarian Backsliding.” The Journal of Development Studies 58(5): 873-890.
• Bellinger, Nisha. 2022. “Rural Decentralization and Infant Mortality among Select Indian States: A Preliminary Analysis.” Contemporary South Asia 30(2): 202-209.

• Bellinger, Nisha. 2021. “Political Parties and Citizens’ Well-being among Non-Democratic Developing Countries.” Party Politics 27(6): 1144-1154.
• Bellinger, Nisha and Mathew Fails. 2021. “When does Oil Harm Child Mortality?” Political Research Quarterly 74(3): 645-657.
• Bellinger, Nisha and Kyle Kattelman. 2021. “Domestic Terrorism in the Developing World: Role of Food Security.” Journal of International Relations and Development 24: 306 – 332.

• Bellinger, Nisha and Byunghwan Son. 2019. “Political Parties and Foreign Direct Investment Inflows Among Developing Countries.” Political Studies 67(3): 712-731.
• Bellinger, Nisha Mukherjee. 2019 “Why Democracy Matters: Democratic Attributes and Human Well-Being.” Journal of International Relations and Development 22(2): 413-440.

• Bellinger, Nisha Mukherjee. 2018 “Democracy and Infant Mortality Within India: From Whether to Why.” European Political Science Review 10(1): 3-28.

• Bellinger, Nisha Mukherjee. 2017. “Voting and Human Rights in Democratic Societies.” Human Rights Review 18(3): 263-282.

• Krieckhaus, Jonathan, Byughwan Son, Nisha Mukherjee Bellinger, and Jason M. Wells. 2014. “Economic Inequality and Democratic Support.” The Journal of Politics 76(1): 139-151.

• Mukherjee, Nisha. 2013. “Party Systems and Human Well-Being.” Party Politics 19(4): 601-623.

• Mukherjee, Nisha and Jonathan Krieckhaus. 2012. “Globalization and Human Well-Being.” International Political Science Review 33(2): 150-170.

• Co-host, The Big Tent, Radio Boise, September 2021 – Present.
  Bellinger, Nisha. “Women’s Human Development Outcomes in India: A Closer Look at FDI Inflows, Economic Structure and Female Labor Force Participation,” in Environment, Sustainability, and Human Security (Volume III of Major Reference Set on Asian Politics, Economics, and Security, edited by Zhiqun Zhu). Singapore: World Scientific Publishing, 2022.

• Bellinger, Nisha. “What’s behind India’s dramatic pandemic surge? Here’s one factor: Too little competition in Parliament.” The Washington Post: Monkey Cage, June 2, 2021
• Roundtable Reviewer for “H-Diplo/ISSF Roundtable 12-10 on Feeding the Hungry: Advocacy and Blame in the Global Fight against Hunger”, H-Diplo, May 10 2021
• Bellinger, Nisha. February 25, 2021. “Globalization” Invited talk delivered to the Foreign Policy Association Great Decisions Curriculum.

• Bellinger, Nisha and Kyle Kattelman. 2020. “How the coronavirus increases terrorism threats in the developing world.” The Conversation.
• Bellinger, Nisha. April 16th, 2020. Radio Interview with The Big Tent, Radio Boise (Invited Guest).
• Bellinger, Nisha, Lane Gillespie, and Laura King. 2020. “Gendered Citizenship – Five Questions with Natasha Behl” Jen Schneider (Ed.) The Blue Review.

• Bellinger, Nisha. 2019. “What is Development? Let’s think beyond GDP per capita.” The Blue Review.
• Panel moderator for the panel “Democracy and the China Question”, Frank Church Conference, October 2019, Boise State University.
• Bellinger, Nisha. 2019. “The Politics of Global Inequality.” Talk delivered for The Mandela Washington Fellowship Boise State University.
• Bellinger, Nisha and Byunghwan Son. 2019. “Is authoritarianism bad for the economy? Ask Venezuela – or Hungary or Turkey.” The Conversation.
• Bellinger, Nisha. February 7th, 2019. Radio Interview with The Big Tent, Radio Boise (Invited Guest).

• Bellinger, Nisha. 2018. “Tracking Human Well-Being Globally: Political Determinants and Trends.” Social Science & Humanities Symposium, College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls, ID (Invited Talk).
• Bellinger, Nisha and Byunghwan Son. 2018. “Political Parties and Foreign Direct Investment Inflows Among Developing Countries.” The Political Science Association blog.
• Bellinger, Nisha. 2018. “India has a sexual assault problem that only women can fix.” The Conversation.
• Bellinger, Nisha. 2018. “The Politics of Human Well-Being.” The Blue Review.

• Bellinger, Nisha. 2017. “The Global Spread of Democracy in the Post-WW II Era.” Talk delivered for Frontiers of Democracy: Exploring the Past and Looking to the Future Montana State University Billings Library Lecture Series, Billings, MT.

• Bellinger, Nisha. 2016. Montana Poll, 30th Edition. Montana State University Billings.

• Bellinger, Nisha Mukherjee and Doh C. Shin. 2014. “Democracy and Quality of Life.” In: Michalos AC (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research. Springer, Dordrecht, Netherlands, pgs. 1526-1530.

• Islam, Md, Atikul (PI), Ahmed, Saleh (Co-PI), and Bellinger, Nisha (Co-PI). “Race and Ethnicity as the Determinants of Racialized Coastal Experiences in the Indian Ocean Region.” SSRC 2021 Transregional Collaborative Research Grant for USD $50,000. September 2021-August 2022.

• Bellinger, Nisha. Principal Investigator. “Decentralization, Local Government Capacity, and Health Outcomes in India.” for USD $113,657.817.

• “Political Parties and COVID-19 Policy: Subnational Trends in India.” (with Julie Vandusky-Allen).“The Political Economy of Misery.” (with Jonathan Krieckhaus and Byunghwan Son).

• Bellinger, Nisha. Regional Dynamics of Decentralization and Health Outcomes in the South Asian Region. (Book Manuscript).
• Bellinger, Nisha. Promoting Development: The Role of the INC and the BJP in post-Independence India. (Book Manuscript).

• “Decentralization and Human Development Trends in South Asia”, APSA, Seattle, 2021.
• “Political Parties and COVID-19 Policy: Subnational Trends in India.” (with Julie Vandusky-Allen), Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, Illinois, 2021.

• “Globalization and Women’s Well-Being in India.” International Studies Association, Honolulu, HI, 2020. (Canceled due to COVID-19).

• “The Health Costs of Authoritarian Backsliding” (with Byunghwan Son). Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, Illinois, 2019.
• “Wealth, Democracy, and Happiness” (with Jonathan Krieckhaus and Byunghwan Son). Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, Illinois, 2019.

• “Women in Civil Society, Politics, and Infant Mortality” (with Courtney Burns), Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, Illinois, 2018.

• “Human Security and Forced Migration in Africa”, United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), Accra, Ghana, 2017.

• “Political Representation and Human Health”, Association for Marketing & Health Care Research, Crested Butte, Colorado, 2016.
• “Democratic Attributes and Human Well-Being”, Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, Illinois, 2016.

• “Decentralization and Human Welfare”, Association for Marketing & Health Care Research, Steamboat, Colorado, 2015.

• “From Whether to Why: Democracy and Infant Mortality Within India – A New Perspective”, Association for Marketing & Health Care Research, Telluride, Colorado, 2014.
• “Human Rights and Citizens’ Participation”, Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, Illinois, 2014.

• “Democratic Attributes and Infant Mortality: Subnational Evidence from India”, Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, Illinois, 2013.

• “Democratic Attributes and Infant Mortality”, American Political Science Association, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2012.

• “Governance and Human Well-Being among Non-OECD countries”, Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, Illinois, 2011.

• “Party Systems and Human Well-Being”, International Studies Association – Midwest, St. Louis, Missouri, 2010.
• “The Impact of Globalization on Human Development” (with Jonathan Krieckhaus), Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, Illinois, 2010.

• “The Impact of District Magnitude on Human Development”, International Studies Association – Midwest, St. Louis, Missouri, 2009.

Boise State University

• The Politics of Inequality (Graduate)
• Advanced International Political Economy (Graduate)
• Money and Power (Undergraduate)
• Comparative Politics: Theories, Methods, and Political Processes (Undergraduate)
• Oil, Development, and Democracy (Undergraduate)
• Interdisciplinary Research Fundamentals (Undergraduate)

Montana State University – Billings

• Introduction to American Government (on campus and online)
• Introduction to Comparative Government
• Introduction to International Relations (on campus and online)
• American Foreign Policy
• Comparative Political Economy
• Democratization
• International Conflict
• Research Methods

Stephen F. Austin State University

• Introduction to American Government

University of Missouri

• Introduction to International Relations
• Comparative Political Systems

University of Missouri

• Power and Money (with Professor Jonathan Krieckhaus).
• Comparative Political Systems (with Professor Leslie Schwindt-Bayer).
• Third World Politics (with Professor K.C. Morrisson).
• Introduction to International Relations (with Professor Stephen Quackenbush).
• Comparative Political Systems (with Professor Moises Arce).

• POLS M.A. Thesis Supervisory Committee Chair for Yila Ataman, Boise State University, Spring 2022.
• POLS M.A. Thesis Supervisory Committee Member for Thomas Campbell, Boise State University, Spring 2022.
• POLS M.A. Thesis Supervisory Committee Member for Nicolas Hernandez, Boise State University, Spring 2022.
• PPA Ph.D. Thesis Supervisory Committee Member for Mackenzie Case, Boise State University, Spring 2022.

• POLS M.A. Thesis Supervisory Committee Member for Katie Kelshaw, Boise State University, Spring 2020.
• POLS M.A. Thesis Supervisory Committee Member for Sinan Nadarevic, Boise State University, Spring 2020.

• POLS M.A. Thesis Supervisory Committee Chair for Nicolás Adrián Diaz, Boise State University, Spring 2018.

• POLS M.A. Thesis Supervisory Committee Member for Wyndi Shaffner, Boise State University, Fall 2018.

• Commitment to Leadership Award 2021-2022, School of Public Service, Boise State University.
• SPS Faculty Fellow, Boise State University, Fall 2021 – Spring 2022.

• BUILD Certificate, Center for Teaching and Learning, Boise State University, Fall 2020.
• SPS Travel Grant, School of Public Service, Boise State University, Spring 2020.
• SPS Small Research Grant, School of Public Service, Boise State University, Fall 2021, Spring 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018, Spring 2018.

• Ten Before Tenure Program, Center for Teaching and Learning, Boise State University, Fall 2019.
• Commitment to Research Award 2018-2019, School of Public Service, Boise State University.

• CAS Travel Grant, College of Arts & Sciences, Montana State University – Billings, Spring 2017, Spring 2016, Spring 2015, Spring 2014.

• Provost’s Faculty Professional Development Fund, Montana State University – Billings, Fall 2015, Spring 2015, Fall 2013.

• Best Paper Award at the 2014 Association for Marketing & Health Care Research Conference for “From Whether to Why: Democracy and Infant Mortality Within India.”
• CARE Grant for research project titled “Democratic Attributes and Human Development”, Spring 2014.

• David M. Wood Excellence in Political Science Research Award, Department of Political Science, University of Missouri, 2011, 2012.

• The Edith Taylor Cherrian Scholarship, Department of Political Science, University of Missouri, 2009.
• Travel Grant, Department of Political Science, University of Missouri, 2009, 2010, 2011.

• Robin A. Remington Scholarship, Department of Political Science, University of Missouri, 2008.

• Father D’Cruz Politics Trophy, St. Xavier’s College, University of Mumbai, 2003, 2004.

• Frank Church Scholarship Committee, School of Public Service, Boise State University, Spring 2021 – Present.
• M.A. PAR Committee, Political Science, School of Public Service, Boise State University, Fall 2020 – Spring 2021.

• Program Lead for Global Studies Program and MA Political Science Program Director, School of Public Service, Boise State University, Fall 2020 – Present.
• Global Education Advisory Council, Fall 2020 – Present.
• M.A. Comprehensive Exam Committee, Political Science, School of Public Service, Boise State University, Fall 2020 – Present.
• M.A. Recruitment Committee, Political Science, School of Public Service, Boise State University, Fall 2020 – Present.
• POLS Curriculum Committee, Political Science, School of Public Service, Boise State University, Fall 2019/Spring 2020.
• Cluster Search Committee Chair, School of Public Service, Boise State University, Fall 2019/Spring 2020.

• Frank Church Institute Steering Committee, Boise State University, Fall 2017 – Spring 2019.
• PAR Reviewer, Boise State University, Spring/Summer 2019.
• Global Studies Student Association Advisor, School of Public Service, Boise State University, Fall 2018 – Fall 2019.
• POLS Search Committee Chair, School of Public Service, Boise State University, Fall 2018/Spring 2019.
• PPA PhD Program Subcommittee for Exit Interviews and Evaluation of Dissertations, School of Public Service, Boise State University, Fall 2018 – Summer 2019.
• PPA PhD Program Committee POLS liaison, School of Public Service, Boise State University, Fall 2018 – Fall 2019.

• Evaluation of Teaching Committee, Boise State University, Fall 2018 – Present.
• M.A. Admissions Committee, Political Science, School of Public Service, Boise State University, Fall 2018 – Present.

• Library Committee, Montana State University Billings (MSUB), Fall 2015 – Spring 2017.
• Arts & Sciences Curriculum Council, MSUB, Fall 2014 – Spring 2017.
• Organized Model United Nations for high school students at MSUB, Spring 2017 and Spring 2016.

• Search Committee, Department of Social Sciences & Cultural Studies, MSUB, Spring 2016.

• Outside Committee member, Department Rank & Tenure Committee, MSUB, Spring 2015.

• Search Committee, Department of Communications & Theatre, MSUB, Spring 2014.

• Referee for American Journal of Political Science, American Political Science Review, British Journal of Political Science, Comparative Political Studies, Democratization, European Journal of Political Research, Foreign Policy Analysis, International Interactions, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, International Studies Quarterly, International Political Science Review, Journal of Contemporary Asia, Journal of International Relations and Development, Journal of Politics, Latin American Research Review, Oxford Development Studies, Political Research Quarterly, Social Indicators Research.
• Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, Section Chair, Comparative Politics, Graduate Submissions, 2020. (Canceled)
• Pacific Northwest Political Science Association, Section Chair, Comparative Politics, 2018, 2019.
• Chair, Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association and American Political Science Association, 2021, 2019, 2014.
• Discussant, Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2016, 2014.
• Mentor at a publishing workshop for graduate students organized by Purdue University at the Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association, 2014.

• Bengali, Hindi – Native
• English – Fluent