Primary fields 

• Comparative politics 
• International relations 
• Public law 

Specializations 

• Africa 
• State building and state collapse 
• Institutions 
• Developmental politics 
• Political economy 
• Conflict processes 
• International law 
• Environmental law and politics 
• Narcotics and the War on Drugs 

Background 

John Froitzheim received his doctorate in foreign affairs from the University of  Virginia in 2009, an LL.M. (transnational business practice) from McGeorge  School of Law, a JD from St. John’s University School of Law and his bachelor's  (political science and history) from SUNY Stony Brook. As an attorney, he has  worked abroad in Singapore and in New York, where he specialized in business  transactions. He has served as a consultant to the World Bank, for the Global  Partnership on Disabilities and Development, and with both non-profit and  private companies engaged in international development. His work has ranged  from helping disabled persons organizations in Brazil to the training of members  of civil society organizations in Georgia and Armenia. 

John’s academic interests focus on the politics of developing countries, especially  Africa, and the building and collapse of institutions. His dissertation focused on  state building and democratization in Botswana and Mauritius. He has  presented research at the American Political Science Association’s Annual  meetings on topics ranging from African state formation, comparative  methodology, civil-military relations, democratization and accountability, 

urbanization in the third world and violence, and globalization and the spread of  infectious diseases. Prior to joining the faculty at Virginia Commonwealth  University, John taught at the University of Virginia, the College of William & Mary  and University of Mary Washington. He is currently focusing his research on  modern state formation and collapse and also on international environmental  issues. 

John lives with his wife in Williamsburg. He volunteers with the Central Virginia  Legal Aid Society’s Farm Workers Program and enjoys reading, movies and  travel. 

Past courses 

• Introduction to International Relations 
• Introduction to Comparative Politics 
• Politics of Developing Countries 
• Politics of Africa 
• Global Environmental Governance 
• Environmental Law and Governance 
• Constitutional Law 
• War on Drugs