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Brian Klaas

b. 1986

American political scientist and journalist (born 1986)

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About Brian Klaas

Born 1986. Brian Klaas is an American political scientist.

Brian Paul Klaas (born June 29, 1986) is an American political scientist, a contributing writer at The Atlantic, and a professor in global politics at University College London.

He co-authored How to Rig an Election (2018) and authored Corruptible: Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us (2021) and Fluke: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters (2024). Klaas was named one of the 25 top thinkers globally for 2025 by Prospect magazine.

Early life and education Klaas is from Golden Valley, Minnesota.

Career After completing his DPhil, he was a Fellow in Comparative Politics at the London School of Economics. In 2010, he was policy director and deputy campaign manager for Mark Dayton's successful bid for governor of Minnesota in 2010.

Klaas has been a frequent commentator in the media on US foreign policy and democratization. His articles have been published in The New York Times in 2015, The Financial Times, Foreign Affairs in 2016, Foreign Policy, the Los Angeles Times in 2017, and The Guardian in 2016, He appears regularly on MSNBC, CNBC, BBC, CNN and other outlets.

Klaas is a professor in global politics at University College London.

Publications The Despot's Accomplice: How the West is Aiding and Abetting the Decline of Democracy, Hurst, 2016, The Despot's Apprentice: Donald Trump's Attack on Democracy, Skyhorse Publishing, 2017, How to Rig an Election, Yale University Press, 2018, Corruptible: Who Gets Power and How It Changes Us, Scribner, 2021, Fluke: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters, Scribner, 2024,

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
Carleton College, New College, St Antony's College, Hopkins High School
Employers
London School of Economics and Political Science
Also known as
Brian Paul Klaas, Brian P. Klaas

People in Brian Klaas's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Brian Klaas's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Brian Klaas?

American political scientist and journalist (born 1986)

When was Brian Klaas born?

Brian Klaas was born on 29 June 1986 in Golden Valley.

What is Brian Klaas's occupation?

Brian Klaas is a political scientist.

What nationality is Brian Klaas?

Brian Klaas is American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Brian Klaas

· Wikidata: Q48471330

· DBpedia: Brian Klaas

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Brian Klaas. https://biography.guide/brian-klaas/

MLA: "Brian Klaas." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/brian-klaas/.

Chicago: "Brian Klaas." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/brian-klaas/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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