Ruth Ben-Ghiat

Ruth Ben-Ghiat (born April 17, 1960) is an American history professor and political commentator. She is a scholar on fascism and authoritarian leaders. Ben-Ghiat is a professor of history and Italian studies at New York University.

Biography Born in the United States to a Scottish mother and an Israeli Sephardi Jewish father, she grew up in Pacific Palisades, California. She has a history degree from UCLA and obtained her Ph.D. in comparative history at Brandeis University. A member of the American Historical Association since 1990, she is a professor of history and Italian studies at New York University.

Ben-Ghiat was the Spring 2023 Dan and Maggie Inouye Distinguished Chair in Democratic Ideals at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

She regularly writes for CNN, The Atlantic, and The Huffington Post. She is an advisor to Protect Democracy, an organization opposing attacks on U.S. democracy.

Works Books

Journal articles

Ph.D. dissertation