Kirk Bowman
Professor
Member Of:
- Sam Nunn School of International Affairs
- Development Studies Program
Office Phone: 404-894-6435
Office Location: Habersham 145
Related Links:
Email Address: kirk.bowman@inta.gatech.edu
Overview
Dr. Kirk Bowman, Regents' Entrepreneur and Full Professor, joined the Georgia Tech faculty as an Assistant Professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs in 1998 and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2004 and Professor in 2014. He directs study abroad programs in Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, Spain and Uruguay. A specialist in Latin American politics and development, he is author/editor of six books and numerous journal articles, book chapters, and reference chapters. His current research projects focuses on the intersection of soccer and global politics/society. He has received research support from the National Institutes of Health, the Ford Foundation, the Social Science Research Council, Mr. Jon Wilcox, among others, and was a Fulbright Scholar. He was the University System of Georgia Excellence of Teaching 2007 recipient and the 2008 Carnegie-Case Professor of the Year for the state of Georgia.
Dr. Bowman is the co-founder and director of the international NGO Rise Up & Care (www.riseup.care). Rise Up & Care employs an innovative model of international community development that combines global development research, high-level performance organizations in the global south to transform youth, powerful documentary films by top local directors, and children's books illustrated by local street artists. Bowman co-produced six feature documentary films in Brazil (www.WomenofEarthfilm.com, www.badbirdiemanmovie.com, www.jongofevermovie.com). He has been quoted in press, including The Washington Post, The CSMonitor, Globo, and The National Post (Toronto).
Education:
- Ph.D. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
- MA University of Arizona
- BA University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Awards and
Distinctions:
Distinctions:
- Regents' Entrepreneur
- Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Professor of the Year, State of Georgia
- University of System of Georgia, Board of Regents Excellence in Teaching Award
Interests
Teaching Interests:
Teaching interests focus on study abroad courses on development, soccer, and politics in the Southern Cone (Argentina and Uruguay) and Iberia (Portugal and Spain). I have led nearly 30 summer study abroad programs and study abroad is the teaching that has the greatest impact and bring me the most joy.
On campus I teach Soccer & Global Politics, Comparative Politics, and Latin American Politics.
On campus I teach Soccer & Global Politics, Comparative Politics, and Latin American Politics.
Research Interests:
My current research interests revolve around the intersection of soccer & global politics/society. I have finished two books in a projected 6-book series on soccer & politics.
Research Fields:
- Comparative Politics: Regional Studies
- Cultural and Ethical Awareness
- Economic Development
- Globalization: Political Economy and Governance
Geographic
Focuses:
Focuses:
- Latin America and Caribbean
Issues:
- Inequality and Social Justice
- International Development
- Regional Development
Courses
- INTA-1050: The World Today
- INTA-2001: Careers In Intl Affairs
- INTA-2220: Govt& Pol-Western Europe
- INTA-2241: Govt Pol Soc-Lat America
- INTA-2698: Research Assistantship
- INTA-3203: Comparative Politics
- INTA-3241: Latin American Politics
- INTA-3242: Soccer & Global Politics
- INTA-3303: Pol Economy-Development
- INTA-3321: Pol Econ-Europe Integrat
- INTA-4241: Democracy-Third World
- INTA-4340: Latin American Economics
- INTA-4500: INTA Pro-Seminar
- INTA-4699: Undergraduate Research
- INTA-4803: Special Topics
- INTA-4811: Special Topics
- INTA-4812: Special Topics
- INTA-6202: Comparative Politics
- INTA-8000: Sci,Tech&Int'l Affairs I
- INTA-8001: Sci,Tech&Intl Affairs II
- INTA-8803: Special Topics
- INTA-8813: Special Topics
Publications
Recent Publications
Books
- Soccer, Globalization, and Innovation: The Beautiful Game in the 21st Century
Date: 2025
- Reimagining Global Philanthropy: The Community Bank Model of Social Development
Date: July 2021
Chapters
- Environmental Sustainability, Greenwashing in Soccer, and Innovative Solutions to Reduce Carbon Emissions from Team and Fan Travel.
In: Soccer, Globalization, and Innovation: The Beautiful Game in the 21st Century [Peer Reviewed]
Date: 2025
- The Causes and Consequences of the Americanization of the Beautiful Game in Europe
In: Soccer, Globalization, and Innovation: The Beautiful Game in the 21st Century [Peer Reviewed]
Date: 2025
- Using Soccer Data from Professional Teams to Train Young Women Analysts: The Case of Pink Codrs and Kaizer Chiefs FC.
In: Soccer, Globalization, and Innovation: The Beautiful Game in the 21st Century [Peer Reviewed]
Date: 2025
All Publications
Books
- Soccer, Globalization, and Innovation: The Beautiful Game in the 21st Century
Date: 2025
- Reimagining Global Philanthropy: The Community Bank Model of Social Development
Date: July 2021
- Lessons from Latin America: Innovations in Politics, Culture, and Development
Date: September 2014
- Peddling Paradise: The Politics of Tourism in Latin America
Date: April 2013
- Militarization, Democracy, and Development: The Perils of Praetorianism in Latin America
Date: 2004
Journal Articles
- Policy Choice, Social Structure and International Tourism in Buenos Aires, Havana, and Rio de Janeiro
In: Latin American Research Review [Peer Reviewed]
Date: October 2013
- Noisy Regimes, Causal Processes, and Democratic Consolidation: The Case of Costa Rica
In: The Latin Americanist, [Peer Reviewed]
Date: March 2007
- Measuring Political Democracy: Data Adequacy, Measurement Error, and Central America.
In: Comparative Political Studies [Peer Reviewed]
Date: October 2005
- Pura Vida:Using Study Abroad to Engage Undergraduate Students in Comparative Politics Research
In: PS: Politics and Society [Peer Reviewed]
Date: January 2005
- From Popular Medicine to Medical Populism: Doctors, Healers, and Public Power in Costa Rica,
In: The Latin Americanist,
Date: 2005
- J. Patrice McSherry's Predatory States: Operation Condor and Covert War in Latin America
In: New Political Science: a journal of politics and culture
Date: 2005
- The Causes and Consequences of Electoral Reform
In: Electoral Law Journal
Date: 2003
- Will Vote for Food? Regime-Type and Food Consumption in the Developing World.
In: Politics and Policy [Peer Reviewed]
Date: December 2002
- Guest Commentary on 2001 Nicaraguan Elections
In: Latin American Advisor
Date: October 2001
- The Public Battles over Militarisation and Democracy in Honduras, 1954-1963
In: Journal of Latin American Studies [Peer Reviewed]
Date: August 2001
- Did Elite Compromise and Consensus Lead to Democratic Consolidation in Costa Rica? Evidence from the 1950s
In: Revista de Historia [Peer Reviewed]
Date: June 2001
- The Military and Guardian Democracy in Contemporary Guatemala
In: Journal of Third World Studies
Date: 2001
- American Government: Freedom and Power
Date: 2000
- New Scholarship on Costa Rican Exceptionalism
In: Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs
Date: 1999
- Taming the Tiger in Honduras
In: Latin American Studies Forum
Date: 1999
- “Demanding Democracy: Reform and Reaction in Costa Rica and Guatemala, 1870s-1950s,
In: Hispanic American Historical Review
Date: 1999
- Should the Kuznets Effect Be Relied on to Induce Equalizing Growth
In: World Development [Peer Reviewed]
Date: 1997
- Taming the Tiger: Militarization and Democracy in Latin America
In: Journal of Peace Research [Peer Reviewed]
Date: August 1996
- The Border as Locator and Innovator of Vice
In: Journal of Borderlands Studies [Peer Reviewed]
Date: 1994
- Capitalist Development and Democracy
In: Washington Report on the Hemisphere,
Date: 1993
- Sustainable Tourism and State Capacity: Keep it local, simple, and fuzzy,
In: International Journal of Culture, Tourism, and Hospitality Research [Peer Reviewed]
Chapters
- Environmental Sustainability, Greenwashing in Soccer, and Innovative Solutions to Reduce Carbon Emissions from Team and Fan Travel.
In: Soccer, Globalization, and Innovation: The Beautiful Game in the 21st Century [Peer Reviewed]
Date: 2025
- The Causes and Consequences of the Americanization of the Beautiful Game in Europe
In: Soccer, Globalization, and Innovation: The Beautiful Game in the 21st Century [Peer Reviewed]
Date: 2025
- Using Soccer Data from Professional Teams to Train Young Women Analysts: The Case of Pink Codrs and Kaizer Chiefs FC.
In: Soccer, Globalization, and Innovation: The Beautiful Game in the 21st Century [Peer Reviewed]
Date: 2025
- Militaries and Modern States: The Comparative Evidence from Costa Rica and Honduras?”
Date: 2013
- El fenóneno de la internacionalización de PyMes: Que se puede aprender del mundo del deporte
Date: 2010
- Battle for the Heart of the Heavyweight: Anti-Americanism in Brazil
Date: 2006
- Measuring Political Democracy: Data Adequacy, Measurement Error, and Central America
Date: October 2005
- The U.S.-Mexican Border as Locator of Innovation and Vice
Date: 2005
- Democracy on the Brink: José Figueres and the Elections of 1958
Date: 2004
- Belize
Date: 1999
- Republic of Costa Rica
Date: 1999
- The Republic of Honduras
Date: 1999
- Urbanization and Political Instability in the Middle East
Date: 1997
- Critical Junctures, Path Dependency, and the Rise and Potential Demise of US Women’s Soccer
In: Soccer, Globalization, and Innovation: The Beautiful Game in the 21st Century [Peer Reviewed]
Working Papers
- Catch Up, Convergence, and Growth in Latin America
Date: 2001
- Economic Convergence and Trade Integration in Latin America
Date: 2001
- Does Area Matter? Regional Explanations for Economic Growth Performance in LDCs
Date: 2000
- Global Cities and Policy Innovation
Internet Publications
- Beach Blanket Bushy
Updated: Feb 5th, 2026 at 11:45 AM