Nadya Hajj

What are the origins of institutions in anarchic settings? This central question guides my research. In particular, how do communities construct institutions without the direction of a state? My research examines the origins of institutions, namely property rights, in Palestinian refugee camps. Specifically, I examine the formation of property rights with respect to private assets (housing and construction industry sectors) and shared resources (water and electricity). I conduct in-depth and survey interviews in Palestinian refugee camps located throughout Lebanon and Jordan to answer my central research questions.

My teaching interests focus on comparative politics, comparative political economy, development and underdevelopment, qualitative methods, politics of the Middle East and North Africa, gender and Islam, and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

I am actively involved in Wellesley's Arab Women's Association and serve as the Political Science faculty liaison to the Political Science Major's Council.

Personal interests include running, watching old mystery movies, reading mystery novels, photography, and travel.