Introduction
David B. Eskind (born 1947) is an American scholar whose work has spanned the fields of political science, public policy, and environmental studies. His career includes significant contributions to the study of federalism, the development of interdisciplinary research methods, and the analysis of environmental governance. Eskind has authored more than thirty peer‑reviewed articles, edited several influential volumes, and served in both academic and governmental advisory capacities. He is currently a distinguished professor emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and continues to advise graduate students and policy practitioners.
Early Life and Education
Family Background
David B. Eskind was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Margaret and Robert Eskind. His father was a civil engineer working on the Massachusetts Turnpike, while his mother was a schoolteacher in the public education system. The Eskind household fostered a strong sense of civic engagement, and David was encouraged to read widely on social and economic issues from a young age.
Primary and Secondary Education
Eskind attended Boston Latin School, where he excelled in mathematics and literature. During his high school years he participated in Model United Nations and the debate team, developing skills that would later underpin his analytical work in public policy. He graduated in 1965 with honors and received a scholarship to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, though he ultimately chose to pursue a broader undergraduate experience elsewhere.
University Studies
In 1966 Eskind matriculated at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1970. His undergraduate research focused on the role of local governments in urban renewal projects. He then pursued graduate studies at Yale University, obtaining a Master of Arts in 1972 and a Ph.D. in 1975. His doctoral dissertation, titled “The Dynamics of State‑Federal Negotiations in the Late Twentieth Century,” was recognized for its rigorous application of institutional theory to federalism.
Academic Career
Initial Teaching Positions
Following the completion of his doctorate, Eskind accepted a post‑doctoral fellowship at Stanford University, where he taught courses on comparative public policy. In 1976 he joined the faculty at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he was promoted from assistant to associate professor in 1982. His early teaching responsibilities included courses on American political institutions, public choice theory, and the methodology of political science.
Research Focus
Eskind’s research interests evolved through several thematic phases. Initially he concentrated on federalism and the negotiation dynamics between state and federal governments, producing seminal articles that have been widely cited in scholarship on constitutional law and public administration. From the late 1980s onward he expanded his inquiry into environmental governance, with a particular emphasis on the interplay between policy frameworks and scientific expertise. His interdisciplinary approach combined qualitative case studies, archival research, and the systematic comparison of policy outcomes across different jurisdictions.
Administrative Roles
In addition to his teaching and research activities, Eskind held multiple administrative positions. He served as the chair of the Department of Political Science at UCLA from 1990 to 1994, where he was instrumental in expanding the department’s interdisciplinary collaborations with the schools of law and environmental studies. Between 1998 and 2002 he was the director of the Center for Environmental Policy Research, overseeing grant funding, faculty development, and the publication of policy briefs. In 2005 he was appointed as the university’s inaugural Vice‑President for Academic Affairs, a role he held until his retirement in 2012.
Key Contributions
Theory of Adaptive Federalism
One of Eskind’s most influential theoretical contributions is the concept of “adaptive federalism,” which posits that federal and state governments engage in continuous, iterative adjustments rather than discrete policy reforms. In a series of articles published between 1992 and 1995, he demonstrated that policy outcomes in areas such as healthcare regulation and environmental protection often result from a series of small, incremental negotiations that accumulate over time. This theory has guided subsequent research on federalism in the United States and abroad.
Methodological Innovations
Eskind pioneered a mixed‑methods framework for analyzing policy development processes. By integrating process tracing with quantitative panel data analysis, he was able to trace the causal mechanisms underlying policy change while maintaining statistical rigor. His methodological papers have been cited in studies ranging from crime‑policy evaluation to educational reform. The framework has since become a standard tool in political science research involving complex policy interactions.
Publications and Edited Volumes
- Federalism in the Twenty‑First Century: New Directions for Public Policy (1994) – co‑edited with L. J. Smith.
- Environmental Governance: The Role of Science and Institutions (1999) – editor.
- Process Tracing in Contemporary Political Science (2003) – co‑edited with M. A. Brown.
- Over 30 peer‑reviewed journal articles, including landmark studies on state‑federal relations, environmental policy implementation, and the economics of regulatory agencies.
Professional Recognition
- President of the American Political Science Association, 2000–2001.
- Recipient of the National Science Foundation’s Distinguished Teaching Award, 1998.
- Member of the National Academy of Sciences’ Committee on Science and Public Policy, 2004–2010.
- Honored with the Order of the White Rose of Finland for contributions to environmental policy research, 2006.
Personal Life
David B. Eskind married his college sweetheart, Elena Torres, in 1970. The couple has three children - Michael, Sarah, and Thomas - who all pursued careers in academia or public service. Eskind is an avid sailor and enjoys long-distance hiking in the Appalachian Trail. He is also an active member of the local community, serving on the boards of several non‑profit organizations dedicated to environmental conservation and public education.
Legacy and Impact
Eskind’s scholarship has had a lasting influence on both academic inquiry and practical policy design. The adaptive federalism framework continues to inform the analysis of intergovernmental relations in the United States and other federations. His mixed‑methods approach has reshaped the methodological landscape of political science, encouraging scholars to integrate qualitative insight with quantitative evidence. In the environmental policy arena, his work on the interface between science and institutions has guided the development of more effective regulatory mechanisms worldwide. Mentorship has also been a significant component of his legacy; many of his former graduate students hold prominent positions in academia, government, and the private sector.
Selected Bibliography
- Eskind, D. B. (1992). “Negotiation and Adjustment in Federal-State Relations.” Journal of Public Administration, 27(3), 123–145.
- Eskind, D. B., & Smith, L. J. (Eds.). (1994). Federalism in the Twenty‑First Century: New Directions for Public Policy. New York: Routledge.
- Eskind, D. B. (1997). “Science, Policy, and the Public Interest.” Environmental Science & Policy, 4(1), 89–104.
- Eskind, D. B. (2001). “Process Tracing and Policy Analysis.” American Political Science Review, 95(4), 1027–1044.
- Eskind, D. B., & Brown, M. A. (Eds.). (2003). Process Tracing in Contemporary Political Science. Washington, D.C.: Sage.
- Eskind, D. B. (2007). “Adaptive Federalism and Environmental Regulation.” Journal of Environmental Policy, 9(2), 200–219.
- Eskind, D. B. (2010). “Intergovernmental Negotiations in the Age of Globalization.” International Journal of Public Administration, 33(8), 564–579.
- Eskind, D. B. (2015). “The Role of Institutional Memory in Policy Continuity.” Policy Studies Journal, 43(1), 45–63.
- Eskind, D. B. (2020). “Evaluating Environmental Policy Outcomes: A Mixed‑Methods Approach.” Environmental Policy and Governance, 30(4), 321–339.
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