headshot of Mara Loveman wearing a blue scarf

Research Bio

Mara Loveman is a political and comparative-historical sociologist with broad interests in ethnoracial politics, nationalism, and the state.  Her research interests also include the sociology of development, the demography of ethnoracial difference and inequality, and human rights, with a regional focus on Latin America.

Mara Loveman is Professor and Class of 1936 First Chair in Letters & Science. She joined the UC-Berkeley sociology department in Fall of 2013. From 2003-2013, she was a faculty member in the sociology department at UW-Madison. She earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from UCLA and her B.A. in Political Economy of Industrial Societies, Latin American Studies, and Spanish and Portuguese from UC-Berkeley.

Research Expertise and Interest

comparative and historical sociology, political sociology, ethnoracial politics, development, demography, Latin America

Teaching

Courses taught during the three most recent terms
2026 Spring
  • Directed Reading  [DEMOG 298]  

  • Directed Research  [DEMOG 299]  

  • Individual Study for Doctoral Students  [DEMOG 602]  

  • Independent Study for Graduate Students in Sociology  [SOCIOL 295]  

  • Directed Dissertation Research  [SOCIOL 296]  

  • Individual Study for Doctoral Students  [SOCIOL 602]  

2025 Fall
  • Supervised Independent Study and Research  [SOCIOL 199]  

  • Independent Study for Graduate Students in Sociology  [SOCIOL 295]  

  • Directed Dissertation Research  [SOCIOL 296]  

  • Individual Study and Research  [SOCIOL 299]  

  • Individual Study and Research  [SOCIOL 299]  

  • Professional Training: Teachers  [SOCIOL 301]  

  • Individual Study for Doctoral Students  [SOCIOL 602]  

2025 Summer
  • Directed Dissertation Research  [SOCIOL 296]  

  • Directed Dissertation Research  [SOCIOL 296]  

  • Directed Dissertation Research  [SOCIOL 296]  

2025 Spring
  • Special Topics in Demography Seminar  [DEMOG 260]  

  • Directed Reading  [DEMOG 298]  

  • Directed Research  [DEMOG 299]  

  • Individual Study for Doctoral Students  [DEMOG 602]  

  • Seminar  [SOCIOL 290]  

  • Independent Study for Graduate Students in Sociology  [SOCIOL 295]  

  • Directed Dissertation Research  [SOCIOL 296]  

  • Individual Study for Doctoral Students  [SOCIOL 602]