Jonathon P Sine

Writing that excavates the social scaffolding

I think, read, and write about how human societies evolve, function, interact, and flourish. My focus areas include political economy, international relations, evolutionary theory, psychology, philosophy, macroeconomics, history, and finance. In 2025 I received an Emergent Ventures grant to study China. My current research focuses on state capacity, industrial policy, and the deep history of state development.

One of my driving passions is fishing for experiences that change my mental models. I've spent time in 30+ countries, often in interesting fashion, such as driving from London to Mongolia in a broken-down Nissan Micra or taking a motor rickshaw across the entirety of India. I spent most of 2024 living in China, where among other things I liberated a chicken in a rural village, and I speak Chinese at roughly HSK6 equivalent.

The body ought to be trained as rigorously as the mind. I lift weights, run, and have recently gotten into BJJ.