Trained in Southeast Asian history, European intellectual history and anthropology, Professor Rafael's research interests include areas such as language and power, the politics of translation and literature, Comparative Colonialisms and nationalism, the social history of media and mediation, critical theory and anthropology, empire, race and gender. Much of his writing has been on the colonial and post-colonial Philippines and the United States.

Research/Teaching Areas: Asian American, Comparative Colonialisms, Empire and Colonialism, Historiography, Nationalism, Philippine and Filipino American, Race and Ethnicity, Southeast Asia, United States