Research

My primary research agenda focuses on civil war resolution and the post-conflict environment. Drawing from insights in both international relations and comparative politics research, I am interested in understanding the mechanisms that generate both short- and long-term solutions to conflict. To that end, I have undertaken research on mediation, peace agreements, and power sharing in order to determine not only how violence can be ended in the short- and long-term, but also how these conflict resolution tools influence the quality of peace post-conflict. I also research the ways in which systemic-level variables influence occurrences of conflict and cooperation. Taken together, my research strengthens current understanding of how external actors and institutions shape domestic political, social, and economic processes in times of war and peace. See below for more information on my dissertation, publications, and working papers.

Publications

"Violence Beyond the Battlefield: Civilian Targeting, Sexual Violence, and Women’s Political Empowerment"

with Caroline Hartzell, Burcu Savun, and Jessica Stanton. Journal of Global Security Studies. Forthcoming.

"Civil War Mediation and the Conflict Environment: Does Regional Instability Influence the Onset of Mediation?"

with Kelly Kadera and Mark Crescenzi. International Studies Quarterly. 2023. [Link.]

"Pro-Government Militias and Civil War Termination."

with Chelsea Estancona. Conflict Management and Peace Science. 2022. [Link.]

"Peace Agreements and Women's Political Rights Following Civil War."

Journal of Peace Research: 2021. [Link.]

"Conflict Environments and Civil War."

with Rachel Myrick, Kelly M. Kadera, and Mark J.C. Crescenzi. Journal of Global Security Studies: 2020. [Link.] [Replication Files.]

"Mediation, Leverage, and the Crafting of Civil War Peace Agreements"

in Research Handbook on Mediating International Crises, eds. Jonathan Wilkenfeld, Kyle Beardsley, and David Quinn. Edward Elgar Publishing: 2019. [Link to Handbook; Chapter text available upon request]

"Finding a Peace That Lasts: Mediator Leverage and the Durable Resolution of Civil Wars."

Journal of Conflict Resolution, 61(7): August 2017 [Link.] [Replication Files (.zip)]

"The Reputation Trap of NGO Accountability."

with Stephen Gent, Mark J.C. Crescenzi, and Elizabeth Menninga. International Theory, 7(3): October 2015 [Link.]

Dissertation

Generating a Quality Peace: Negotiated Settlements and Governments’ Respect for Rights in the Wake of Civil War

Advisors: Mark J.C. Crescenzi (chair), Stephen E. Gent, Navin A. Bapat, Caroline A. Hartzell, and Kelly M. Kadera

Works in Progress

"Sharing or Excluding? Examining the Effects of Political Power Sharing on Women's Empowerment"

with Caroline Hartzell

"Regional Violence and Civil War Mediation: How Does Neighborhood Violence Shape Who Mediates? "

with Elizabeth Menninga

"Negative Peace: Pro-Government Militias and Post-Conflict Violence"

with Chelsea Estancona

"Catering to the Conflict: An Assessment of the Durability of Context-Specific Peace Agreements"

"Context-Specific Peace Agreements and Post-Conflict Outcomes"

"Quality over Quantity: Mediator Leverage and the Quality of Peace Agreements"

with Elizabeth J. Menninga