Category: Research Proposals
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Playing For Keeps: Power-Sharing in Civil Conflict Settlement and Durable Peace
By Sage Ware Abstract: In the complex process of civil conflict settlement, power sharing is often employed to mitigate tensions between opposing groups and balance the power. However, given the number of recurring civil conflicts in various regions, one must wonder just how effective power-sharing is in achieving durable peace. This paper explores the conditions…
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Contagion by Connection: Trade Networks and Autocratic Diffusion
By La-Min Lin Abstract: Democratic diffusion, the spread of democracy among states, is well-documented while autocratic diffusion remains less explored. Existing research on democratic diffusion through trade assumes a trend of continued democratization of states in the global trade system. However, contrary to expectations of democratic diffusion theory, autocratization is happening at record levels. I…
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Reviving the Dead? Bureaucratic Structure and the Persistence of Zombie IOs
By Celeste Kane Abstract: Why do some zombie international organizations (IOs)—those that persist in existence but deliver little output and fail to fulfill their founding missions—remain inactive and stagnant, while others manage to revive and regain functionality? This study argues that an IO’s bureaucratic structure, specifically its degree of organizational fragmentation and level of bureaucratic…
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Autocratic Isolation: How the Club of Autocrats Undermines Sanctions
By Daniel Golzari Abstract: Sanctions remain a central tool in international relations to influence or punish states violating global norms. Yet, their effectiveness against authoritarian regimes is debated, as such regimes frequently adopt sophisticated survival strategies. This research addresses an empirical puzzle: why are sanctioned autocracies shifting from isolationist mechanisms toward collective cooperation via authoritarian…
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When to Migrate: The Role of Social Networks in Shaping Migration Timing
By Sydney Garman Abstract: ow does the strength of social networks influence the timing of migration decisions? This paper argues that the timing of migration is significantly shaped by the strength of a migrant’s social network. Drawing on a vignette survey experiment that examines individuals who migrated during key election years—from Mexico to the United…
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Who Joins and Who Suffers? The Impact of Rebel Recruitment and Foreign Fighters on Anti-Civilian Violence
By Jordan Bellamy Abstract: Current literature agrees that the inclusion of foreign fighters (FFs) increases violence against civilians. However, the evidence behind this claim is mixed, with some groups limiting violence despite FFs in their ranks. This study considers rebel groups’ preexisting dynamics before FFs arrive- primarily their recruitment styles. Through a combination regression utilizing…
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More Bang for Your Buck? Earmarked Funding Stringency and Project Costs
By Hannah Bray Abstract: This capstone project proposes a research plan built on the emerging literature of earmarked funding in international relations. Earmarked funding (EF) is both on the rise and increasingly stratified between funds that are stringently earmarked and those that are less stringently earmarked. Previous works have found a negative relationship between EF…
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Buhaug (2006) Replication and Extension: The Addition of Foreign Aid
By Hannah Bray and Kaitlyn Andreala Abstract: Buhaug (2006) contributes both empirically and theoretically to the literature on civil war onset by disaggregating civil wars into two types based on rebel motivations determined by their capability. The puzzle Buhaug (2006) addressed relates to the mixed findings of ethnic fractionalization as a variable in the previous…
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Domestic Explanations for Autocratic Conflict Onset on Territorial Disputes
By Leonardo Gonzalez Abstract: This research explores the underlying domestic factors influencing autocratic regimes’ decisions to initiate conflict over territorial disputes. Specifically, the study investigates why some autocracies escalate territorial disputes into military conflicts while others refrain, despite similar external conditions. The central hypothesis posits that the level of threat posed by opposition groups, conceptualized…
