Research

My research interests comprise a fairly broad set of topics that could be classified as international relations. I am especially interested in understanding the relationship between economics and conflict. This includes the economic foundations of war, the use of economic tools to influence the outcomes of international disputes, and the resolution of economic conflict. I also find the interaction between domestic politics and international relations to be fascinating. My interest in this area has led to a number of productive cross-subfield collaborations, which I hope to continue in the future.

Below, you can find some of the projects on which I am currently working. If you are interested in my published works, you can find them here.

Current Projects and Working Papers

When and Why Do European Firms Pull Back from China?

With Aydin Yildirim and Arlo Poletti

This project examines whether European firms are divesting from China in response to rising geopolitical tensions, anti-globalization sentiment, and policy incentives for reshoring. Using an original firm-level dataset of European ownership positions in China from 2008–2023, we analyze how geopolitical distance, domestic political attitudes, and industrial policy shape firms’ decisions to reduce investment exposure to China.

Revise and resubmit at Business & Politics.

Rebel Endowments and Mobilization Strategies in Civil Wars

With Michael J. Soules, Olayinka Otesanya, and Tanya Bagashka

This project examines why some rebel organizations recruit fighters through ideological appeals while others rely more heavily on material incentives. We argue that recruitment strategies are shaped not only by access to economic resources, but also by organizational goals and social foundations. In particular, secessionist groups are especially likely to mobilize around ideological appeals because they tend to possess stronger social cohesion and deeper mobilization networks.

Under review

Insurgents' Peer-Relative Power and Civil War Outcomes

With Kerim Can Kavaklı

We argue that the willingness of a government to make concessions to a rebel group depends upon the economic pain that insurgents can inflict relative to other rebel organizations. We combine georeferenced battle data with data on nighttime light emissions to examine whether groups that threaten more economically valuable areas are more likely to obtain favorable political outcomes.

Under review

Combat Experience and Attitudes toward the Use of Force

With Jonathan D. Klingler

This project examines how combat exposure shapes public attitudes toward the use of military force. Drawing on survey evidence, we explore whether combat experience produces more hawkish or more restrained foreign policy preferences among veterans relative to non-combat veterans and civilians.

Under review

How the United States Builds International Coalitions and Compensates Partners: Evidence from Economic Sanctions

With Kerim Can Kavaklı

This project examines how the United States builds sanctioning coalitions and compensates partners. We use measures of market power to study how the United States seeks partners that can complement its economic leverage over target states, and how it designs compensation schemes that benefit partners that either hold significant power over the target or are particularly vulnerable to countersanctions.

Military Service, Combat Experience, and Voting Behavior

With Jonathan D. Klingler and Ioannis L. Vassiliadis

This project examines how military service and combat experience shape voting behavior in the United States. Using original survey data, we distinguish between officers and enlisted personnel, combat and non-combat veterans, and the effects of selection versus socialization in explaining veterans’ political preferences.

Advice and Consent in the American Civil War: Senate Voting on Military Nominations

With Gary E. Hollibaugh, Jr.

This project examines Senate confirmation voting on Union military nominations during the American Civil War. We show that confirmation outcomes were shaped not only by military experience and battlefield conditions, but also by political and institutional dynamics within the appointments process.

Out of Sight, Out of Rights? Digital Responses to Protests in Democratic Territorial Possessions

With Burak Giray

This project examines public attitudes toward government regulation of digital platforms. Using survey experiments focused on TikTok bans, we analyze how democratic values, foreign interference framing, and territorial context shape support for restrictions on social media platforms.