Welcome
I am doctoral candidate in Political Science at Binghamton University specializing in International Relations, American Politics and Methodology specifically focusing on terrorism, civil conflict, repression, non-state actors and U.S. Foreign Policy.
My primary research focuses on the interplay between the strategic decision calculus of terrorists and the targeted state's response using a combination of formal modeling and statistical methodologies. My dissertation advances a theory of conflict seeking behavior; transnational terrorists use attacks, in part, to maximize recruitment and by purposefully selecting 'the right' target, terrorists provoke indiscriminate retaliation. The indiscriminate nature and scale of retaliation turns previously apathetic civilians into active supporters. Subsequently, transnational terrorists seek target states where leaders are facing diversionary incentives as an attack will add further motivations for an aggressive counterterrorism response. If transnational terrorists select 'the right' target to attack and trigger indiscriminate retaliation, terrorists' recruitment costs are reduced.
Other research focuses on protest dynamics and state response and motivations for tactic/conflict strategy shifts by non-state actors in irregular conflict.
