I study comparative politics and international relations with a particular emphasis on conflict and gender. My work investigates how citizens’ attitudes and behavior in conflict contexts are shaped by exposure to violence, societal narratives about outgroups, and gender dynamics. My research investigates several interrelated topics in these areas, including the impact of conflict-related sexual violence on community resistance, the effects of historical trauma on wartime mobilization, and the role intergenerational learning plays in allowing gender and group biases to endure. My research spans a variety of cross-national contexts, with a specialization in Eastern Europe and the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. By integrating theories from conflict scholars and psychologists, and employing mixed methodologies to uncover complex relationships, I offer the field insight into how emotions, identity and trauma shape political behavior in conflict.
To tackle these research questions, I use a diverse set of methods tailored to each specific theoretical issue and data challenge. I often draw on my regional expertise to collect original single-case data and apply sophisticated causal identification techniques to understand the underlying mechanisms of behavior in conflict settings. Additionally, I incorporate large-N statistical analyses and qualitative case studies to enrich my findings. My research has been featured in leading journals such as International Organization, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and Comparative Political Studies.
