About Me

I am a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at Binghamton University, specializing in civil war dynamics, rebel governance, terrorism, and post-conflict political transformation. My research investigates why some rebel groups establish executive councils while others remain dominated by a single leader, and how these internal designs shape their wartime and post-conflict behavior.

My dissertation, Institutional Design in Armed Groups: Rebel Councils and Leadership Institutions, theorizes the organizational logic behind the creation of collective leadership institutions within armed groups. It argues that councils emerge as strategic forms of delegation that enable leaders to share authority, institutionalize decision-making, and ensure continuity beyond the battlefield. By analyzing an original global dataset of rebel organizations from 1973 to 2023, I show that groups most likely to establish councils are those that are forward-looking—prioritizing institutional durability and post-war political engagement over short-term military control.

Broadly, my work bridges the study of conflict processes, governance, and international relations, linking questions of internal design to external strategy. My research has been supported by the Dissertation Year Award and other fellowships recognizing its contribution to understanding how institutional design within insurgent movements influences negotiation behavior, organizational cohesion, and the transition from war to politics.

Interests

• Civil Wars
• Rebel Governance
• Terrorism
• Political Violence
• African Politics
• Human Rights