“The Conflict Research Society congratulates Janet I. Lewis on winning the 2021 Conflict Research Society Book of the Year Prize for her book titled How Insurgency Begins: Rebel Group Formation in Uganda and Beyond published by Cambridge University Press (2020).”
Project Category: News
“The Origins of Overthrow” by Payam Ghalehdar, Visiting Scholar ’12-’13
Payam Ghalehdar, ISCS Visiting Scholar in 2012-2013, is the author of the recently published book, The Origins of Overthrow: How Emotional Frustration Shapes US Regime Change Interventions.
About the Book
Why has the United States repeatedly engaged in the overthrow of foreign leaders and regimes? Although most regime change interventions have neither furthered US national security nor improved the fate of targeted states, the US has turned to this foreign policy instrument in at least sixteen cases from 1906 to 2011.
In The Origins of Overthrow, Payam Ghalehdar explains US-imposed regime change by focusing on its emotional underpinnings. Based on a thorough analysis of the emotional state of five US presidents, he shows how “emotional frustration”-an emotional syndrome that combines hegemonic expectations, perceptions of hatred in target state obstructions, and negative affect-has repeatedly influenced US regime change decisions. When US presidents have been gripped by this emotion, Ghalehdar argues, they have turned to the use of force and targeted perceived sources of obstruction in order to ameliorate their emotional state and discharge frustration. Examining five US regime change episodes in two world regions (Cuba 1906, Nicaragua 1909-12, and the Dominican Republic 1963-65 in the Western hemisphere, and Iran 1979-80, and Iraq 2001-03 in the Middle East), he empirically illustrates the emotional sources of US intervention decisions.
A novel explanation for a puzzling phenomenon in US foreign policy, The Origins of Overthrow sheds light on how emotions play a previously overlooked role in US regime change decisions.
Chen Wang will spend AY 2021-22 as a Post-doctoral Fellow in the Department of Political Science at Duke University
Former ISCS Visiting Scholar Chen Wang (Ph.D., Politics, University of Virginia) will spend AY 2021-22 as a Post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Political Science at Duke University.
Nick Anderson has accepted a position as Associate Director of the MA International Affairs program at the GW Elliott School of International Affairs
Former ISCS Pre-doctoral fellow and Visiting Scholar Nick Anderson (Ph.D., Political Science, Yale University) has accepted a position as Associate Director of the Master of Arts in International Affairs (MAIA) program in the Elliott School of International Affairs at GW.
Shahryar Pasandideh will spend AY 2021-22 as a Pre-doctoral fellow in the International Security program at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School
Former ISCS Ph.D. student in residence Shahryar Pasandideh will spend AY 2021-22 as a Pre-doctoral fellow in the International Security program at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School.
Danielle Villa is now a Senior Research Associate with ACLED
Former ISCS Pre-doctoral fellow Danielle Villa (Ph.D., Political Science, Emory University), is now a Senior Research Associate with ACLED, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project.
Rachel Tecott has accepted a position at the U.S. Naval War College
Former ISCS Pre-doctoral fellow Rachel Tecott (Ph.D., Political Science, MIT) has accepted a position at the U.S. Naval War College.
Kendrick Kuo accepts a position as Assistant Professor at the U.S. Naval War College.
Former ISCS Ph.D. student in residence Kendrick Kuo has accepted a position as Assistant Professor at the U.S. Naval War College.
Danielle Gilbert wins the 2021 Merze Tate Award
Former ISCS Ph.D. student in residence Danielle Gilbert has won the 2021 Merze Tate Award from the American Political Science Association given for the best doctoral dissertation in the field of international relations, law, and politics.
Dr. Charles L. Glaser, Co-Director, ISCS, receives the 2021 William and Katherine Estes Award
Charles L. Glaser, George Washington University, received the 2021 William and Katherine Estes Award.
Glaser has made important contributions to understanding feasible and desirable forms of nuclear arms control and ballistic missile defense in light of a constantly evolving technological frontier. Glaser’s work has been influential for its combination of theoretical rigor with a strong appreciation for the technical aspects of nuclear weapons policy.