Bio

I am an associate professor of political science and international relations at the University of Southern California. Born and raised in California, I went to Harvard for my undergraduate and graduate studies, then taught at Smith College before returning west to take up my current position at USC.

Like a coin, my research agenda has two sides that are apparently different but structurally linked. On one side of the coin, I show how culture, identity, and social psychology can explain nation-states’ policies regarding nuclear weapons and international security. I have also studied the politics of civil nuclear and other energy sources. On the other side of the coin, I leverage insights and methods from political science and international relations to better understand global trends in culture, identity, and social psychology. This part of my research agenda focuses especially on the politics of currency iconography.

With respect to nuclear weapons, energy, and the environment, my two solo-authored books on nuclear weapons proliferation have received a total of five major book prizes, including the renowned Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order. I have also published many articles on these matters in journals including Environmental Politics, Foreign Affairs, International Security, and Security Studies.

With respect to culture and identity, I have published several articles on currency iconography in journals including the European Journal of International Relations, Journal of East Asian Studies, and Political Geography, and I am currently working on a book manuscript.

In addition to my research, I currently serve on the editorial boards of several peer-reviewed journals: International Theory, Journal of Global Security Studies, Journal of Peace and Nuclear Disarmament, Korean Journal of International Studies, and The Nonproliferation Review.