Department of Political Science
228 B Waters Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
I have a strong interest in INGOs, human rights, and development, commonly thought of as non-traditional specialties in International Relations. I believe that the rigorous study of these specialties will contribute greatly to the mainstream literature, addresses questions previously unanswered within the discipline, and allows researchers to bridge the gap between academic fields. My passion for careful research on these marginalized topics led me to graduate school and will be at the forefront of my future research and teaching.
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“Problematic Potential: The Human Rights Consequences of Peacekeeping Interventions in Civil Wars” (with David R. Davis)
(Earlier version presented at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association.) Forthcoming at Human Rights Quarterly. 2010. 32(1): Pages TBA.
Abstract: Do peacekeeping interventions help or harm the human rights of citizens living within states with a history of civil war? While this question has received a myriad of attention and debate within the human rights practitioner community, there have been relatively few studies that attempt to answer this question. We look at a variety of characteristics of peacekeeping following intrastate war from 1980 to 2004. We find that peacekeeping can both encourage and undermine respect for various human right conditions. Our findings support the human rights community's stance that peacekeeping can be problematic but holds much promise for human rights performance in post-conflict states.
The Impact of Human Rights INGOs on Human Rights Practices (Earlier version presented at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the Peace Science Society, the 2007 Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association, and the 2007 Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association.) International NGO Journal. 2009. 4 (10): 421-440.
Abstract: I argue that there is an endogenous relationship between human rights INGO presence and human rights performance that has been largely ignored within the extant literature. Using various simultaneous equations approaches on new data on human rights INGOs, I find that, after accounting for endogeneity, the presence of human rights INGOs matters more for the protection of widely accepted human rights than treaties or overall civil society but that their impact on divisive human rights is minimal.
“Shaming and Blaming for Change: An Event-Data Study on the Impact of Human Rights INGOs on Human Rights Practices” (with David R. Davis)
(Earlier version presented at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association) Revise and Resubmit at International Studies Quarterly.
Abstract: Do the activities of HROs (human rights international non-governmental organizations) have a direct influence on state behavior? Further, what types of activities are the most effective at improving a state's human rights practices? We argue, consistent with existing scholarship, that states targeted by HROs do improve their human rights practices. However, mere targeting is not enough: improvements in human rights practices result from the interaction of both careful targeting practices and a large number of HROs present within a state. Using event-data on the targeting of governments by these organizations, together with new data on the presence of HROs within a state, we test these propositions quantitatively and receive widespread support for our arguments.
“Aiding and Abetting? An Event-Data Study of the Impact of INGOs on Domestic Anti-Government Protest” (with Tavishi Bhasin). (Earlier version presented at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association.) Revise and Resubmit at Journal of Conflict Resolution.
Abstract: This paper studies the effects of human rights INGOs on domestic anti-government protest. We use new events data and find empirical support for our argument that INGO involvement aids both non-violent and violent protest.
“Do NGOs Really Work? The Impact of International Development NGOs on Economic Growth” (with Jakub Kakietek)
(Earlier versions presented at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association and the 2008 Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association.) Under Review
Abstract: This study is the first to systematically examine the impacts of developmentally-oriented INGOs on economic growth. We argue that their presence has both a direct and an indirect effect on economic growth. We develop a simultaneous equation model and find that development INGOs help foster economic growth directly through the stimulation of economic activity and indirectly through increasing human capital.
“The Ties that Bind: A Network Analysis of Human Rights INGOs” (with David Brewington and David R.Davis) (Earlier version presented at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the International Studies Association & the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association.) Under Review
Abstract: Much of the scholarship concerning human rights INGOs focuses on the central role these actors play within transnational advocacy networks. Despite this theoretical focus on networks, there exists scant empirical attention to the characteristics of HRO networks. Introducing new relational data on over 600 human rights INGOs, we utilize social network analysis to examine key differences between HRO network, including differences based on how HROs are funded, how they interact with various IOs, and the aims and activities of these organizations.
“Will a Few ‘Bad Apples’ Upset the Barrel? The Impact of Heterogeneous Types of Development INGOs” Presented at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association.
Abstract: The dominant theoretical framework on INGOs in International Relations assumes that INGOs are motivated by "values rather than material concerns." This assumption appears to be inconsistent with practitioner and journalistic accounts of INGOs, which highlight that large numbers of specifically development-oriented INGOs are set up simply for money-laudering or rent-seeking purposes. I build a formal theory which relaxes this assumption and examine how the presence of heterogeneous types of development INGOs impacts when and where these organizations will have development impacts.
“Sympathetic Signals: The Behavior of Heterogeneous Types of Advocacy INGOs” Working Paper. To be presented at the 2010 Meeting of the International Studies Association.
Abstract: Why aren't human rights INGOs systematically successful? A formal model is used to examine how the impact of human rights INGOs is conditioned by international donors, domestic populations and the targeted state. Hypotheses are tests with new data on where human rights INGOs are permanently based and how they are funded.
“Repressing the Variation? An Event-Data Study of Human Rights Violations” (with Tavishi Bhasin and David R.Davis) Presented at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the Midwest Political Science Association.
Abstract: While the last decade has seen a significant increase in the scholarly understanding of the determinants of repression and state human rights violations, there is little work exploring the theoretical differences between these concepts. As a result, two sets of literatures have emerged on these subjects. In addition, the vast majority of the studies in this area have employed ordinal indices based on coding of the US State Department’s and/or Amnesty International’s annual Human Rights Reports. Relying on a limited set of sources to measure repression and human rights performance has the potential to bias the conclusions drawn from these studies. This bias is exasperated by the use of indices which compress extreme violators and moderate violators into the same categories and the use of statistical methods which assume interval measures. To address these theoretical and methodological concerns, we develop alternatives measures of repression and other human rights violations based on events data extracted from the Reuters news database. Our method provides both measures of frequency (the number of events) as well as intensity (the severity of the actions) of violations. Our results question many of the findings of previous work, provide new findings on the determinants of repression and human rights violations, and have important implications for the accumulation of knowledge on human rights violations.
“IOs and State Health Spending in Latin America, Eastern Europe and East Asia” (with Alex Hicks). To be presented at the 2010 Meeting of the International Studies Association.
Abstract: In the proposed research, we investigate possible IGO and INGO effects on LDC health spending, an aspect of welfare policy for which data on a directly pertinent INGO, as well as a broadly policy relevant IGOs, are available. In particular we look at effects of IMF agreement, World Bank loans and health service INGOs on health spending in Latin America and East Asia (for 1980-2000), plus Eastern Europe (for 1990-2000).
“Looking in the Mirror: Comparing INGO Networks Across Issue Areas ” (with David R. Davis). Presented at the 2009 Meeting of the American Political Science Association.
Abstract: International Relations scholarship has begun to focus a great deal of attention on characteristics of networks and their impact on behavior. In this project, we examine the network relations in 4 common issue areas of INGOs: environment, health, human rights, and development. We argue that the ability of INGOs to impact political and behavioral outcomes is determined, in part, by the density of the INGO network and its connections to larger governmental organizations, such as the World Bank and United Nations. We use original data on over 2000 INGOs and their organizational characteristics. We fi nd that
there are important similarities and differences across INGO networks and these differences matter for organizational effectiveness.
“Best Practices and Consultative Status: A Network Analysis of INGO and IGO Relations” (with David R. Davis). To be presented at the 2010 Meeting of the International Studies Association.
Abstract: We examine the network connections between INGOs and various IGOs, including the World Bank and United Nations. We argue that working relationships with IGOs improve the status and clout of INGOs. However, these relationshipsalso color the advocacy activities of INGOs and in uences the inner-INGO network, especially for Southern INGOs. We use original network data on over 2000 advocacy INGOs and their formal connections with IGOs. We fi nd that some IGO connections can aid advocacy efforts and improve INGO capabilities.
“The Uneven Geography of INGO Networking” (with David V. Brewington and Matthew D. Mathias).
Abstract: Though much of the theoretical literature on INGOs concerns their efforts within advocacy networks, not much is known concerning the networking behavior of INGOs. Within this project, we examine the sociological factors that influence the propensity of INGOs to coordinate in joint efforts. Using new data on over 600 human rights INGOs (HRINGOs), we utilize social network analysis methods to examine whether base location, network prestige, and issue-specific characteristics influence HRINGO behavior. Unlike conventional wisdom but in line with recent research, we find that not all HRINGOs have the capacity to join in the larger network. Building upon Smith and Wiest's “uneven geography of global civil society” argument, we similarly find that HRINGOs' connections to IGOs encourage coordinated HRINGO activity, but also find evidence suggesting that HRINGOs seek ties to other prestigious HRINGOs considered to be legitimate authorities (e.g., Amnesty International), and that these ties foster increased coordinated activity. These results extend Smith and Wiest's research in this area, help to describe the shape of the worldwide HRINGO network, and show how this organization impacts HRINGO activity. Additionally, our findings support ongoing efforts to encourage connections to HRINGOs in the global south.