Workshop on Behavioral Approaches to the Study of Global Political Violence

Violent intra- and extra-state conflict poses one of the most dangerous and widespread threats to stability and security around the globe. During this workshop, we will bring together scholars conducting research on behavioral or psychological processes (broadly construed) in political conflict, violence and war. Papers will discuss a variety of different types of conflict settings, including domestic intergroup conflict, inter- and intra-state war, and contentious international diplomacy and foreign policy-making processes. Researchers will also highlight the critical role of psychological factors, including cognition, emotions, identity, values, social norms, and group dynamics in shaping conflict processes.

The workshop will bring together 8-10 total presenters—Carly Wayne, Assistant Professor of Political Science, 6-8 invited external speakers, plus 1-2 presentations by other faculty and students in the WUSTL political science department. At the workshop, each participant will present a single paper as part of six, hour-long 2-paper panels. Participants will circulate and read papers in advance of the workshop in order to receive the most thorough and constructive feedback from other panelists. Each paper will also be assigned a WUSTL graduate student as a discussant, who will provide a set of detailed comments. In addition to the panels, the workshop will include a closing roundtable session aimed at encouraging participants to brainstorm ideas for collaboration and future directions for research in Behavioral IR.