Foreign Policy Research in Action: A US State Department Research Practicum on Conflict Prevention

(1 Credit Hour) · Undergraduate

This course provides students the opportunity to undertake research projects directly with and for the U.S. Department of State through the Keough School’s participation in the agency’s Academic Centers for Conflict Anticipation and Prevention (ACCAP) initiative led by its Bureau of Conflict & Stabilization Operations (CSO). Projects will address current, real-world conflict-related issues from across the globe and students will be given access to US government data sets in order to conduct their analysis. Specific topics may include: climate and fragility, electoral violence, US Women, Peace and Security Strategy, Global Fragility Act implementation, diplomatic negotiations support, Russian mercenary activities in Sub-Saharan Africa, conflict forecasting models, and near/long term threats to US diplomatic installations. Students will have the opportunity to and directly engage with State Department officials and produce timely and practical policy products with a specific audience with the agency. Students receive access to CSO’s data experts as they explore the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), and Instability Monitoring and Analysis Platform (data/visualizations tool) for purposes of their research.