Research

I have been intrigued to know the process that leads to international cooperation. Under the complicated circumstances of domestic and international politics, governments usually take quite a long time to negotiate cooperation treaties. Sometimes the pre-cooperation negotiations result in pacts, but sometimes the inter-governmental efforts do not work out. To understand why countries cooperate, one cannot neglect the pre-cooperation negotiations. 

My primary research focuses on the negotiation process of international trade agreements. The negotiations for trade agreements are largely affected by the domestic politics of negotiating countries. In my dissertation, titled, "Deals to Be Determined: Political Uncertainty in Trade Negotiations," I explore how different sources of uncertainties shape negotiating governments' decision-making and affect the formation of international trade agreements. 

In my broad research agenda, I seek to answer the following questions: 

• When and why do countries decide to negotiate for trade cooperation? 

• Why do some trade negotiations succeed in reaching agreements, while others do not strike a bargain? 

• How do the influences of negotiations spill over from trade to non-trade issues such as human rights? 

To systematically analyze the negotiation process, I have collected data on trade negotiations. Click here to know more about the Trade Bargaining Dataset (TBD).

In addition to my research agenda, I have assisted in the collection and updates of two important datasets: 

One is Dr. Amanda Licht's Regular Turnover Details. Other than the data on when and whether leaders leave the office, this dataset provides more information on why and how leaders exit.  

I also work on the CIRIGHTS data project with Dr. David Cingranelli and Dr. Brendan Skip Mark. The data generates annual numerical scores measuring the human rights performance of all nations of the world and have been collected annually since 1981.