Peer-Reviewed Articles, Book Chapters, & Monographs
Forthcoming: “China, DIME, and Innovative Deterrence Methodology: How Authoritarian States React to Deterrence Activities Through Information.” European Journal of International Security. Co-authored with Scott Fisher, Graig Klein, and Juris Pupcenoks.
2025 “Opération Crevette: Benin, Mercenaries, and the Survival of a New State by Les Sosnowski and Monique Sosnowski.” Journal of Military History 89(1): 245-247 (Book Review)
2025 Impacts of Digital Media Literacy Skills on the Accuracy of Truth Discernment.” Journal of Politics & Law, 18(1), 47-65. With Sarmiento, A. K. B., Fisher, S., & Alhayajneh, A. URL: https://doi.org/10.5539/jpl.v18n1p47
2024 “Answering Authoritarian State Asymmetric Challenges: Tools for Deterring Hybrid Threats and Non-Military Coercion from China and Russia.” Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs. Coauthored with Scott Fisher, Graig Klein, and Juris Pupcenoks.
2023 “Benin: The Presidentialization of National Intelligence,” Contribution to the Edited Book The Handbook of African Intelligence Cultures, Rowman & Littlefield.
2022 “FOCUSdata: Foreign Policy Through Language & Sentiment.” Foreign Policy Analysis 18(2). Coauthored with Scott Fisher and Graig Klein.
2021 “Confronting Rebellion in Weak States: Government Response to Military Mutiny in Benin.” African Studies Review 64(2): 363-389. https://doi.org/10.1017/asr.2020.60
2021 “Soldiers in Revolt: Army Mutinies in Africa by Maggie Dwyer." African Studies Review 64(4): E20-E22. Review of Book authored by Maggie Dwyer.
2019 “Africa’s Vicious Triad: Ethnic Exclusion, Coups, and Civil Wars.” International Studies Review 21(1): 179-180. (Book Review)
2016 Consencratie: Un modèle de démocratie consensuelle adapté aux réalités du Bénin. Cotonou, Benin: Editions Ifa Strategy. (Monograph published in French)
Selected Opinion & Policy Papers
2023 “Diplomatic Communication and Big Data Text Analysis: Lessons for Deterring China and Russia,” Policy Paper coauthored with Scott Fisher, Graig Klein, and Juris Pupcenoks, Sponsored by the U.S. Homeland Defense Institute.
2022 “Gestion des coups d’État et transitions politiques en Afrique : La « consencratie » comme alternative aux modèles politiques d’hommes forts.” (Managing Coups & Political Transitions in Africa: Consencracy as an Alternative to Strongmen Regimes). West Africa Think Tank (WATHI).
2022 “Attaques terroristes au Bénin : Ma lettre ouverte au Président.” (Terror Attacks in Benin: My Open Letter to the President). Le Courier de la République.
2021 “Controverses sur la prolongation du mandat présidentiel et le parrainage au Bénin: Que faire pour prévenir des épisodes d’instabilité?” (Controversial Electoral Rules in Benin: What Can Be Done to Prevent Instability?). La Nouvelle Tribune.
Manuscripts Under Review
"They Shall Not Be Free: Eisenhower's National Security Strategy & Decolonization of Africa." Revise & Resubmit.
"Conditional Democratic Peace: Political Competition, Governance, & the Risks of Civil War." Initial Review.
Unpublished Theses
"The Logic of Strategic Consensus: State Environment and Civil War." 2017. PhD Dissertation Thesis, Kansas State University.
"Great Powers' Race in Africa: The U.S.-China Competition and the Declining French Influence." 2012. MA Thesis, Webster University.
Works in Progress
Consencracy: An Institutional Key to Lasting Peace in Africa (Book Project)
"Foreign Patronage and Civil War." (coauthored with Andrew Long)
"Diversionary Behavior & Expulsions of Foreigners in Africa." (coauthored with Emizet Kisangani)
Conference Presentations
2023 Co-Author, “Understanding Authoritarian State Response to Deterrence Tools: Case Studies of China and Russia,” with Scott Fisher, Graig Klein, and Juris Pupcenoks, Presented at The Homeland Defense Awareness Symposium, Colorado Springs, CO.
2022 Author, “The Historical Evolution of Gender Representation in Benin’s Military, 1890-2022,” International Conference on the Origins and Legacy of the Agodjie: The Female Warriors of the Kingdom of Danxome, Princeton, New Jersey
2022 Author, “Protests and Response in Compaore’s Burkina Faso, 1990-2014: Why Would He Flee?” 10th Eurasian Peace Science Conference (Co-authored with Graig Klein).
2021 Author “Managing Security in West & Central African Space: Some Useful Lessons from the American Experience.” International Conference on "Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Economic and Financial crimes in the OHADA Area (West Africa)
2020 Author, “Consencracy: A Consensus-Based Model of Democracy to Improve Governance and Stability in African Countries,” African Studies Association Conference, Virtual.
2019 Author, “Consencracy: A Consensus-Based Model of Democracy for Developing States,” MPSA Conference, Chicago, IL.
2018 Author, “Conditional Democratic Peace: Political Competition, Governance, & Civil War,” International Studies Association (ISA) Midwest Conference, St. Louis, MO.
2018 Panel Discussant, “Measuring Human Rights & Repression,” ISA Midwest Conference, St. Louis, MO.
2018 Panel Chair & Discussant, “Political Violence: Terrorism, Insurgency, and Non-State Actors,” Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA) Conference, Chicago, IL.
2018 Symposium Discussant, “JSS: Territory and Terrain in Armed Conflict,” MPSA Conference, Chicago, IL.
2018 Author, “Unpacking the ‘Black Box’: The Mediated Effects of Development and Democracy on Civil War,” MPSA Conference, Chicago, IL.
2018 Author, “Confronting Rebellion: The Benin Government’s Management of the 1992 Mutiny,” MPSA Conference, Chicago, IL.
2015 Author, “Foreign Patronage and Civil War,” MPSA Conference, Chicago, IL.
Invited Talks
2024 "La consencratie: Un ideal au service de la paix." Hundred Women and Youth for Peace (HWY4P) Project, RAMP-BENIN.
2023 “Political Violence in Sub-Saharan Africa: Trends, Causes, & Policy Proposals,” Patterson School’s Fall 2023 Conference on Sub-Saharan Africa, University of Kentucky, Patterson School of Diplomacy & International Commerce, Lexington, KY.
2022 “Improving Governance & Stability in Africa: Consencracy as an Alternative to Strongmen Regimes.” United Nations DRC Integrated Operational Team (Virtual)
2022 “Managing Coups & Political Transitions in Africa: Consencracy as an Alternative to Strongmen Regimes.” West Africa Think Tank (WATHI) (Virtual)
2020 “UN Security Council’s Instruments for Regulating International Security” Regional Dialogue on International Security, Niamey, Niger.
2020 “Current Issues in African Security: Libya, the Great Lakes, & the Horn of Africa” Regional Dialogue on International Security, Niamey, Niger.
2018 “Understanding Operation Iraqi Freedom,” Commentary Provided to Prof. Robert Turner’s Talk, Federalist Society at University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
2018 “Interactive Teaching: The Benefits of Engaged Lectures & Simulation Exercises,” Teaching & Learning Center, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
2016 “Consencracy: A Model of Consensual Democracy for African States,” African Student Union at Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
2016 “Institutional Reforms in Benin: Introducing the ‘Consencracy’ Model,” 4th Benin Diaspora Conference, Baltimore, MD.
2015 “Science and Technology in West Africa,” Leader Development and Education for Sustained Peace Conference, Bismarck, ND.
2015 “Security and Peace Keeping Operations in West Africa,” Leader Development & Education for Sustained Peace Conference, Bismarck, ND.
2013 “China in Africa,” Kansas City People to People, Kansas City, KS.