Ryan Yu-Lin Liou

I am Byron K. Trippet Assistant Professor of Political Science and Tom and Anne Walsh Fellow in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at Wabash College. I received my Ph.D. in Political Science and International Affairs from the University of Georgia in 2024 and my M.A. from the National Taiwan University.

My research examines economic sanctions as tools of international relations and domestic politics, focusing on three key questions: What motivates countries to employ economic coercion? How do sanctions affect political dynamics within target countries? And what are the human rights implications of contemporary sanctions practices? I use diverse methodological approaches such as cross-national statistical analysis and survey experiments to understand both the intended and unintended consequences of sanctions. My work has been published in leading journals such as International Studies Quarterly, Foreign Policy Analysis, Journal of Conflict Resolution, and Political Research Quarterly. My research has been recognized with the Alexander George Award from the International Studies Association Foreign Policy Analysis section and the Steven C. Poe Best Paper Award Honorable Mention from the ISA Human Rights section. You can check more about my research projects on Research and Google Scholar. 

I teach a variety of courses on international relations, comparative politics, and PPE. My approach emphasizes hands-on learning through tools like "Concept Graphs," where students visually map theoretical mechanisms to understand complex phenomena, and structured discussions that help all students, including quieter voices, contribute meaningfully to classroom dialogue. I prioritize transparency by providing detailed rubrics and discussion questions in advance, drawing on my own experience as a first-generation college student to ensure clear expectations. In 2023, my dedication to student success was recognized with the Christopher S. Allen Award for Teaching Excellence at the University of Georgia.

Before starting the PhD, I was a research fellow at the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research in Taiwan.