We identify, compile, & analyze micro-level conflict data & information on insurgency, civil war, & other sources of politically motivated violence worldwide.
Princeton, NJ
Joined May 2019
- Tweets673
- Following223
- Followers3K
- Likes168
New in the Journal of Politics: Princeton’s Ethan B. Kapstein and colleagues show how foreign investment can build political influence by creating workers who pressure leaders to support the investing country. “Soft Power as Constituency Cultivation”: bit.ly/4vXrrwo
ESOC Executive Director Ethan B. Kapstein among 3 Princeton professors receiving this year’s Berlin Prize Fellowship: Read more at princeton.edu/news/2026/07/0…
New Bruegel study by Ethan Kapstein and colleagues finds that DoD’s Defense Innovation Unit helps young tech firms win more and larger defense contracts, showing new weapons acquisition models can help start-ups challenge traditional prime contractors. bit.ly/4dEGNjF
Princeton’s Ethan Kapstein highlights that Europe's security future lies not in a militarized Brussels, but in four key states: Germany, France, Poland, and Britain, whose combined forces can credibly deter Russia using nuclear and conventional assets. foreignaffairs.com/europe/eu…
EU defense ministries must work more closely with startups in weapons procurement, a new Bruegel policy paper says (Kapstein et al). Lessons from Ukraine show the need for novel battlefield solutions, but startups lack capital to deliver advanced systems. bit.ly/46WqwCP
By linking Afghan terrorist attack data to geolocated data on corporate mobile phone activity, we show that firms respond to conflict by cutting operations in violent districts, reducing entry by new firms while increasing exit of established companies. bit.ly/4rnuyM3
Two researchers from ESOC released a new report on Military Allies and International Trade. Kapstein and Sayad find no evidence that NATO allies trade more with one another than they do with other countries, including potential rivals. bit.ly/4pGE7Vl
Fears regarding the health and durability of NATO appear to be overstated. Europe's ongoing buildup of a robust defense sector and significant rearmament will lead to unique and complementary strategic advantages to the U.S and Europe.
tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.…
Democratic backsliding creates real foreign-policy costs. Publics in key allied states become less willing to share intelligence with a partner that erodes democratic institutions—even when cooperation brings major security benefits. esoc.princeton.edu/publicati…
New White Paper: Implementing a pipeline to collect/identify social media handles using LLMs and API keys. It compares LLMs, with GPT-4.1 achieving 0.92 precision and 0.904 recall, and GPT-4.0 achieving 0.939 precision and 0.809 recall. Read paper here: bit.ly/4ochLey
🚨Reminder - today is the deadline to submit papers for consideration at ESOC's Annual Meeting.
We look forwad to reviewing your submissions!
One month left to submit to ESOC's call for papers for the 2025 Annual Meeting on Geostrategic Opportunity and Upheaval!
See details at the link below.
esoc.princeton.edu/events/20…
Just two weeks to go! Don’t forget to submit your papers and panel proposals to our call for papers for the 2025 Annual Meeting.
One month left to submit to ESOC's call for papers for the 2025 Annual Meeting on Geostrategic Opportunity and Upheaval!
See details at the link below.
esoc.princeton.edu/events/20…
One month left to submit to ESOC's call for papers for the 2025 Annual Meeting on Geostrategic Opportunity and Upheaval!
See details at the link below.
esoc.princeton.edu/events/20…
🚨New article!
Side payments are seen as key to facilitate international bargaining: industralized countries are expected to pay the Global South to join international accords. Contrary to theory, Kapstein finds they are politically & financially low cost. globalpolicyjournal.com/arti…
Empirical Studies of Conflict Project retweeted
EVENT INVITE: New Carter Center public opinion study on Chinese citizens views of foreign policy & U.S.-China relations. Featuring @renardsexton, Princeton’s @rorytruex, @yawei_liu1960 & more. Co-hosted by @ESoConflict & @CarterCenter. RSVP: bit.ly/4jCJimH
📣 Job Alert at BDI 📣
The Bridging Divides Initiative is hiring a Collaborations Coordinator for their Creating Space for Cross-Sector Collaborations (CSCSC) portfolio.
Check out the full job description here: main-princeton.icims.com/job…
📣 Job Openings at the Bridging Divides Initiative 📣
BDI is recruiting for 2 mid-level roles!
Wisconsin State Lead:
main-princeton.icims.com/job…
Library Project Manager:
main-princeton.icims.com/job…
Please apply & share widely!
🔖New Working Paper🔖
How does refugee return shape conflict in destination communities? For Afghan refugees returning from Iran, the reasons for repatriation shape the consequences of refugees' return.
Read more here: esoc.princeton.edu/wp39By
By: Blair, Krick, & Wright
🚨 ESOC January Deadlines 🚨
📄 Call for Papers
ESOC's Taipei Research Conference (June 2-4, 2025):
Topics: conflict, migration, climate, & security in Asia.
🗓 Due: Jan 15
🔗bit.ly/esoc-call
🎓 Mentorship Program
🗓 Applications Due: Jan 20
🔗bit.ly/esoc-mentor
🚀 Exciting Opportunity for Early-Career Conflict Researchers!
The 6th ESOC Mentorship Program will enhance fellows' research on conflict through personalized mentorship, professional development, and campus engagement.
Apply by Jan 20: esoc.princeton.edu/events/20…