I am currently developing a book-length project, Disposable Lives, Enduring States: Enslavement, Strategy, and Survival on the Korean Peninsula, which examines the legacy of enslavement on the Korean Peninsula, tracing its evolution from the reign of Imperial Japan through its defeat in 1945, the subsequent U.S. occupation and alliance with South Korea, and the emergence of neoliberal forms of enslavement in modern South Korea from the 1990s to the present. While there is substantial scholarship on enslavement in the region—particularly on the “comfort women” issue—my project is the first to examine multiple forms of enslavement across time through the lens of international relations and international security, building upon the foundational feminist scholarship that has paved the way.

This research agenda on slavery and conflict on the Korean Peninsula builds on my prior work with Kevin Bales of The Rights Lab at the University of Nottingham. Together, we produced a database, Contemporary Slavery in Armed Conflicts, which analyzes armed conflicts worldwide from the end of the Cold War to the present. Our research demonstrates that most armed conflicts incorporate some form of modern slavery, including the use of child soldiers, forced labor, and forced marriage.

Before turning to modern slavery, my research focused on global perceptions of the United States, culminating in my first book, Anti-Americanism and the Rise of World Opinion (Cambridge University Press, 2014).

More recently, I have developed two additional areas of interest: the intersection of mindfulness and international relations, and the study of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) and their implications for national security. Both avenues reflect my broader commitment to pushing the boundaries of international relations scholarship.

Please click here to see my CV.

Here are some of my publications listed on Research Gate.