I am currently developing a book-length project, Disposable Lives, Enduring States: Enslavement, Strategy, and Survival on the Korean Peninsula (in preparation, Cambridge University Press). This work 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 today. While substantial scholarship exists on enslavement in the region—particularly the “comfort women” issue—this project is the first to examine multiple forms of enslavement across time through the lens of international relations and security, building on foundational feminist scholarship.

This research agenda on slavery and conflict in Korea builds on my prior work with Kevin Bales of The Rights Lab at the University of Nottingham. Together, we developed the Contemporary Slavery in Armed Conflicts database, 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 child soldiers, forced labor, and forced marriage.

Earlier in my career, I 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 pursued 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 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.