Michael Rubin

Assistant Professor

Political Science & Human Rights Institute

Michael’s research and teaching focus on the causes, conduct, and consequences of civil wars and political violence, informing policy solutions to reduce the human suffering they generate. His research examining local-level conflict processes has focused on explaining belligerents’ territorial control, governance, and use of violence in civil wars and armed conflicts. The National Science Foundation-funded Subnational Nonstate Actor Governance (SNAG) project develops a new measurement strategy and makes available new data on local-level territorial control and governance in conflict zones, updated over time. Other work has explored the intersection between international security and intrastate conflicts, especially the role that foreign states play in shaping violent and nonviolent resistance campaigns. Empirically, his research draws upon global comparisons across countries as well as in-depth analyses of the origins and dynamics within select cases of armed conflict. Michael has conducted research in the Philippines (2014-2015) and South Africa (2024) and archival research on the colonial period of British Mandate Palestine.

You can find more information at Michael’s website: http://www.michaelarubin.com/