Research Interests for Kyle Beardsley

Kyle Beardsley (Ph.D., UCSD, 2006) is Associate Professor of Political Science. His research interests include the political consequences and causes of third-party involvement in peace processes, the nature of intrastate rebellion, the motivations for and implications of gender balancing in post-conflict security forces, and the effects of nuclear-weapons proliferation on crisis behavior. His book, The Mediation Dilemma, explores how third-party conflict management frequently does well in securing short-term peace but also can contribute to greater instability in the long run, especially when the third parties rely on leverage. Prior to coming to Duke, Prof. Beardsley was on faculty at Emory University.

Keywords:

Conflict management, Gender in conflict management, Mediation, International, Nuclear Weapons, Peacekeeping forces, Political violence

Recent Publications

1. Lobell, SE; James, P; Silverstone, SA; Asal, V; Beardsley, K; Gonzalez, E; Ripsman, NM; Adhikari, S; Levy, SW; Sorci, G; Jahanbani, N; van Wijk, A, Dissecting the Dynamics of Near Crises, in Understanding Near Crises and Escalation in World Politics (June, 2025), pp. 46-56, Routledge [doi]
2. Lobell, SE; James, P; Silverstone, SA; Asal, V; Beardsley, K; Gonzalez, E; Ripsman, NM; Adhikari, S; Levy, SW; Sorci, G; Jahanbani, N; van Wijk, A, Postures and Portents, in Understanding Near Crises and Escalation in World Politics (June, 2025), pp. 57-77, Routledge [doi]
3. Lobell, SE; James, P; Silverstone, SA; Asal, V; Beardsley, K; Gonzalez, E; Ripsman, NM; Adhikari, S; Levy, SW; Sorci, G; Jahanbani, N; van Wijk, A, Near Crises and Escalation Processes, in Understanding Near Crises and Escalation in World Politics (June, 2025), pp. 21-45, Routledge [doi]
4. Lobell, SE; James, P; Silverstone, SA; Asal, V; Beardsley, K; Gonzalez, E; Ripsman, NM; Adhikari, S; Levy, SW; Sorci, G; Jahanbani, N; van Wijk, A, What Have We Learned?, in Understanding Near Crises and Escalation in World Politics (June, 2025), pp. 121-126, Routledge [doi]
5. Lobell, SE; James, P; Silverstone, SA; Asal, V; Beardsley, K; Gonzalez, E; Ripsman, NM; Adhikari, S; Levy, SW; Sorci, G; Jahanbani, N; van Wijk, A, Terrorist and Insurgent Organizations in Near Crises, in Understanding Near Crises and Escalation in World Politics (June, 2025), pp. 78-95, Routledge [doi]