Brandon Yoder

Brandon Yoder is a Senior Lecturer at The Australian National University's School of Politics & International Relations since 2020. He holds a Ph.D. in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia and a B.S. in Neurobiology from Cornell University. His research focuses on International Security, US-China Relations, Chinese Politics, and Power Transitions. He is currently a Visiting Fellow at Stanford University's Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (2024–2025) and previously served as a Nonresident Research Fellow at the National University of Singapore (2020–2024). His work employs formal models and lab experiments to analyze signaling strategies, credible reassurance, and conflict dynamics. Recent projects include examining deterrence mechanisms in US-Taiwan relations and the theoretical underpinnings of China-Russia alignment. He co-leads the ANU project 'Debating China in Australia: Expert Communities, Opinion Shaping, and Foreign Policymaking' (2024–2025).

Education:

• Ph.D. in Foreign Affairs, University of Virginia
• B.S. in Neurobiology, Cornell University

Research Interests:

• International Security
• US-China Relations
• Chinese Politics
• Power Transitions
• Signaling and Credibility

External Affiliations:

• Visiting Fellow, Stanford University (2024–2025)
• Nonresident Research Fellow, National University of Singapore (2020–2024)

Recent Research Trends: Dr. Yoder’s articles emphasize the intersection of signaling theory, power dynamics, and geopolitical strategy. His 2025 work on Taiwan’s deterrence posture highlights US strategic challenges, while 2022 analyses of China-Russia relations explore theoretical frameworks explaining their alignment. Experimental studies (e.g., 2021) investigate how transparency and secrecy shape credible diplomatic communication.

Grants & Projects:

• 'Debating China in Australia' (2024–2025): Examines expert influence on foreign policy.

Labs/Teams: None explicitly mentioned, but collaborative research with institutions like Stanford and NUS is central to his work.