Scott L. Kastner

Scott L. Kastner is a Professor in the Department of Government and Politics at the University of Maryland, College Park. He holds a BA from Cornell University (1995) and a PhD in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego (2003). His research focuses on international politics of East Asia, particularly US-China relations, cross-Strait dynamics, and the political implications of economic interdependence. Kastner teaches courses on international relations theory, East Asian politics, and US-China strategic competition.

His major works include *War and Peace in the Taiwan Strait* (2022), *China’s Strategic Multilateralism* (2019), and *Political Conflict and Economic Interdependence across the Taiwan Strait and Beyond* (2009). His research examines how economic ties shape conflict dynamics, China’s global governance strategies, and the evolving US-Taiwan relationship. He frequently publishes in top journals like *International Security*, *Journal of Conflict Resolution*, and *International Studies Quarterly*.

Recent scholarship explores China’s economic statecraft, the viability of cross-Strait rapprochement, and the geopolitical ramifications of US-China trade interactions. His work bridges theoretical frameworks from international relations with empirical analysis of contemporary East Asian security challenges.