Joseph Brown

Dr. Joseph Brown is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at University of Massachusetts Boston. His research focuses on international and civil conflict, non-state actors, and strategic communication in terrorism. He has conducted extensive fieldwork across multiple conflict zones including Sri Lanka, Peru, Spain, and Northern Ireland, interviewing members of organizations such as the Irish Republican Army, ETA, and Shining Path.

• PhD in Political Science from Columbia University (2015)
• MA in Political Science from Columbia University (2009)
• MA in International Relations from Brandeis University (2008)
• BA in Political Science from Wesleyan University (2003)

His groundbreaking work on terrorist threats, detailed in the book Force of Words (Columbia University Press, 2020), demonstrates how threats serve both tactical and strategic purposes in conflict scenarios. Through quantitative analysis and qualitative fieldwork, Brown shows how threats can redirect security forces, establish legitimacy, and shape public perception.

Recent publications reveal his interest in casualty-aversion tactics, simulation pedagogy, and organizational dynamics of extremist groups. While his empirical focus has primarily addressed terrorism, his methodological innovations in conflict analysis have broader applications across international relations research.