Michael Mousseau

Michael Mousseau is a Professor of International Relations at the University of Central Florida's School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs. His research focuses on the interplay between economic systems, societal structures, and conflict dynamics, particularly the relationship between capitalism, democracy, and peace. He holds a PhD from Binghamton University (1998) and has held fellowships at Yale University (2003), Harvard University (2005–2006), and Columbia University (2010–2011).

His work challenges traditional democratic peace theory, emphasizing the role of contractual economic systems in fostering global stability. Awards include the UCF College of Sciences Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award (2020) and Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award (2025). He leads the development of the Contract Intensity of National Economies (CINE) dataset, analyzing how economic norms shape democracy and peace.

Key research areas include democratic peace theory, the impact of market capitalism on conflict, and the political economy of human rights. His publications span journals like International Security, Journal of Peace Research, and Democratization.