Stefano Recchia

Stefano Recchia is an Associate Professor of Political Science and the John G. Tower Distinguished Chair in International Politics and National Security at Southern Methodist University (SMU). He directs the Tower Center’s national security program and previously held a tenured faculty position at the University of Cambridge, UK. His work focuses on U.S. national security policy, transatlantic relations, the ethics of military intervention, and multilateral cooperation in security affairs.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Political Science, Columbia University (2011, with distinction)
• MSc in International Relations, London School of Economics (2003)
• BA in Political Science, Luiss University, Italy (2002)

Research Interests: Prof. Recchia examines how states navigate multilateral institutions to legitimize military interventions, particularly the role of the UN Security Council. He explores burden-sharing in military coalitions, civil-military relations, and the ethical dimensions of intervention. His work emphasizes alliance dynamics, such as NATO’s role in Bosnia, and France’s evolving strategy in African security. He advocates for pragmatic multilateralism to counterbalance great-power competition.

Recent Trends in Publications: His articles highlight the strategic use of regional multilateralism to overcome UN Security Council opposition and the paradox of safe areas in ethnic conflicts. He also investigates public opinion’s influence on policy decisions and France’s shift toward multilateralism in African interventions.

Awards & Fellowships:

• Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Fellow (2014-15)
• Max Weber Fellow at European University Institute (2011-12)
• Fulbright Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School (2004-05)
• Grants from Brookings Institution, European Commission, and Rotary Foundation

Advising & Grants: No formal advisees listed, but his research has been supported by major grants. He collaborates on projects exploring transatlantic relations and multilateral security frameworks.

Labs/Teams: Directs the Tower Center’s national security program, fostering interdisciplinary research on global security challenges.