Dissertation Defense by INR Ph.D. Candidate Robert Schafer

Robert Schafer, a Ph.D. candidate in International Relations, presents his dissertation “Deus Ex Machina: The U.S. Frustrations With Building State Coercive Capacity in Failing or Failed States During Armed Conflict.” The hybrid defense takes place in Room 116 of the McKillop Library, inviting scholars and the public to examine the complexities of U.S. foreign policy in conflict zones. Attendees will gain insight into state capacity theory and its real‑world applications.