Welcome!

I am a PhD candidate in political science at the University of Chicago studying international relations and American politics. My research interests include international security, the domestic politics of US foreign policy, American political development, and diplomatic history.

A theme of my research is the impact of international politics on society. I am currently working on my dissertation that examines how war impacts public views about the nation’s foreign policy. In particular, I investigate how the experiences of US Army soldiers in WWII shaped their views and the long term political character of their home communities. Other strands of my research are interested in the “people” of international politics, such as the backgrounds and roles of foreign policy decision makers.

I received a BA in history and economics from Wichita State University in my home state of Kansas. Before starting my PhD, I completed an MA in international relations from the University of Chicago and was a research intern with the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC. I am also a past participant of the International Security and Intelligence Programme at the University of Cambridge, as well as the Summer Workshop on the Analysis of Military Operations and Strategy (SWAMOS) sponsored by Columbia University. 

I can be contacted at mconklin@uchicago.edu.