Friday, March 20, 2020 | 3:15pm | Yost 306

Title: Quantitative Approaches to Global Conflict Analysis

Abstract

At the U.S. Department of State, foreign policy has historically been formulated and implemented through the qualitative and contextual expertise of its diplomats. However, the Department is increasingly incorporating data analysis and a range of quantitative methods into its approach to diplomacy. At the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, we use tools such as network analysis, game theory, regression analysis, and surveys to understand, prevent, and mitigate global conflict. In this talk, I will briefly touch on some such approaches and, more generally, shed light on how mathematicians and statisticians can contribute their skills to impact policy, both domestically and abroad.