Speaking & Media
Selected talks, presentations, and public commentary.
Invited Talks
The Madness of Nukes
Delivered to the World Affairs Council Summer Program, this talk explored how nuclear intensify security dilemmas and create the counterintuitive logic of deterrence that creates paradoxes for modern peace.
The Politics of Disasters: Three Observations from 2017
Challenging the conventional 'When will we learn?' narrative, this talk explores why political incentives often override institutional learning after a catastrophe. By analyzing flood insurance, disaster relief, and price gouging laws, I demonstrate how bad policies often make for very good politics.
On the Health of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Regime
Arguing that we should stop confusing the health of the NPT with the health of the entire regime, we introduced a multidimensional framework that moves the analysis of the regime beyond the pervasive 'crisis' narrative and better illuminates the way the regime's institutions and norms structure global cooperation.
Panel Presentations
A Political Economy Approach to the Form and Function of the Nuclear Suppliers Group
The conceptual foundation for my 2020 JPND article. Using a transaction cost framework, this presentation demonstrated how the Nuclear Suppliers Group acts as the essential 'grease' for international cooperation, solving coordination hurdles the NPT cannot address alone.
The Emerging Global Disaster Risk Management System
The precursor to my 2020 research in Progress in Disaster Science. This talk explored the evolution of global risk frameworks, arguing that the shift toward a more integrated, systemic approach to disaster management represents a fundamental change in international coordination.
Public Commentary
Why There Are No Mops to Clean Up Texas
An analysis of the unintended consequences of anti-price gouging laws following Hurricane Harvey. By breaking the price mechanism, these institutional rules worsened local shortages of critical supplies and left vulnerable populations at greater risk.
Effective Information Can Help Fight COVID-19 Anxiety
Contrary to the myth of mass panic, humans facing a crisis actively seek out information to navigate uncertainty. This piece examines the vital role local institutions play in delivering that information and stabilizing public behavior.