Michael A. Rubin is a former postdoc at the Center for Peace and Security Studies (cPASS), University of California San Diego. Michael earned a Ph.D. (2018) in political science at Columbia University, specializing in International Relations and Comparative Politics. His research investigates the causes and consequences of inter- and intra-state conflict and political violence. His current book project advances a novel theory to explain how civilians influence rebel groups' territorial control and governance during the civil war. The project builds upon fieldwork conducted in conflict-affected regions in the Philippines, funded by the National Science Foundation Law and Social Sciences Program. Additional projects explain the causes and consequences of modern terrorism, using the new Terrorism in Armed Conflict (TAC) dataset, a collaboration with Page Fortna and Nicholas Lotito. At cPASS, Michael focuses on projects explaining the international security implications of increasingly common “gray zone” interstate conflicts, in which states compete using subversive strategies short of war. For more information on Michael’s research, see his website (www.michaelarubin.com).
