N. SuSanne Martin, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Areas of interest: Comparative Politics and International Relations; Political Parties, Terrorism and Violence.

Education

Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, Department of Government
M.A., University of Texas at Austin, Government, Comparative Politics and International Relations
M.A., St. Mary's University of San Antonio, International Relations
B.B.A., University of Texas at Austin, International Business

Research

N. Susanne Martin's work is situated within the fields of comparative politics and international relations. In her dissertation, she examined cases in which terrorist groups transition into political parties, as well as the more numerous, though less studied, cases in which political parties turn to violence. Martin uses a multi-method research design, combining large-n statistical analyses of factors related to linkages between political parties and terrorist groups with in-depth case studies in  order to understand the conditions under which political groups change their tactics and the types of political groups that are most likely to change their tactics.

Through her work, Martin constructs a theory of political group adaptation. Martin's research draws from theories of political party adaptation, organizations, and the causes, logic, and end of terrorism. Findings from this research are relevant to understandings of domestic and international security and foreign policy.

Publications

Dissertation: "Political Group Adaptation: From Parliamentarianism to Terrorism and Back Again" Dissertation Committee: Robert Moser and Ami Pedahzur (Co-chairs), Zoltan Barany, Patrick McDonald, Leonard Weinberg

"Violence, Elections and Party Politics" (co-edited with Leonard Weinberg and Mary Beth Altier). Special issue, Forthcoming. "Introduction" to the special issue of Terrorism and Political Violence,

"Violence, Elections and Party Politics" (with Leonard Weinberg and Mary Beth Altier). Forthcoming.

Working Papers and Projects

"Turning to and from Terror: The conditions under which political groups choose violent and nonviolent tactics" (with Arie Perliger, Ami Pedahzur, and Leonard Weinberg). Paper presented in 2008.

"Weak Democracies and Reactions to Extremism" (with Ami Pedahzur, Arie Perliger, and Eran Zaidise). Paper presented in 2009.

"Regional Variations in the Strategic Use of Violence." Paper presented in 2009. "Does the transition to party politics pay off?" (with Ami Pedahzur). This paper explores whether the violent political groups that turn to party politics benefit from this transition and, if so, in what ways.

"Endogenous Formation of Terrorist Groups" (with a research team including scholars from across the United States). Research initiated during a conference sponsored by the National Science Foundation at the University of Texas at Dallas. This project is an interdisciplinary effort bringing together behavioral economists, experimental economists, and political scientists.

"Suboptimal Bargaining" (with a research team at the University of Texas at Austin). This paper examines suboptimal bargaining and outcomes in the context of hostage situations. Conference

Presentations

"The Impact of Organizational Characteristics on Strategy Choice and  Change."  Paper to be presented at the Midwest Political Science Association National Conference in Chicago, April 2010. Dissertation, Chapter 6.

"When Terrorists Reject Violence:  Conditions Conducive to the Strategic Use of Nonviolence."  Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association in Toronto, September 2009. Dissertation, Chapter 5.

"Weak Democracies and Reactions to Extremism" (with Ami Pedahzur, Arie Perliger, and Eran Zaidise). Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association in Toronto, September 2009. Working paper.

"Regional Variations in the Strategic Use of Violence."  Paper presented at the Midwest Political Science Association National Conference in Chicago, April 2009. Dissertation, Chapter 4.

"Nation-Building and the Politics of Language:  Considering the Croatian Case."  Paper presented at the International Studies Association Annual Convention in New York City, February 2009. Research for Master's Report.

"Language Reform and the Politicization of Language—The Croatian Case."  Paper presented at the National Convention of the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies in Philadelphia, November 2008. Research for Master's Report.

"Choosing Violence or Nonviolence—Attractiveness and Unattractiveness in Strategic Decision—Making" (with Ami Pedahzur, Arie Perliger, and Leonard Weinberg). Paper presented at the Midwest Political Science Association National Conference in Chicago, April 2008, and at the International Studies Association Annual Convention in San Francisco, March 2008. Working paper.

"Choosing Violence or Nonviolence—How Political Groups Select their Strategies" (with Ami Pedahzur, Arie Perliger, and Leonard Weinberg). Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Western Political Science Association in San Diego, February 2008. Working paper.