General

Misuse of research by violent actors

A portion of my professional research involves questions of political violence and authoritarianism. However, I often study them through the lens of the perpetrators, seeking to better understand why they engage in these acts and what affects the outcomes of their actions. I’ve often had concerns that this type of research, while important for understanding

Misuse of research by violent actors Read More »

Is there an ethical issue involved in looking at the pandemic as a research opportunity?

Some scholars seem to be altogether too eager to look upon the COVID 19 pandemic as a great opportunity to answer some research questions. How do people respond to quarantines? Do pandemics strengthen the hands of autocrats? How will it affect different economies? What a great natural experiment we have here. Am I wrong to

Is there an ethical issue involved in looking at the pandemic as a research opportunity? Read More »

Consulting fees/rates

I have been approached by a government contractor (“Beltway Bandit”) to write a 25-page report on links between migration and conflict. I get the impression the ultimate consumer is the intelligence community, though I don’t know much more beyond that at this point. They are offering $5,000 total. As this is my first experience with

Consulting fees/rates Read More »

Ethics of Engagement