James Piazza is the Director of the Counterterrorism Option in the MPS Homeland Security program at Penn State School of International Affairs. He holds a Ph.D. in Politics from New York University and an M.A. in Middle East Studies from the University of Michigan. Piazza’s research predominantly focuses on terrorism and political violence, delving into various aspects such as the socioeconomic roots of terrorism, the impact of regime type, human rights, and repression on terrorism dynamics. He investigates how state failure contributes to terrorist activities, the role of religion and ideology in the behaviors of terrorist organizations, and the influence of ethnic minorities on terrorism. Additionally, his work examines the intersection of the global narcotics trade and terrorism, as well as the natural resources conflict and right-wing extremism in the United States. Piazza has published extensively in renowned journals, including the American Journal of Political Science, Journal of Politics, and Terrorism and Political Violence, among others.