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Michaela Mattes specializes in International Relations. Her research interests lie at the intersection of international conflict and cooperation, focusing on how adversaries manage and resolve disagreements. She investigates the design and effects of security institutions, conflict management agreements, and military alliances to understand the factors that contribute to their effectiveness, particularly in the context of hostile countries reconciling in the absence of binding agreements. Additionally, her research looks into reconciliation overtures made by adversaries and the role of domestic politics in shaping a country’s foreign policy behavior, especially its willingness and ability to pursue international cooperation. Mattes is a Co-PI on several significant research projects including a National Science Foundation-funded data collection project on changes in political leadership and another on domestic security institutions funded by the Department of Defense. Her work has been published in leading academic journals, and she is affiliated with several research institutes related to global conflict and cooperation.
University of California, Berkeley • Berkeley, CA
Teaches courses related to International Relations and Conflict Management.
The Mathematics Subject GRE is required for the Fall 2026 admissions cycle. General GRE is optional.