Research
My research examines how historical legacies shape state formation, political violence, and international engagement, with a particular focus on the Global South. I combine historical evidence with quantitative methods to study how political actors navigate and reshape inherited institutions.
State Formation & Colonial Legacies
How colonial institutions, military organization, and decolonization shape postcolonial state capacity and political development.
Nationalism & Political Violence
How nationalist mobilization, contested statehood, and institutional change shape civil conflict and separatist violence.
International Engagement
How historical legacies and political leadership shape diplomacy, international organizations, and cross-border political engagement.
Publications
2026
Joowon Yi. “The Slave Trade and Military Formation under Colonialism: The Case of French West Africa.” International Studies Quarterly, 70(2).
2025
Joowon Yi. “Decolonization Legacies and Financial Contributions to International Organizations.” Review of International Organizations, 1–19.
2023
Joowon Yi. “Demand for Statehood: The Case of Native Military Recruitment in World War II.” International Studies Quarterly, 67(4).
2023
Hyeran Jo and Joowon Yi. “When Do Rebels Sign Agreements with the United Nations? An Investigation into the Politics of International Humanitarian Engagement.” European Journal of International Relations, 29(3): 602–627.
2023
Hyeran Jo, Joowon Yi, and Josiah Barrett. “Humanitarian Rebels? Rebel Governance and International Humanitarian Engagement.” International Politics.