Todd S. Sechser

tsechser@virginia.edu Phone: (434)924-6993

Todd S. Sechser (Ph. D, Stanford) is Assistant Professor of Politics specializing in international security. His current research investigates the effectiveness of compellent threats, particularly those issued by powerful states against significantly weaker adversaries. He finds that military power is paradoxically associated with the failure of such threats because it creates reputational incentives for targets to resist them. His other work along these lines examines the utility of bribes in supporting military threats and the types of devices available for demonstrating their credibility during international crises. His most recent publication, "Are Soldiers Less War-Prone than Statesmen?" appeared in the Journal of Conflict Resolution in October 2004 (Vol. 48, No. 5). Prior to coming to Virginia, he held fellowships at Stanford's Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC) and Harvard's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs (BCSIA).

Curriculum Vitae .pdf (99kb)

Website