People

Professor Carter's research involves developing and applying tools for credible empirical measurement of ill-defined concepts in political science, such as narratives and rhetorical ideology. As part of this, he emphasizes the need to develop methods that remain accessible to researchers operating under resource constraints. These methods are used to study political behavior and institutions, with a particular focus on political narratives and the legacies of violence. Much of this work sits at the intersection of international relations and comparative politics, examining how transnational phenomena such as migration and conflict manifest at the domestic level. An ongoing book project takes a new perspective on irredentism, arguing that, far from manipulating ignorant mass publics, political elites often try to suppress or downplay mass mobilization on the issue in order to maintain a free hand internationally.