Yelena Biberman-Ocakli
Contact Information & Background:
Associate Professor of Political Science
Ladd 314
Phone: 518-580-5241
E-Mail: ybiberma@skidmore.edu
Podcast: [ | | ]
Education
- Ph.D. Brown University, 2014 (Political Science)
- M.A. Brown University, 2010 (Political Science)
- M.A. Harvard University, 2006 (Regional Studies)
- B.A. Wellesley College, 2004 (International Relations)
- Visiting Student. Oxford University, 2002-03 (Philosophy and International Relations)
PUBLICATIONS:
Book
- , New York: Oxford University Press, 2019.
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
- “” (with Christopher Mann), Journal of Peace Research (2024).
- “” (with Jared Schwartz and Samantha Hotz), International Politics (2023).
- “” (with Jared Schwartz and Farhan Zahid), Asian Security 19, No. 1 (2023): 43-58.
- “,” Strategic Studies Quarterly (Fall 2021): 6-33.
- “” (with Megan Turnbull), Political Science Quarterly 133, no. 4 (Winter 2018-19): 695-727.
- “,” Journal of Strategic Studies 41, no. 5 (2018): 751-781.
- “” (with Rachel Castellano), Asian Security 14, no. 2 (2018): 106-118.
- “,” Modern Asian Studies 51, no. 5 (2017): 1598-1625.
- “” (with Trevor Cloen and Farhan Zahid), Perspectives on Terrorism 12, no. 1 (2018).
- “” (with Sahar Gul and Feryaz Ocakli), Asian Affairs: An American Review 43, No. 3 (2016): 78-97.
- “” (with Farhan Zahid), Terrorism and Political Violence 31, no. 2 (2019: online February 2016): 169-184.
- “” (with Feryaz Ocakli), Politics & Policy 43, No. 2 (April 2015): 197-214.
- “,” Political Science Quarterly 126, No. 4 (Winter 2011-2012): 669-680.
- “,” Problems of Post-Communism 58, No. 2 (March/April 2011): 17-27.
- Awarded 2011 Millar Prize
- “Assessing the Costs of Weak Diplomatic Institutions” (Ukrainian: «Оцінюючи Втрати Внаслідок Слабких Інститутів Дипломатії»), Academic Bulletin of the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine (Науковий Вісник Дипломатичної Академії України) Vol. 15 (2010): 228-234.
- “Political Science and the Rules of Causal Inference” (Russian: «Политология и правила выявления причинно-следственных отношений»), Polis 10, No. 6 (2009): 168-176.
Other Scholarship
- of The Difficult Politics of Peace: Rivalry in Modern South Asia, by Christopher Clary, Pacific Affairs, forthcoming in December 2023.
- of Colonial Institutions and Civil War: Indirect Rule and Maoist Insurgency in India, by Shivaji Mukherjee, The Journal of Asian Studies 82, No. 2 (2023): 275-277.
- “,” Asia Policy 16, no. 1 (January 2021): 193-196.
- Yelena Biberman, “Violence by Proxy: Russia’s Ex-Rebels and Criminals in Chechnya,” , Ed. Bettina Koch (Wiesbaden: Springer, 2016), 135-150.
Policy
- “” (with Jonathan D. Moreno), Hastings Bioethics Forum, April 16, 2024.
- “,” Inkstick, August 3, 2023.
- “,” Responsible Statecraft, July 11, 2023.
- “,” Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, June 26, 2023.
- “CRISPR and Global Security” (with Bernard Possidente), Science, eLetter in response to Joy Y. Wang and Jennifer A. Doudna, “,” March 30, 2023.
- “” India Policy (I-Policy) Commentary, Carter Center, February 9, 2023.
- “” (with Sophie Mae Berman), SouthAsiaSource, September 26, 2022. [Reposted by Peace Research Institute Oslo Blogs]
- “,” Harvard University Davis Center Insights, June 13, 2022.
- “How to Kill a Superpower: Do You Remember the Belavezha Agreement?” (with Zachary Troyanovsky), Inkstick, December 8, 2021.
- “,” SouthAsiaSource, Atlantic Council, July 23, 2021.
- “,”&Բ;Inkstick, June 15, 2021. [Featured in American Foreign Service Association ]
- “” (with Maj. Alex Deep), Commentary & Analysis, Modern War Institute at West Point, April 28, 2021.
- “,” Modern War Institute at West Point Report, Series 2021, no. 1 (February 2021): 1-18. [Peer-reviewed]
- “,” SouthAsiaSource, Atlantic Council, February 17, 2021.
- “” Observer Research Foundation (ORF) Expert Speak: Atlantic Files, October 23, 2020.
- “” (with Jared Schwartz), New Atlanticist, June 29, 2020.
- “” (with Samir Ahmad), Washington Post, Monkey Cage, March 4, 2020. [Covered in ; ; ; ]
- “” (with Matthew Simkowitz), Washington Post, Monkey Cage, November 19, 2019.
- "” Policy Roundtable: The Future of South Asia, Texas National Security Review, October 1, 2019.
- “” (with Jared Schwartz), Foreign Policy, April 5, 2019.
- “” (with Jared Schwartz), East Asia Forum, Australian National University, March 29, 2019.
- “,” Political Violence @ a Glance, February 22, 2019.
- Reprinted in
- “” (with Samir Ahmad), Greater Kashmir, January 20, 2019.
- “” (with Niloufer Siddiqui), Washington Post, Monkey Cage, May 7, 2018.
- “,” New Atlanticist, February 7, 2017.
- “” (with Farhan Zahid and Philip Hultquist), Military Review (November-December 2016): 37-43.
- “,” Sustainable Security (Oxford Research Group), October 19, 2016.
- “” (with Gage Willand), Political Violence @ a Glance, June 23, 2016.
- “” Political Violence @ a Glance, May 25, 2016.
- “” (with Orr Genish) Small Wars Journal, September 27, 2015.
- “,” Atlantic Council Issue Brief, April 27, 2015.
- “,” Washington Post, January 6, 2015.
- “” Washington Post, Monkey Cage, May 27, 2014.
- “,” Foreign Policy, January 22, 2008.
- “Between the East and West,” Moscow Times 4326 (Feb. 8, 2010), 7.
- “Unwelcomed Missiles” (with Feryaz Ocakli), Russia Profile, December 29, 2009.
- “Back on the Radar: The Organizers of Anti-Radar Demonstrations in the Czech Republic
Claim that Ordinary People Want a Say in the Debate,” Russia Profile, July 28, 2009.
“Iran: Code Orange?” Foreign Policy In Focus, June 30, 2009. - “Learning from the Soviets in Afghanistan,” Foreign Policy In Focus, June 20, 2008.
- “Children of the Revolution: A New Generation of Russians Tries to Become Politically Active,” Russia Profile, February 5, 2008.
- “Why Alma Mater Matters,” Russia Profile 5, No. 6 (July 2008): 8-9.
- “A Rural Referendum: Villagers Hope Medvedev Will Continue Down Putin’s Path,” Russia Profile, March 3, 2008.
- “Banking on Russian Women,” Passport Moscow (September 2008): 30-32.
- “U.S.-Iran Relations Need Reform,” Wellesley News, September 2003.
AWARDS, HONORS, AND FELLOWSHIPS:
- 2024. Academic Associate, Centre for Biomedical Ethics, Singapore
- 2023-24. Wilson China Fellowship, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
- 2023. American Institute of Afghanistan Studies John F. Richards Fellowship
- 2022. Andrew W. Marshall Foundation Paper Prize Finalist in New Revolutions in Military Affairs
- 2022. Andrew W. Marshall Foundation Paper Prize Semi-Finalist (with Jared Schwartz) in Future Reconfigurations in Asia
- 2021-Present. Harvard University Davis Center Associate
- 2020-21. Modern War Institute at West Point Fellow
- 2020. Alma Ostrom and Leah Hopkins Awan Civic Education Fund, APSA Centennial Center Research Grant
- 2016-Present. Atlantic Council South Asia Center, Washington, DC, Nonresident Senior Fellowship
- 2018. Ȧ College Faculty Development Committee Ad Hoc Grant
- 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21. Judith Johns Carrico Faculty Grant
- 2016, 2017. Ȧ College Faculty Student Summer Research Grant
- 2017. Jacob Perlow Grant, Ȧ College
- 2014-2015. Atlantic Council US-Pakistan Exchange Fellowship
- 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019. Ȧ College Faculty Development Grant
- 2014. Ȧ College Center for Leadership in Teaching and Learning Course Development Grant
- 2014. American Institute of Pakistan Studies Travel Grant
- 2014. Spatial Structures in the Social Sciences Travel Grant
- 2013-2014. Watson Institute for International Affairs Graduate Fellowship [declined, to accept a teaching position at Union College]
- 2012-2013. Jennings Randolph Peace Scholar Dissertation Fellowship, United States Institute of Peace (USIP)
- 2012-2013. American Institute of Pakistan Studies Junior Fellowship
- 2012. Smith Richardson Foundation World Politics and Statecraft Fellowship
- 2011. Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy Research Grant (Special Recognition: John L. Stanley Award)
- 2011. James R. Millar Graduate Student Prize from the National Council for Eurasian and East European Research (NCEEER)
- 2011. New York Public Library Short-Term Research Fellowship
- 2011. American Political Science Association Centennial Center for Political Science and Public Affairs Fellow
- 2011. Foreign Language and Area Studies Summer Fellowship, South Asia Summer Language Institute (SASLI), University of Wisconsin-Madison (Urdu)
- 2011-2012. Brown University Graduate School Internal Dissertation Fellowship
- 2011, 2012, 2013. Brown University Office of International Affairs Research Travel Grant
- 2010, 2011, 2012. Brown University Graduate School Research Travel Grant
- 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. Brown University Graduate School Conference Travel Grant
- 2010. Brown University Political Science Department Methods Training Fellowship
- 2009. IREX U.S. Embassy Policy Specialist Fellowship
- 2009. Watson Institute for International Affairs Graduate Program in Development Summer Fieldwork Grant
- 2008-2009. Stanley J. Bernstein ’65 Graduate Fellowship, Brown University
- 2006-2007. Fulbright Fellowship
- 2005. Harvard University Davis Center Research Travel Grant
- 2005. Harvard University Ukrainian Institute Research Travel Grant
- 2005. Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Summer Fellowship
- 2002-2003. National Science Foundation Award for the Integration of Research and Education
- 2002, 2003. Francis Beirne National Essay Contest First Place Prize
- 2003. Target “All-Around” Award
- 2003. Wellesley Class Of ‘69 Community Service Award
- 2002. Centuria of Excellence Award
- 2001, 2002, 2004. Wellesley College Spirit of Service Award
- 2001. Youth Venture Grant
- 2001. Wellesley College First Year Academic Distinction
Conferences, Workshops, and Invited Talks
- University of Virginia Karsh Institute of Democracy and Carter Center, Charlottesville, VA, 2024
- MIT Wargaming Lab Summer Institute, Dedham, Massachusetts, 2024
- Wilson China Fellowship Conference, Washington, D.C., 2024
- S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 2024
- Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, 2024
- School of Social Sciences, Public Policy & Global Affairs Program, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 2024
- Centre for Biomedical Ethics, Singapore, 2024
- Sandia National Laboratories Strategic Force Analysis (Nuclear) Boot Camp, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 2023
- Strategic Multilayer Assessment, Joint Staff/J-39 Deputy Directorate for Global Operations, 2023
- Countering a Resurgent and Transnational Terrorist Threat in Afghanistan, Atlantic Council South Asia Center, 2023
- Research Security in Today’s Geo-Political Era Conference, University of Waterloo, Canada, 2023
- Technology and International Politics Workshop, Diplomatic Academy of Russian Foreign Ministry, 2023
- Institute of Regional Studies, Islamabad, Pakistan, Regional Dialogue: Contemporary Traditional and Non-Traditional Security Threats in South Asia, 2023
- U.S. Naval War College, Ethics of Technology, 2022
- New York Conference on Asian Studies, 2022
- Union College, Faculty Panel on War in Ukraine, 2022
- Workshop on Teaching Intelligence, Central Florida Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence, 2021
- Strategic Dialogues on Afghanistan: Implications of the Taliban’s New Government for Afghanistan, 2021
- Strategic Dialogues on Afghanistan: Democratization and the Road Ahead for Afghanistan, 2021
- Hamilton College, Civil War Seminar Webinar, 2020
- Central University of Kashmir, Department of Politics and Governance, Webinar, 2020
- Center for Social and Political Research, Karachi, Pakistan, Webinar, 2020
- Association of Asia Scholars, Webinar, 2020
- U.S. Department of State, Ralph J. Bunche Library Speaker Series, 2019
- India Security Workshop, NYU-Abu Dhabi, 2019
- International Studies Association Annual Meeting, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019
- Raisina Dialogue, New Delhi, India, Delegate, 2018
- New England Political Science Association Annual Meeting, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017
- American Political Science Association Annual Meeting, 2010, 2014, 2018
- National Security Seminar, U.S. Army War College, 2016
- Silver Bay YMCA, Silver Bay, NY, 2016
- Pi Sigma Alpha, National Political Science Honor Society at Ȧ College, Keynote Address, 2016
- International Student Union, Ȧ College, 2016
- Center for Contemporary South Asia Book Manuscript Workshop (daylong examination of my Gambling with Violence book manuscript), Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, Brown University, November 11, 2016
- Ȧ College Women in Business, 2016
- Annual Conference on South Asia, 2013, 2014, 2015
- American Institute of Pakistan Studies Junior Scholars Conference, 2015
- International Studies Association Northeast Annual Conference, 2015, 2017
- Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi, India, 2015
- Center for International Politics, Organization and Disarmament, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India, 2015
- Association for the Study of Nationalities Annual Conference, 2015
- Political Violence Workshop at Hamilton College, 2015
- Newcomb Foreign Affairs Roundtable, Newcomb, NY, 2015
- Ȧ Encore, 2015
- National Police Academy, Islamabad, Pakistan, 2014
- National Ground Intelligence Center, Charlottesville, VA, 2014
- Modern South Asia Workshop at Yale University, 2014
- Pay It Forward: Women Helping Women in International Relations, International Studies Association Annual Convention, 2014
- Cambridge University Press Watson Seminar, book manuscript reviewer, 2013
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Strategic Use of Force Working Group, 2013, 2013
- Jennings Randolph Senior Fellows and Peace Scholars Workshop, USIP, 2013
- Olympia Summer Seminars: Transformation of Conflict, Olympia, Greece, 2012
- Midwest Political Science Association Conference, 2009, 2012, 2014
- Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia, 2012
- Institute of Kashmir Studies, University of Kashmir in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, 2012
- Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India, 2012
- National Seminar for Research Scholars on “Understanding Pakistan,” Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India, 2011
- Harvard University Post-Communist Politics and Economics Workshop, 2011
- IREX/Woodrow Wilson Center Regional Policy Symposium, 2009
- Inter-Ivy Sociology Symposium at Columbia University, 2009
- IREX Regional Office in Kiev, Ukraine, 2009
- American Center in Moscow, Russia, 2008
- U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia, 2008
- History of Russian-American Diplomatic Relations: 200 Years, FLEX Alumni Conference in Yaroslavl, Russia, 2007
- Russian Academy of Education Conference on Professional Education, Chebaksary, Russia, 2006
- Harvard University Graduate Student Conference on Comparative and Security Policies, 2006
- Harvard University Davis Center Undergraduate Research Conference, 2004
- Wellesley College Ruhlman Conference, 2004; Tanner Conference, 2003
Additional Training
Policy and Public Scholarship
- International Policy Summer Institute, Bridging the Gap: Connecting Research and Policy, American University, Washington, D.C., 2019
- Summer Workshop on Analysis of Military Operations and Strategy (SWAMOS), Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 2013
Methodological
- Research and Design for Causal Inference, Northwestern Law, 2014
- Spatial Structures in the Social Sciences Geographic Information System (GIS) Institute, 2012
- Institute for Qualitative and Multi-Method Research, Syracuse, NY, 2010
Pedagogical
- Workshop on Teaching Intelligence, Central Florida Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence, 2021
- Project Vis Data Visualization, Ȧ College, 2017
- Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies Basin Harbor Workshop, 2014
- Brown University Sheridan Center Teaching Certificate I, 2009-10, and Certificate III, 2010-11
Manuscript Reviewer
Oxford University Press, American Political Science Review, International Studies Quarterly, Civil Wars, Asian Security, Asian Affairs: An American Review, Cambridge Review of International Affairs, Nationalities Papers, Problems of Post-Communism, African Journal of Political Science and International Relations, Brown Journal of History (Associate Editor, 2011).
Languages
- Urdu/Hindi – advanced introductory
- Russian – fluent
- Spanish – intermediate
- Turkish – introductory
- Belarusian, Ukrainian – working knowledge
- Mandarin Chinese – in progress