My research addresses intersecting themes of political violence, territorial regimes, and environmental politics. My book project, Politics after Autonomy: Repression, Rebellion, and Revision, examines the downstream consequences of regional self-governance as they relate to political violence, with a particular focus on state violence against civilians. Another facet of my work investigates the political origins of environmental displacement, how environmental shocks shape the dynamics of political conflict, and how environmental cooperation is achieved in the context of volatility and fragility. My research has been published in journals such as International Studies Quarterly, Journal of Peace Research, Global Environmental Politics, Climatic Change, and Climate Policy.
Angela Chesler
Assistant Professor
Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame (2023)
M.A. in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University (2016)
B.S. in Economics and International Affairs from Georgia Institute of Technology (2013)
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Research Areas
Additional Interests
- Political violence
- Conflict
- Environmental politics
- Climate change politics
- Research methods
Research Statement
Biography
Originally from Atlanta, GA, I completed my BS in Economics and International Affairs at Georgia Tech. After working at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington, DC and earning my MA in International Peace and Conflict Resolution at American University, I received my PhD in Political Science at the University of Notre Dame in 2023. Before joining Lehigh University as an Assistant Professor in International Relations, I held fellowships at the Perry World House at the University of Pennsylvania and the Belfer Center at Harvard University.
Recent publications:
“Environmental Displacement and Political Instability: Evidence from Africa” (2025) in Journal of Peace Research
“Triggers of State-Led Mass Killing” (2025) in International Studies Quarterly (with Ernesto Verdeja)
“Is Democracy the Answer to Intractable Climate Change?” (2023) in Global Environmental Politics (with Debra Javeline, Kim Peh, and Shana Scogin)
Teaching
IR 010 Introduction to World Politics
IR 097 Environment and Global Politics