Scott Singer
BA Chicago MPhil Oxon
Research Topic:
I am a DPhil candidate in International Relations at Balliol College, University of Oxford. My dissertation focuses on the strategic role of civilians in wide-ranging conflict settings, such as political violence and terrorism, economic statecraft, and disinformation campaigns. My research is generously funded by the Clarendon Scholarship and Balliol College Marvin Bower Scholarship.
Beyond my dissertation, I am also interested in US-China relations, political economy, and the development of quantitative research methods in IR. I have written in outlets including The Diplomat, Fulcrum at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, and University of Oxford Politics Blog, and currently work as a Graduate Research Assistant for Professors Duncan Snidal and Karolina Milewicz.
I previously obtained a BA with Honours in Economics and Fundamentals: Issues and Texts from the University of Chicago and MPhil with Distinction from St Antony's College, Oxford. I previously interned at the US Department of State in Taipei, in the US Senate, and served as Team Leader for Secretary of State Antony Blinken for the University of Chicago Institute of Politics Fellows Program.
Awards
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Clarendon Scholarship
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Balliol College Marvin Bower Scholarship
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St Antony's College Travel and Research Grant
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Howell Murray Alumni Association Award
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Departmental Honors, Fundamentals: Issues and Texts
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Maroon Key Society Inductee
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Dean's Fund Recipient for Independent Research
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Phillip Ng Foreign Language Acquisiton Grant for East Asia
Languages
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English (native),
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Mandarin (advanced),
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Spanish (advanced), and
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Hebrew (basic)
Research
My research interests include:
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Institutions and organisations,
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International relations,
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Violence security and conflict,
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Political Economy

Publications
Editor-Reviewed Articles
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“How Universal Basic Income Can Advance the United States’ China Strategy.” With Ben Silvian. The Diplomat. November 8, 2021.
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“Diplomacy Under Different Rules: How an NGO Dictates American Diplomacy in Taiwan.” With Rachel Bernstein. The Diplomat. September 24, 2021.
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“How the Milk Tea Alliance Is Remaking Mynamar.” With Jasmine Chia. The Diplomat, July 23, 2021.
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“How the Milk Tea Alliance Has Succeeded, and Why It May Fail.” With Jasmine Chia. Fulcrum, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, December 23, 2020.
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“The New ‘Worldmakers’: How the 20th Century Black Anticolonial Dialogue Reveals the Strategic Importance of the Milk Tea Alliance.” With Jasmine Chia. Oxford University Politics Blog, Department of Politics and International Relations – Oxford, November 30, 2020.
Podcasts
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“OxPol Blogcast Episode 2: The Milk Tea Alliance.” With Chase Harrison and Jasmine Chia. Oxford University Politics Blog Podcast, Department of Politics and International Relations – Oxford, December 14, 2020.