I am an Associate Professor in the School of Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University. I study diplomatic activities of secessionist, separatist, and self-determination movements, as well as how civilian populations respond to civil war. I have published in Journal of Peace Research, Journal of Conflict Resolution, International Studies Review, and other peer-reviewed outlets, as well as The Wall Street Journal, Foreign Policy, and Foreign Affairs. I have written government policy reports and have been a guest contributor to numerous news, radio, and podcast outlets. I am on sabbatical in the 2024-2025 academic year, during which I am serving as a Tenured IR Scholar International Affairs Fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations and a Foreign Policy Fellow in the office of Senator Cory Booker.
Research
Peer-reviewed
2025. Are We Marketing Rebellion?, with Reyko Huang, Conflict, Security, and Development 24(6)
2023. Determined Diplomacy: Land, Law, and the Strategic Outreach of Self-Determination Governments, International Politics
2023. Secession and Diplomacy: Playing the State, Proving the Nation, (book chapter with Caroline Hall), in The Routledge Handbook on Self-Determination and Secession, eds. Aleksandar Pavkovic, Peter Radan, and Ryan Griffiths
2022. The United States and MINURSO: 30 Years, with Edder Zarate, peer-reviewed chapter in Conflict and Peace in Western Sahara: The Role of the UN’s Peacekeeping Mission (MINURSO), eds. János Besenyő, R. Joseph Huddleston, Yahia Zoubir, Routledge
2022. Legitimacy for Rebels and State, with Cyanne Loyle, International Studies Review 24(4)
2022. Revolt and Rule: Learning about governance from rebel groups, with Cyanne Loyle, Jessica Maves Braithwaite, Kathleen Gallagher Cunningham, Reyko Huang, Danielle F. Jung, Michael A. Rubin, and Megan A. Stewart, International Studies Review 24(4)
2021. Foulweather Friends: Violence and Third Party Support in Self-Determination Conflicts, Journal of Conflict Resolution 65(6)
2021. Functional Markets in Yemen’s War Economy, Journal of Illicit Economies and Development 2(2), with David Wood
2020. Continuous Recognition: A Latent Variable Approach to Measuring International Sovereignty of Self-Determination Movements, Journal of Peace Research 57(6)
2019. Think Ahead: Cost Discounting and External Validity in Foreign Policy Survey Experiments, Journal of Experimental Political Science 5(2)
Books
2023. Conflict and Peace in Western Sahara: The Role of the UN’s Peacekeeping Mission (MINURSO), Edited with János Besenyő and Yahia Zoubir, Routledge Studies in Middle Eastern Politics
2022. Handbook of Research Methods in International Relations. Edited with Thomas Jamieson and Patrick James, Edward Elgar Publishing
Policy
2020. Promoting peace in Yemen through the economy: a survey of local economic potential“, with David Wood, policy report for the German Federal Enterprise for International Cooperation (GIZ), funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU)
2021. Four policy reports written with David Wood and Hans Gutbrod, in Cooperation with the University of Jordan Center for Strategic Studies (CSS) and Seton Hall University Center for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPCS), produces for the GIZ, funded by the BMZ and the EU
Working Projects
Book project: Determined Diplomacy
In this book, I investigate the diplomatic efforts and institutions of self-determination governments.
Public-Facing
2024. “The Rules-Based Order and the High Stakes of Western Sahara,” Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
2024. “Somaliland’s Deal with Ethiopia is a Win-Win, No Matter What Happens Next,” Georgetown Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, with Melissa Myrtaj and Steven Ochoa
2023. Expert interview, “One on One with Steve Adubato: Israel-Hamas conflict”
2023. Review: Western Sahara, E-International Relations
2021. The best way to help Yemenis survive might not be what aid organizations think, The Washington Post. With David Wood and Harshana Ghoorhoo
2021. Conflict has change Yemen’s Economy—What that means for peace, Political Violence at a Glance. With David Wood, Daniela Maquera Sardon, and Jarrett Dang
2021. Biden can backtrack on Trump’s move in Western Sahara, Foreign Policy. With Harshana Ghoorhoo and Daniela Maquera Sardon
2020. Panelist, “Western Sahara conflict towards peaceful resolution,” KPFK Radio’s Scholars’ Circle
2019. Territorial Disputes: Western Sahara, Invited contribution for Pacific Council Teleconference Series
2019. Let the People of Western Sahara Have a Say, The Wall Street Journal
2019. Can John Bolton Thaw Western Sahara’s Long-Frozen Conflict?, Foreign Policy
2019. In War Torn Western Sahara, These Old Cars Are The King And Queen, Jalopnik
2017. The Roots of the Catalan Independence Crisis: And What Madrid’s Next Steps Should Be, Foreign Affairs
2017. How Madrid Should Address the Catalonia Crisis: Negotiation With the Regional Government Is Key, Foreign Affairs
2017. Spain’s Flawed Response to the Catalonian Referendum: How Its Overreaction Legitimized the Call for Independence, Foreign Affairs
Teaching
Courses
Intro to International Relations (Undergraduate)
Investigating International Relations (UG)
International Conflict and Security (UG)
Research Methods – Policy Analysis (G)
Politics of Terror in the Middle East (UG & G)
Causes of War (G)
Other
Director, Middle-East specialization for Master of Arts in Diplomacy and International Relations
Director, International Security specialization for Master of Arts in Diplomacy and International Relations
Senior Fellow, Center for Peace and Conflict Studies
Founder and Director, Seton Hall Diplomacy Research Lab (DiploLab)
CV
For data and identity security best practices, I no longer publish my CV. Please feel free to email me to get a copy.
Contact
☗ School of Diplomacy,
Seton Hall University,
400 South Orange Ave,
South Orange, NJ 07079
☏ (973) 275-2518
⌲ joseph.huddleston@shu.edu
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