Adviser: Amb. Richard Norland, Foreign Policy Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, The Pentagon

Research topic: How Can Diplomacy Catalyze Peace in Afghanistan?

Allison Maddux will complete her second year with Georgetown’s Security Studies Program, concentrating in terrorism and sub-state violence. Her ISD research explored the role of diplomacy in the resolution of protracted conflicts, examining lessons learned from case studies, including Northern Ireland and Colombia. She applied her findings to Afghanistan, with recommendations for how diplomatic and military institutions can catalyze efforts to reduce violence and advance political settlement. A key component of her research was the identification of common sticking points and challenges during negotiation processes, and the role of diplomacy in reaching consensus on seemingly incompatible demands, security dilemmas, and trust deficits. Allison earned a BS in physical geography from the University of California, Santa Barbara.