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Rachel Myrick

Associate Professor of Political Science
Political Science
140 Science Drive, 204A Gross Hall, Durham, NC 27708

Overview


Rachel Myrick is the Douglas and Ellen Lowey Associate Professor of Political Science at Duke. Her research explores how partisan polarization affects foreign policymaking in democracies, with an emphasis on U.S. national security policy. More broadly, she is interested in the interplay between domestic and international politics in matters of security and conflict. Her first book, Polarization and International Politics: How Extreme Partisanship Threatens Global Stability, was published in 2025 with Princeton University Press in their Studies in International History and Politics Series. Her research is published at journals like International OrganizationBritish Journal of Political Science, The Journal of Politics, The Journal of Conflict Resolution, and International Studies Quarterly, among others.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Associate Professor of Political Science · 2025 - Present Political Science, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences

In the News


Published December 1, 2025
Books for When There’s a Chill in the Air
Published April 22, 2024
Kristin Zhu Wins Gaither Junior Fellowship
Published October 17, 2023
Helping Social Scientists Grow an Idea into a Research Project

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Recent Publications


Today Ukraine, Tomorrow Taiwan? Assessing US Reputation and Deterrence across International Crises

Journal Article International Studies Quarterly · March 1, 2026 When does a state’s reputation for resolve transfer across separate international crises and deter future challengers? We propose three assumptions underlying “Cross-Crisis Reputational Deterrence” (CCRD). First, a defender’s response to a crisis leads a n ... Full text Cite

Foreign Policy Failures and Global Attitudes Towards Great Powers: Evidence from the US Withdrawal from Afghanistan

Journal Article British Journal of Political Science · January 2, 2026 Do perceived foreign policy failures shape assessments of a country’s leadership in the eyes of international observers? We explore the consequences of foreign policy failures using global reactions to the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Some argue that a ... Full text Cite

Polarization and International Politics How Extreme Partisanship Threatens Global Stability

Book · September 16, 2025 "How polarization undermines the advantages democracies have in foreign affairs"-- Provided by publisher. ... Cite
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Education, Training & Certifications


Stanford University · 2021 Ph.D.
University of Oxford (United Kingdom) · 2015 M.Phil.

External Links


Personal Website