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Benjamin Fordham

Professor

Political Science

Background

Professor Fordham's research interests concern the influence of domestic political and economic interests on foreign policy choices, especially on security issues such as military spending and the international use of force. He has published articles on the role of domestic economic performance in decisions to use military force abroad, the effect of party differences on policy choices about the use of force and the allocation of the military budget in the United States, and on the influence of economic interests on congressional voting on foreign economic and security policy matters. His current work includes a project examining the economic sources of political differences over military spending and other national security questions in the United States. He is also beginning research about the behavior of major powers in the international arena, including the ways in which they develop "national interests" in particular geographic areas, and exercise influence over the domestic and foreign policies of smaller states. He is the author of Building the Cold War Consensus (University of Michigan Press, 1998). He has also published articles in journals such as International Organization, Journal of Conflict Resolution, Journal of Politics, and International Studies Quarterly. Professor Fordham teaches classes on international relations, as well as American and comparative foreign policy. He joined the faculty at Binghamton in the fall of 2004.

Education

  • BA, BSFS, Georgetown University
  • MA, PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Research Interests

  • Influence of domestic political and economic interests on foreign policy choices

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