CV - Department of Political Science

Nathan Munier
Department of Political Science
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
523 Oldfather Hall
Lincoln, NE 68588-0328
Email: nathan.munier@huskers.unl.edu
Phone: 630-607-4806
Education
2015
PhD candidate, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Fields: International Relations and Comparative Politics
2011
M.A. Western Illinois University
4.0 GPA; Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society
2009
B.A. Western Illinois University
3.9 GPA; Departmental Scholar
2008
A.D. College of Dupage
Graduated with Honors
Dissertation: “Domestic Political Economy and the Regulation of Conflict Diamonds”
Abstract: Why do states to pursue different policies, and experience varying outcomes, in
response to international agreements? I use an approach that focuses on the domestic political
economy of states to examine the Kimberley Process, an international agreement implemented in
2003 to certify the world’s diamond trade. Since the Kimberley Process is often indecisive, it is
an interesting puzzle why states, even those that often ignore international agreements, will use
scarce resources to raise their level of compliance with the Kimberley Process. In this research I
do comparative case studies of four diamond wealthy countries in sub-Saharan Africa: Angola,
Namibia, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe. These cases present a large variation in compliance and
cooperation with the Kimberley Process, due to the extent that diamond dependency constrains
the ability of state actors to implement their preferences surrounding policy, the preferences of
private actors, and the relative amount of power within and between these groups. This research
shows that cooperation and compliance with international agreements, especially those that have
an economic element, can be better understood as a process that takes place in a countries
domestic political economy where different actors compete to get their policy preferences
implemented and domestic economic changes lead to changes in policy implementation.
Dissertation Committee: Ross Miller (chair); Courtney Hillebrecht; Alice Kang; Chantal Kalisa
Revise and Resubmit
“Diamonds, Dependence and DeBeers: The Political Economy of Compliance With The
Kimberley Process in Namibia” Revise and Resubmit at Review of African Political Economy
"Determinants of Rural Latino Trust in the Federal Government" (with Julia Albarracin and
Keith Boeckelman) Revise and Resubmit at Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences
“Social Participation and Social Capital among Mexicans and Mexican Americans in Central
Illinois” (with Julia Albarracin and Anna Valeva) Revise and Resubmit at Aztlan: A Journal of
Chicano Studies
Research under Review
“Diamonds Without Blood: A Look at Namibia”
Working Papers
“Diamonds after Blood: The Domestic Political Economy of Compliance and Cooperation with
the Kimberley Process in Angola” (To be submitted Spring 2015)
“Do Only Independent Women Participate in Demonstrations? Empowerment and Politics in
Predicting Activism Among Mexican Women” (with Julia Albarracin) (To be submitted Spring
2015)
“The One Who Controls the Diamonds Wears the Crown! The Politicization of the Kimberley
Process in Zimbabwe”
“Decision Making and The Kimberley Process”
“How Disease Impacts Democracy”
Conferences
“(Don’t) Bring Me Your Sick: The Effects of Disease on Foreign Aid Support” American
Political Science Association, San Francisco, September 2015 (upcoming)
“Diamond Certification and Policy Change in Zimbabwe” International Conference on Global
Business, Economics and Social Sciences, Durban, South Africa, June 2015 (upcoming)
“Domestic Political Economy and State Responses to the Kimberley Process: The Case of
Zimbabwe” Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, April 2015 (upcoming)
“How Disease Impacts Democracy” Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, April
2015 (upcoming)
“Diamonds after Blood: The Domestic Political Economy of Compliance and Cooperation with
the Kimberley Process in Angola” International Studies Association Midwest, St. Louis MO,
November 2014
“Do Only Independent Women Participate in Demonstrations? Empowerment and Politics in
Predicting Activism Among Mexican Women” Julian Samora Research Institute 25th
Anniversary Conference, East Lansing MI, October 2014
“Determinates of Rural Latino Trust in the Federal Government” Midwest Political Science
Association, Chicago, IL, April 2014
“Decision Making and The Kimberley Process” Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago,
IL, April 2013
“Why Does Diamond Wealth Create Instability in Some Countries But Not Others? A
Comparative Study” Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, April 2012
“Social Participation and Social Capital among Mexicans and Mexican Americans in Central
Illinois” Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, April 2011
“Colombia's Conflict from a Dependency Theory Perspective” North Central Council of Latin
Americanists, Indianola, IA, 2009
Teaching Appointments
Independent Instructor
University of Nebraska Lincoln
Comparative Politics 104x (Fall 2012, Spring 2013; Fall 2013)
Political Ideas 108 (Summer 2013, Spring 2014, Summer 2014, Fall 2014; Spring 2015)
Power and Politics in America 100 (Summer 2012)
Power and Politics in America 100 Keller Program coordinator (Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall
2012, Spring 2013)
Political Research and Analysis 284 assistant (Western Illinois University) (Spring 2011)
Independent Study: Andrew Brey, Political Philosophy (Fall 2013)
Research Assistantships
2012-2013: Political Science Experimentation Participant Pool (PSEPP)
Coordinator for Dr. Dona-Gene Mitchell
2011-2012: Political Science Experimentation Participant Pool (PSEPP)
Coordinator for Dr. Michael Wagner
2010-2011: Research Assistant for Dr. Julia Albarracin
2010: Research Assistant for Dr. Johnathan Day
Department Service
Technology Officer for University of Nebraska-Lincoln Political Science Graduate Student
Association (2014-15)
Coordinator for International Relations and Comparative Politics Brownbag Group (2014-15)
Political Science Undergraduate Help Center (2010)
Professional Activities
Member
Midwest Political Science Association 2010 – present
American Political Science Association 2014 – present
International Studies Association 2014 – present
References
Dr. Ross Miller Associate Professor rmiller10@unl.edu
402-472-2259
Department of Political Science
511 Oldfather Hall
University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Lincoln, NE 68588
Dr. Courtney Hillebrecht
Assistant Professor
chillebrecht2@unl.edu
402-472-2343
Department of Political Science
511 Oldfather Hall
University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Lincoln, NE 68588
Dr. Julia Albarracin
Professor
J-Albarracin@wiu.edu
309-836-5202
Department of Political Science
422 Morgan Hall, 1 University Circle
Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL 61455