STEVEN LOBELL

Steven E. Lobell is Professor in the Political Science Department at the University of Utah. His research interests include:

• neoclassical realism
• political economy of security
• collapse of the liberal international order
• near crisis and escalation
• weak states and great power competition

Professor Lobell is the author or co-author of 9 books including,

• Understanding Near Crises and Escalation in World Politics (Routledge, 2026);
• Small States in a Shifting International Order (Georgetown UP, 2026);
• Neoclassical Realist Theory of International Politics (Oxford UP, 2016, translated into Mandarin);
• The Political Economy of Regional Peacemaking (University of Michigan Press, 2016).

Lobell has published 25 articles (including editing special issues) in International Studies Quarterly, International Affairs, Journal of Strategic Studies, International Studies Review, and Security Studies. Lobell received the CSBS Super Research Senior Award for his research. He also was awarded a Visiting Fellowship at the Nobel Institute and a Fulbright Scholar award.

Professor Lobell served as the PI of a Department of Defense (DoD) Minerva Research Initiative and Office of Naval Research (ONR) award on “Power Projection, Deterrence Strategies, and Escalation Dynamics in an Era of Challenging Near Peers, Rogue States, and Terrorist and Insurgent Organizations.” https://www.research.utah.edu/features/research-groundbreakers-10092023/

Recently, he has been invited to present research at The Atlantic Council, Argentine Council for International Relations, NATO HQ, SHAPE, Center for Security Studies, Zurich, University of Copenhagen, International School of the Scottish Government, Edinburgh, Notre Dame International Security Center, and The U.S. Study Program, Pontificia Universidad Católica, Argentina.

Professor Lobell is currently conducting research for a book, A Granular Theory of Balancing.