Third, Black units received far worse support than White units. Black soldiers died of non-combat causes at higher rates than White soldiers, even holding fixed levels of combat exposure in a variety of different ways.

Second, White commanders tended to send White units to the frontlines while keeping Black soldiers back. The average White combat unit suffered four times as many causalties as the average Black combat unit.

We hypothesize and find three patterns. First, Black soldiers were disproportionately assigned to support, rather than combat, roles. Black Americans represented 10% of the overall population but only made up 5% of combat positions.

I am so happy to say that I have officially been promoted to Associate Professor! I was 13 when I first felt the (admittedly uninformed) desire to be a professor. I sincerely thank each person who played any part in helping me reach this wonderful milestone between then and now.

Next Wednesday, May 28, at 1 PM ET, I will be part of the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation's "Knowledge Against Violence" series, discussing my book, "Words of War: Negotiations as a Tool of Conflict."

The event is virtual. Event and registration information here: www.hfg.org/conversation...

My book, “Words of War: Negotiation as a Tool of Conflict,” is both on display at the @cornellupress.bsky.social booth at ISA 2025 and is also available to read for free as an ebook over the next month! Please take a look in whatever form you prefer.

If this thread interested you and you would like to see more, you can use this QR code and discount code to get the book at a discounted price.

Thanks for reading—both this post and hopefully the whole book!

The third empirical approach involves using computational text analysis and machine learning tools to study the 1950-53 Korean War. Looking at daily military operations reports and full transcripts of armistice talks, I show how my theory explains fine-grained intra-war behavior.

Put together, sincere negotiations are most likely when external diplomatic pressures are low and the battlefield has revealed a clear trend favoring one side. Insincere negotiations are most likely when external pressures are high and the battlefield offers unclear information.

I am elated to say that my book, "Words of War: Negotiation as a Tool of Conflict," is now published and available to order!

In the book, I argue and demonstrate that negotiations are not only used to end wars but can also be wielded to fight them.

A summary thread is below.

I just received an advance copy of my book, Words of War! I am thrilled to physically hold it.

The book argues that negotiations are not only used to end wars but also to fight them.

Words of War comes out on February 15, 2025. See more info: www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...