SAERA LEE

® [Link] [Link]@[Link] Ó(319)333-6844

Scott Hall 231, 601 University Place Evanston, IL 60208

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
Visiting Assistant Professor, Northwestern University Fall 2023-present

EDUCATION
Ph.D. Political Science, University of Iowa 2023
Fields: International Relations, Methodology, Comparative Politics (minor)
Dissertation Title: Alliance and Cultural Affinity
Dissertation Committee: Sara McLaughlin Mitchell (Chair), Kelly M. Kadera, Brian Lai, Elizabeth Menninga,
and Stephen Saideman (Carleton University)
Abstract: This research aims to comprehend the influence of cultural affinity in military alliances. While prior
studies on alliances have elucidated the effectiveness and longevity of alliances through power aggregation and
sunk costs, they have rarely delved into the significance of cultural similarity. This study posits that culture plays
a pivotal role in alliance duration and deterrence. The research argues that cultural affinity among allies enhances
cooperation, diminishes the likelihood of conflicts, and nurtures mutual understanding. It delves into the ways in
which shared culture impacts alliance durations at both the dyadic and alliance levels, as well as its effect on the
deterrence capabilities of defense alliances.
M.A. Political Science, University of Iowa 2022
M.A. Political Science, Ewha Womans University, South Korea 2015
B.A. International and Area Studies, Economics, Handong Global University, South Korea 2012

ADDITIONAL TRAINING
Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, & Learning, University of Iowa Spring 2023
Teaching as Research
ICPSR, Ann Arbor, Michigan Summer 2019
Game Theory I : Introduction (Scott Ainsworth, University of Georgia)
Multivariate Statistical Methods: Advanced Topics (Robert Henson, UNC Greensboro)
Korea Social Science Data Archive, Seoul, Korea Summer 2017
Intermediate Statistics (Shang E. Ha, Sogang University)

RESEARCH AND TEACHING INTERESTS

International Relations
International Conflict and Cooperation, International Organizations, International Alliances, Interstate Rivalries, Security
Studies, Regional Studies, East Asian Studies, Regional Security of East Asia, International Relations Theories of Asia
Political Methodology
Introductory Statistics, Ordinary Linear Regression, Times Series Analysis, Network Analysis, Mathematical Models,
Text Analysis, Spatial Analysis, Multilevel Modeling, Event History Analysis, Bayesian Analysis, Formal Theory

REVISE AND RESUBMIT

Saera Lee & Addison Huygens & Sara McLaughlin Mitchell, Do Birds of a Feather Deter Better? Cultural Affinity and
Alliance Deterrence
This study examines the impact of cultural affinity on deterrence of defensive alliances and we find as cultural affinity
among defense alliance increases, potential challengers are less likely to initiate disputes. (Submitted at International
Interactions)
FELLOWSHIPS, AWARDS, AND GRANTS

Fellowship for Teaching as Research, Graduate College, University of Iowa ($250) 2023
Graduate Assistantship, Department of Political Science, University of Iowa 2018-2023
Fellowship for Dissertation, Center for Asian and Pacific Studies, University of Iowa ($500) Dec. 2022
Travel Grant, International Studies Association Midwest ($250) Fall 2022
Graduate College Summer Fellowship, University of Iowa ($5,000) Summer 2022
Travel Fund, Graduate Student Senate, University of Iowa ($750, $360) Fall, Spring 2022
Travel Grant, Department of Political Science, University of Iowa 2019, 2021, 2022
Excellent Thesis Award on MA Thesis, Ewha Womans University 2015
Hoo-Jung Yoon Scholarship, Ewha Womans University 2015
German Academic Exchange Service Scholarship, Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst 2015
Ewha Scholarship, Ewha Womans University 2012, 2015
Brain Korea 21 Scholarship, Ewha Womans University 2013

WORKING PAPERS
Saera Lee, When Allies Leave an Alliance
This dissertation chapter examines the impact of cultural similarity on ally’s tendency to leave an alliance and I find that
as dyadic cultural affinity of allies within an alliance is high, an ally is less likely to leave an alliance.
Saera Lee, Why Do Alliances Terminate?
Focused on the duration of an alliance, this dissertation chapter finds that alliance with high average cultural affinity is less
likely to be terminated.
Saera Lee, Rise of Pacta Sunt Servanda, Systemic Norm of Alliance Termination
This researchr project argues that the norm of pacta sunt servanda (pacts made in good faith are binding) is established at
a systemic level by alliances with high cultural affinity, leading to a decrease in alliance termination over time since 1950.
The research finds that the average cultural affinity within alliances increases over time and this trend coincides with an
increasing proportion of democratic states.
Kelly M. Kadera & Saera Lee, Cultural Affinity and Alliance Formation
In this project, we focus on systemic conditions on alliance formation and how systemic norm of pacta sunt servanda
creates bad reputations for those states which have violated the terms of obligations and makes them less attractive to
other states.
Saera Lee, Clash of Culture? Analyzing Huntington Using Network Analysis
This paper examines the applicability of Huntington’s class civilization using cultural affinity latent variable and network
analysis.
Saera Lee, Does Interaction Make North Korea Happier? Text Analysis on Rodong Shinmun after the Third Korean
Summit
This paper examines the effects of the third Korean Summit on North Korea’s perception of South Korea and the United
States and finds that the Summit made North Korea to mention more on South Korea and the US, but in negative context.
CONFERENCES
1. Why Are Alliances Terminated?. Midwest Political Science Association 2024.
2. Terminating Alliance. International Studies Association Midwest 2022.
3. Why Do Alliances Terminate? American Political Science Association Annual Meeting 2022.
4. Cultural Affinity and Alliance Deterrence (with Sara McLaughlin Mitchell and Addison Huygens). American Polit-
ical Science Association Annual Meeting, Poster Session 2022.
5. How Shared Culture Influences Alliance Termination? International Studies Association Annual Convention 2022.
6. Cultural Affinity and the Termination of Military Alliances. Iowa Women Studying Politics 2022.
7. Foreign Aid and Civil Conflict. International Studies Association Midwest 2021.
8. Alliance Design and Issue Linkage. International Studies Association Midwest. Virtual Format 2020.
9. Secret of Alliance: Focused on Alliance Duration Depends on Alliance Types. International Studies Association
Midwest 2019.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Northwestern University
• (Undergrad) Poli-Sci 395 The Lifecycle of International Organizations and Military Alliances, Spring 2024
• (Undergrad) Poli-Sci 383 War and Change in International Politics, Fall 2023/Spring 2024
• (Undergrad) Poli-Sci 210 Introduction to Empirical Methodology in Political Science, Winter 2024
• (Grad) Poli-Sci 405 Linear Models, Winter 2024
University of Iowa
• POLI:3512 International Conflict , Spring 2021 (Solo Instructor)
University of Iowa, Teaching Assistant
• Introduction to International Relations, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2022
• Introduction to Political Analysis, Fall 2020, Fall 2022
• American Foreign Policy, Spring 2019
• Introduction to American Politics, Fall 2022, Spring 2023
ICPSR, Teaching Assistant
• Time Series Analysis, Summer 2021, Summer 2023

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Research Assistant
• Political Science Department, University of Iowa Summer 2021, 2020, Winter 2021
Worked for Dr. Menninga and Dr. Prorok (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) to develop a data set for
international interventions in civil conflicts. Collected data from news sources and coded into relevant categories.
• Political Science Department, University of Iowa Summer 2021
Worked for Dr. Brian Lai to manage listerv of Foreign Policy Analysis journal.
• The Institute for Far Eastern Studies 2015-2017
Worked with Dr. Jongdae Shin on a book publication project about history of South Korean foreign policy. I
gathered historical data from newspapers, and interviewed former Minister of Foreign Affairs and former military
officer.
 • Ewha Womans University Fall 2012 - Spring 2014
Worked at The Institute for International and Area Studies and International Studies Review journal, assisting
projects on preparing Korean unification and promoting international cooperation.
Participating Researcher
• National Institute for Biological Resources, Seoul, South Korea 2014-2015
Worked as participating researcher on a project for biological diversity and sustainable development. I researched
as a scholar in political science and wrote a paper on international relations in the era of sustainable development.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
Participant, Ewha-Rostock Summer Academy Reunification, Rostock, Germany Summer 2015
Intern, Educators Without Borders, Seoul, South Korea Fall 2013
Staff, 11th Korea-Germany Forum, Gangwon-do, South Korea October 2012
Volunteer, Camp City Union Mission, Missouri Summer 2010

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Political Science Association, International Studies Association, Women in Conflict Studies

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Discussion Chair & Discussant, Midwest Political Science Association 2024
Manuscript Reviewer, American Political Science Review 2021-Present
Manuscript Reviewer, Foreign Policy Analysis 2020-Present
Graduate Student Peer Mentor, Political Science, University of Iowa 2020-2023
Judge, Fall Undergraduate Research Festival Fall 2021

PROGRAMMING/SOFTWARE SKILLS
Stata, R, Python, Mathematica, LATEX , High Performance Computing (HPC), and familiarity with E-Views

REFERENCES

Sara McLaughlin Mitchell Kelly M. Kadera

F. Wendell Miller Professor and Collegiate Fellow Associate Professor
University of Iowa University of Iowa
(319) 335-2356 (319) 335-2363
sara-mitchell@[Link] kelly-kadera@[Link]

Elizabeth J. Menninga
Associate Professor
University of Iowa
(319) 335-3835
elizabeth-menninga@[Link]

Last Updated April 9, 2024