2045 Allen Building | 979-845-2628 | ahmertarar@tamu.edu | VITA

Research Interests:

• international relations
• game theory
• political methodology

Biography:

Ahmer Tarar specializes in international relations, game theory, and political methodology. Much of his current research focuses on the effects of domestic political factors on international relations. One line of research examines how legislatures influence the negotiation of international agreements, especially when the agreements have to be formally ratified by the legislatures. A second line of research focuses on how national leaders use aggressive foreign policies for political gain when facing domestic problems (the “diversionary theory of war”), and on unifying this perspective with the bargaining approach to war. A third line of research examines how leaders use public statements to affect their bargaining position in international negotiations and international crises. A fourth line of research consists of empirical studies of the conditions that lead to the success or failure of deterrence between nations. Professor Tarar’s work appears in American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, International Studies Quarterly, and Journal of Conflict Resolution. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in international relations and game theory.

Professor Tarar joined the faculty of Texas A&M University in 2002 after spending the 2001-2002 academic year as a research fellow at the Harvard-MIT Data Center.

 

Courses Taught:

Undergraduate Courses:

• POLS 231 – Introduction to World Politics
• POLS 308 – Game Theoretic Methods in Political Science

Graduate Courses:

• POLS 606 – Introductory Game Theory
• POLS 607 – Advanced Game Theory
• POLS 631 – Conflict Studies

 

Representative Publications:

Professor Tarar’s work appears in American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, International Studies Quarterly, and Journal of Conflict Resolution.