Hyeran Jo Receives $400,500 for Groundbreaking Research on Global Realignment
Hyeran Jo, an associate professor and Director of Graduate Studies for the Department of Political Science at the Bush School of Government and Public Service, has been awarded the prestigious Carnegie Research Grant for her groundbreaking research project, “Small-Statecraft and Realignment.”
The Grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York provides 24-month grants to support research projects about the Forces Shaping the Global Order. The Corporation is supporting the projects that “will advance and disseminate knowledge and understanding about the key determinants and consequences of the evolving global order.”
Jo received a generous grant of $450,500 for her project, which delves into the patterns and trends of global realignment from 1990 to 2024. Jo’s research focuses on identifying which countries have grown closer to China politically, economically, and socially. Using quantitative data, she maps out these realignments over time, revealing the strategies and sources behind these shifts in contemporary geopolitics. Her project will culminate in a workshop at the Bush School’s DC teaching site, where she will share the policy implications of her findings with policymakers and scholars.
“During the Cold War, the sides and alignment patterns were relatively clear — between the Soviet-aligned blocs and the U.S.-aligned blocs, along with some non-aligned movement blocs,” Jo said, “The central assumption in the U.S. policy circle is that it is in the U.S. interests to keep other countries’ alignment closer to the U.S. I think it is a worthwhile scholarly pursuit to take stock of related data, show the patterns, and analyze the causes and consequences of alignment and realignment in global politics.”
In addition to the Carnegie Grant, Jo has also been honored as a 2024 Chancellor Enhancing Development and Generating Excellence in Scholarship (EDGES) Fellow. This accolade, developed under the direction of Texas A&M University Chancellor John Sharp, aims to recognize and support mid-career faculty at the associate or early full professor rank who are making significant contributions to their fields. EDGES fellows are nominated by their college or school for their outstanding achievements.
