About Us

The Empirical Studies of Conflict Project (ESOC) identifies, compiles, and analyzes micro-level conflict data and information on insurgency, civil war, and other sources of politically motivated violence worldwide. ESOC empowers the nation’s best minds with the quality of data and information needed to address some of the most enduring and pressing challenges to international security. Ultimately, ESOC is committed to providing warfighters and policymakers with greater expert analyses and recommendations for responding to security threats.

  • Cohesive Institutions and Political Violence Read more

  • Image for ESOC Working Paper 10

    ESOC Working Paper: Do Museums Promote Reconiliation? Read more

  • New Publication: Small Wars, Big Data -- The Information Revolution in Modern Conflict Read more

  • ESOC Working Paper 9: A New Resource Curse - map

    ESOC Working Paper: A New Resource Curse Read more

  • ESOC Working Paper: Hard Traveling Read more

  • ESOC Working Paper: Displaced Loyalties - map

    ESOC Working Paper: Displaced Loyalties Read more

  • ESOC Policy Paper: Understanding Risk and Resilience to Violent Conflicts Read more

  • ESOC Working Paper: Image of Mining Locations in Africa and Start Years

    ESOC Working Paper: Concession Stands: How Foreign Investment Incites Protest in Africa Read more

  • Map of local government proliferation across Indonesia

    ESOC Working Paper: Local Government Proliferation, Diversity, and Conflict Read more

  • Export Crops and Civil Conflict: image of banana production areas

    ESOC Working Paper: Export Crops and Civil Conflict Read more

Research Highlights

Small Wars, Big Data: The Information Revolution in Modern Conflict

The way wars are fought has changed starkly over the past sixty years. International military campaigns used to play out between large armies at central fronts.

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Afghanistan Stabilization Program: A Summary of Research and Key Outcome Trends

To provide evidence about which programs best foster stability in fragile and conflict-affected areas we systematically review the relationship between stabilization programming and a broad range of outcomes in Afghanistan.

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Working Papers

Cohesive Institutions and Political Violence

Can institutionalized transfers of resource rents be a source of civil conflict? Are cohesive institutions better at managing conflicts over distribution?

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