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.

  • New ESOC Working Paper: Building Resilient Health Systems: Experimental Evidence from Sierra Leone and the 2014 Ebola Outbreak Read more

  • New ESOC Working Paper: Diversity without adversity? Refugees’ efforts to integrate can partially offset identity-based biases Read more

  • New ESOC Working Paper: China and the World Bank - How Contrasting Development Approaches affect the Stability of African States Read more

  • Formal Employment and Organized Crime: Regression Discontinuity Evidence from Colombia Read more

  • The Geography of Dictatorship and Support for Democracy Read more

  • Brothers or Invaders? How Crises-Driven Migrants Shape Voting Behavior Read more

  • Press Release: Private Sector Can Grow Despite Violent Conflict, Princeton Study Shows Read more

  • Jake Shapiro and Eli Berman contribute to latest post by 'Owl in the Olive Tree' Read more

  • Cohesive Institutions and Political Violence Read more

  • Image for ESOC Working Paper 10

    ESOC Working Paper: Do Museums Promote Reconiliation? Read more

Research Highlights

COVID-019 Disinformation Data

Fake news and false information on COVID-19 can spread just as quickly as the virus itself. On March 16, the Empirical Studies of Conflict Project in collaboration with Microsoft Research began cataloging misinformation efforts around the pandemic.

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Irregular Warfare Podcast

This is the inaugural episode of a brand-new podcast the Modern War Institute is launching in collaboration with the Empirical Studies of Conflict Project.

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Working Papers

Diversity without adversity? Refugees’ efforts to integrate can partially offset identity-based biases

How can refugees overcome barriers to integration in the host country? Refugees often face economic, social, and political discrimination by the local population. Ethnicity, religion, and refugees' past involvement in political violence can further exacerbate these biases.

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