Benjamin Laughlin
Assistant Professor of Political Science
Affiliation: NYU Abu Dhabi
Education: BA University of Washington; PhD University of Rochester
Research Areas: Comparative politics; Political economy; Conflict; Ethnic and national identity
Benjamin Laughlin studies political violence and identity. Current projects focus on the behavior of non-state actors and civilians during conflict, examining why groups fight over territory, how refugees decide to flee, and how conflict affects identities. His work leverages evidence from a variety of sources, including archival and administrative records, geographic and remote sensing data, and field experiments.
Courses Taught
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The Capstone is a year-long project that students work on in their senior year of the Economics major, culminating in the submission of a Capstone thesis at the end of the year. The Capstone provides an opportunity for students to gain first-hand experience of economic research: • Choosing a research topic • Formulating a research question and hypotheses • Evaluating related literature • Formulating a research design • Conducting an empirical/experimental/theoretical analysis • Presenting findings to peers and specialists • Writing a research paper
The Capstone seminar provides a forum to guide and advise students as they work on their Economics Capstone projects. At the end of the Spring, students submit a detailed project proposal and present in a “work-in-progress” event. In the Fall, students give a formal presentation of their work to gain practice communicating their ideas and answering questions about their work. At the end of the Fall semester, students submit a final thesis.Prerequisites: Senior standing, any ECON-UH 3xxx course and SOCSC-UH 3220
Previously taught: Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024
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Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Maximilian Mihm - Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Hervé Crès - Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Samreen Malik - W 15:35 - 18:15 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
David Blakeslee - W 15:35 - 18:15 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Nikos Nikiforakis - W 15:35 - 18:15 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Maximilian Mihm - Taught in Abu Dhabi
This course appears in...
- Majors > Economics
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Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
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The sequel to the Capstone seminar is designed to conclude the capstone experience. Students work closely with faculty and fellow students to complete their senior theses.
Prerequisite: ECON-UH 4020
Previously taught: Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Summer 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024
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Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Maximilian Mihm - Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Samreen Malik - W 15:35 - 18:15 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Jean Imbs - W 15:35 - 18:15 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Nikos Nikiforakis - W 15:35 - 18:15 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Maximilian Mihm - Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Maximilian Mihm - Taught in Abu Dhabi
This course appears in...
- Majors > Economics
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Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
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This course introduces students to the study of comparative politics and the study of domestic political institutions around the world. The course emphasizes the use of theory and evidence to generate and test hypotheses about both the causes and the consequences of the observed variation in domestic political institutions. For example, the course investigates the factors that lead some countries to democratize, and others to institute authoritarian governments, as well as the consequences of those institutional choices for policy outcomes. The course also looks at the variations in institutional arrangements within both democratic and non-democratic governments.
Recommended Prerequisite: SOCSC-UH 1010Q and SOCSC-UH 1112
Previously taught: Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024
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Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Giuliana Pardelli - MW 09:55 - 11:10 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Melina Platas, Giuliana Pardelli - MW 11:20 - 12:35 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Melina Platas, Giuliana Pardelli - MW 09:55 - 11:10 Taught in Abu Dhabi
This course appears in...
- Majors > Political Science > Introductory Electives
- Majors > Political Science > Political Theory and Institutions
- Minors > African Studies > Social Sciences Electives
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Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
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Students develop a research question, construct a research design that allows them to test potential answers to that question, collect relevant data, analyze the results, and write a senior thesis.
Prerequisite: Senior standing
Previously taught: Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024
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Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Christopher Paik - Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Jonathan Andrew Harris, Benjamin Laughlin, Jeffrey Jensen - F 09:25 - 12:05 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Jonathan Andrew Harris, Benjamin Laughlin, Jeffrey Jensen - F 09:25 - 12:05 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Jonathan Andrew Harris, Benjamin Laughlin, Jeffrey Jensen - F 09:25 - 12:05 Taught in Abu Dhabi
This course appears in...
- Majors > Political Science
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Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
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Students develop a research question, construct a research design that allows them to test potential answers to that question, collect relevant data, analyze the results, and write a senior thesis.
Prerequisite: POLSC-UH 4000
Previously taught: Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024
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Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Benjamin Laughlin, Jeffrey Jensen - F 14:20 - 17:00 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Benjamin Laughlin, Jeffrey Jensen - F 14:20 - 17:00 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Jeffrey Jensen - Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Jeffrey Jensen - Taught in Abu Dhabi
This course appears in...
- Majors > Political Science
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Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
-
This course introduces students to the basics of statistics and probability, which are building blocks for much of the research that is done in Social Science. The course gives students an overview of descriptive and inferential statistics, with emphasis on conceptual understanding and statistical thinking. There is heavy concentration on the big picture: What questions are we trying to address and what can we conclude from our analysis. Throughout the course real data from several social science disciplines will be integrated and studied using state of the art software tools. At the end of the semester students should know the difference between populations and samples, how to design experiments, how to summarize and analyze the results of a statistical experiment, how to test basic hypotheses and how to communicate statistical insights.
Prerequisite: MATH-UH 1000A or Math Proficiency Assessment
Previously taught: Summer 2016, Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Summer 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Summer 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Summer 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Summer 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Summer 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Summer 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Summer 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Summer 2024, Fall 2024
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Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Blaine Robbins - TR 11:20 - 12:35 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Blaine Robbins - TR 09:55 - 11:10 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Tetyana Surovtseva - MW 11:20 - 12:35 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Tetyana Surovtseva - MW 08:30 - 09:45 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
F 14:20 - 15:35 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
F 15:45 - 17:00 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
F 10:50 - 12:05 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
F 10:50 - 12:05 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
F 08:00 - 09:15 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
F 09:25 - 10:40 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
F 09:25 - 10:40 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
F 14:20 - 15:35 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
F 09:25 - 10:40 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Omer Faruk Orsun - TR 14:10 - 15:25 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
F 08:00 - 09:15 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Summer 2025;
4 Weeks
MTWR 13:00 - 14:15 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Summer 2025;
4 Weeks
Blaine Robbins - MTWR 09:00 - 12:00 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
F 09:25 - 10:40 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
F 10:50 - 12:05 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
F 14:20 - 15:35 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
F 15:45 - 17:00 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Wifag Adnan - MW 09:55 - 11:10 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Omer Faruk Orsun - MW 14:10 - 15:25 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
TR 15:35 - 16:50 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Wifag Adnan - MW 08:30 - 09:45 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Wifag Adnan - TR 08:30 - 09:45 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
F 14:20 - 15:35 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
F 09:25 - 10:40 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
M 08:30 - 09:45 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
F 10:50 - 12:05 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
F 15:45 - 17:00 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
F 08:00 - 09:15 Taught in Abu Dhabi
This course appears in...
- Core Curriculum > Quantitative Reasoning
- Majors > Business, Organizations and Society
- Majors > Economics
- Majors > Political Science
- Majors > Social Research and Public Policy
- Minors > Economics
- Minors > Social Research and Public Policy
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Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
-
During this yearlong course, students develop a research question and design and analyze quantitative or qualitative data sets relevant to social research and/or public policy.
Prerequisite: Declared SRPP major and senior standing
Previously taught: Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024
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Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Luca Maria Pesando - Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
John O’Brien - M 17:30 - 20:00 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Stephane Helleringer - M 17:30 - 20:00 Taught in Abu Dhabi
This course appears in...
- Majors > Social Research and Public Policy
-
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
-
During this yearlong course, students develop a research question and design and analyze quantitative or qualitative data sets relevant to public policy.
Prerequisite: SRPP-UH 4000
Previously taught: Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024, Fall 2024
-
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Stephane Helleringer - M 17:30 - 20:00 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks
John O’Brien - M 17:30 - 20:00 Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Zeynep Ozgen - Taught in Abu Dhabi -
Fall 2025;
14 Weeks
Zeynep Ozgen - Taught in Abu Dhabi
This course appears in...
- Majors > Social Research and Public Policy
-
Spring 2025;
14 Weeks