Research Assistant
Contact
mpdearin@nps.edu
Research Interests
Comparative political violence; paramilitary groups; counterinsurgency; terrorism; South Asia; Africa
Biography
Matthew P. Dearing is Research Associate with the Center on Contemporary Conflict at the Naval Postgraduate School. He is also a National Security Institute Fellow working on a PhD in the security studies program at the Naval Postgraduate School. His dissertation focuses on the variation of paramilitary groups in civil war. His master’s thesis on suicide terrorism was distinguished as the 2009 Liskin Award for Excellence in Regional Security Studies.
His recent publications include: “Formalizing the Informal: Historical Lessons on Local Defense in Counterinsurgency,” Small Wars Journal, December 2011; “Like Red Tulips at Springtime: Understanding the Absence of Female Martyrs in Afghanistan,” Studies in Conflict & Terrorism 33:12 (2010): 1079-1103; “Understanding Female Suicide Terrorism in Sri Lanka through a Constructivist Lens” Strategic Insights Vol. 9, Issue 1 (Spring 2010); “Female Suicide Bombers—The New Threat in Afghanistan,” Small Wars Journal, July 2010.
Prior to joining NPS, Mr. Dearing served in the US Marine Corps in a variety of overseas assignments. He earned a B.A. in International Political Economy from the University of California Berkeley and a M.A. with distinction in Regional Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School. He is a member of the Council for Emerging National Security Affairs, the United Nations Association, the Marine Corps Association, the American Political Science Association, the International Studies Association, and the NPS Foundation.
Recent Publications:
“Formalizing the Informal: Historical Lessons on Local Defense in Counterinsurgency,” Small Wars Journal, December 2011.
“Like Red Tulips at Springtime: Understanding the Absence of Female Martyrs in Afghanistan,” Studies in Conflict & Terrorism 33:12 (2010): 1079-1103.
“Understanding Female Suicide Terrorism in Sri Lanka through a Constructivist Lens” Strategic Insights Vol. 9, Issue 1 (Spring 2010).
“Female Suicide Bombers—The New Threat in Afghanistan,” Small Wars Journal, July 2010.