Do Young Lee

Do Young Lee is a Postdoctoral Fellow in Technology and International Security at the UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC) based in Washington, D.C. Do Young received a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Chicago in 2020. From 2018 to 2020, he was a pre-doctoral fellow at the Institute for Security and Conflict Studies at the Elliot School of International Affairs, the George Washington University. He holds a B.A. and an M.A. degree in Political Science from Korea University. From 2005 to 2007, he served as a member of a Special Commando Battalion in the Republic of Korea Marine Corps.

Do Young Lee’s research interests include strategies of extended deterrence, the effect of nuclear weapons on interstate conflict, alliance politics, and the diffusion of military technology. His book project examines how nuclear patrons provide a security umbrella to their non-nuclear clients.

Plans for Fellowship: During the fellowship year, Do Young Lee will engage in turning his dissertation into a book manuscript. In addition to the book project, he will make progress on other research projects. His working projects examine 1) the motivation behind senior nuclear allies’ transfer of advanced nuclear technology (i.e., thermonuclear warheads, ICBMs, SLBMs) to junior nuclear allies; 2) the relationship between limited nuclear options and nuclear crisis outcomes; and 3) allies’ time horizons and their impacts on the level of alliance cohesion.