Rate My Professor Courtenay Monroe

Courtenay Monroe is Professor and Department Chair of Political Science at the University of California, Merced, within the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts. She earned her Ph.D. in Political Science from Florida State University in 2010, an M.S. in Political Science from Florida State University in 2006, and a B.S. in Political Science from Clemson University in 2004. Monroe's research is situated at the intersection of international relations and comparative politics. She examines how domestic and international institutions shape political violence, including government repression and opposition dissent. Her scholarship explores the decision-making processes of executives regarding human rights under institutional constraints. Specific interests encompass state repression, international organizations—with a focus on legislative procedures in the United Nations—and the effects of legal frameworks on police violence in the United States and abroad. Monroe also studies contentious compliance with international human rights law and the role of judicial decisions in escalation of force.

Monroe has published in leading outlets including the American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, Journal of Politics, International Studies Quarterly, Journal of Conflict Resolution, and Journal of Peace Research. Key works include 'Preventing and Responding to Dissent: The Observational Challenges of Explaining Strategic Repression' (American Political Science Review, 2016, with E.H. Ritter), 'What Stops the Torture?' (American Journal of Political Science, 2010, with W.H. Moore), 'Treaties, Tenure, and Torture: The Conflicting Domestic Effects of International Law' (Journal of Politics, 2013, with E.H. Ritter), 'Divergent Incentives for Dictators: Domestic Institutions and (International Promises Not to) Torture' (Journal of Conflict Resolution, 2014), and 'Constrained Concessions: Beneficent Dictatorial Responses to the Domestic Political Opposition' (International Studies Quarterly, 2011). She co-authored the book Contentious Compliance: Dissent and Repression Under International Human Rights Law (Oxford University Press, 2019, with Emily Hencken Ritter). A recent publication is 'Judicial Decisions on Electronic Control Devices and Police Escalation of Force' (2024, with Sophia Hatz and Kristine Eck). Beyond research, Monroe chairs the steering committee of the University of California Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC) and serves on its executive committee for the Future of Democracy. She is also Senate Vice Chair for the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts.