BCEP scholars have been at the forefront of research on coercion, intra-state social conflict, and inter-state war, covering themes from nuclear brinkmanship during the cold war to the logic of violence in post-colonial developing countries. This research explains why actors in weakly institutionalized societies resort to violence to exert political influence and capture resources. This research helps navigate the challenges obstructing the recovery of failed states and critical institutional reforms in developing countries.