REPORT TO THE IRISH ASSOCIATION FOR AMERICAN STUDIES (IAAS)
DearIAAS Post-Doctoral Research Bursary Committee,
I am writing to express my sincere gratitude to the Irish Association for American Studies for awarding me a €500 Post-Doctoral Research Bursary. This generous award directly supported my travel to and participation in the International Studies Association (ISA) Annual Convention in Columbus, Ohio earlier this year.
As an early-career researcher securing external travel funding was critical. Without the timely and vital assistance of the IAAS, participating in this flagship international forum would have been financially prohibitive. This support has been instrumental in allowing me to showcase my research on a global stage and progress my career.
The primary research activity supported by this bursary was the presentation of my next planned peer-reviewed paper titled: “Rethinking the Agency and Purpose of Mid-Level and Consular Diplomats in Ongoing Conflict and Post-Conflict Resolution Scenarios.”
Delivering this paper allowed me to share a broader comparative and theoretical framework that builds on my previous study of U.S. diplomatic intervention. Using case studies from Burma, Djibouti, and Northern Ireland, the presentation demonstrated how mid-level and consular officials navigate politically sensitive, on-the-ground spaces often inaccessible to high-level ambassadors.
The presentation attracted a highly engaged audience of scholars. The constructive feedback and critical dialogue generated during the session have proved invaluable. It provided me with insights needed to refine my arguments as I finalise the manuscript for submission to a top-tier peer-reviewed journal.
A major professional milestone of this trip was a dedicated “Author Meets Critics” roundtable profiling my first book, “U.S. Diplomacy and the Good Friday Agreement in Post-Conflict Northern Ireland” (Manchester University Press).
The roundtable brought together leading international scholars to critically engage with the book’s core arguments. The monograph challenges dominant historical narratives by demonstrating that sustained American diplomatic intervention, specifically through special peace envoys, was crucial to restoring the institutions of the 1998 Good Friday peace accord between 2001 and 2007.
Responding to the critiques allowed me to defend and expand upon the book’s contributions to the literature on international diplomacy and U.S. foreign policy. The high visibility of this roundtable has significantly enhanced the book’s international profile.
The structured critical engagement from the ISA convention directly informed the design of my next major project. This new agenda expands my focus into a study of how the diminution of institutional U.S. diplomacy over the past two decades has transformed Europe’s security landscape and reshaped the transatlantic relationship.
I remain deeply grateful to the IAAS for its investment in early-career scholars and its ongoing commitment to promoting American Studies across the island of Ireland.
I conclude by expressing my sincere appreciation to Julie Sheridan and Dr Nerys Young for all the work they did in support of this award.
Yours sincerely,