The Minerva Research Initiative

The Minerva Research Initiative, administered jointly by the Office of Basic Research and the Office of Policy at the U.S. Department of Defense, supports social science research aimed at improving our basic understanding of security, broadly defined. Supported projects are university-based and unclassified, with the intention that all work be shared widely to support the thriving of stable and safe communities.

Latest News

Minerva Annual Meeting and Program Review - SAVE THE DATE

The 2018 Minerva Annual Meeting and Program Review is scheduled for September 26-27 (pending conference approval). Details will be forthcoming.

The Owl in the Olive Tree


The Owl in the Olive Tree is the blog of Minerva, aimed at sharing social scientific contributions that advance our understanding of the social, cultural, political, economic, and environmental dynamics of security. The first issue of The Owl in the Olive Tree is forthcoming.

In the News

Minerva Researcher Generates New Database of Jihadist Activities with Indicators for Identifying and Tracking Radicalization
By Jytte Klausen | March 2, 2017
Jytte Klausen, a Minerva-funded researcher at Brandeis University, has compiled a unique
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Scott Atran analyses the limits of rational choice in political and cultural conflict
By Scott Atran | Feb. 24, 2017
Scott Atran. 2017. Scott Atran analyses the limits of rational choice in political and cultural conflict.
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Minerva researchers develop Rebel Contraband Dataset
By Justin Conrad, Beth Elise Whitaker, James Igoe Walsh | Feb. 17, 2017
Minerva researchers Justin Conrad, Beth Elise Whitaker, and James Igoe Walsh (University of North
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J Is For Jihad: How The Islamic State Indoctrinates Children With Math, Grammar, Tanks, and Guns
By Robbie Gramer | Feb. 17, 2017
Robbie Gramer. 2017. J Is For Jihad: How The Islamic State Indoctrinates Children With Math, Grammar, Tanks, and Guns. Foreign Policy. February 16.
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Rethinking the War on Terror, with the help of science
By Robert Gebelhoff | Feb. 3, 2017
Robert Gebelhoff. 2017. Rethinking the War on Terror, with the help of science. Washington Post. February 3.
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Researcher Publications

The American Face of ISIS
By Robert A. Pape, Jean Decety, Keven Ruby, Alejandro Albanez Rivas, Jens Jessen, Caroline Wegner, Piper Mik, Sarah Starr, Ala Tineh, Walker Gunning, Jacinta Carroll | Feb. 6, 2017
A Special Report of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
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Do Women Matter to National Security?
By Joshua Busby and Heather Hurlburt | Feb. 2, 2017
Monkey Cage, Washington Post. February 2.
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Challenges in Researching Terrorism from the Field: Research Must Focus On Youth
By Scott Atran, Robert Axelrod, Richard Davis, Baruch Fischhoff | Jan. 27, 2017
Science. 355(6323): 126-28. January 27.
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What Do Pirates Want? To Steal Riches at Sea So They Can Pay for Wars On Land
By Brandon Prins, Ursula Daxecker, and Anup Phayal | Jan. 25, 2017
Brandon Prins, Ursula Daxecker, and Anup Phayal. 2017. What Do Pirates Want? To Steal Riches at Sea So They Can Pay for Wars on Land. Monkey Cage, Washington Post. January 25.
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Disentangling Aid Dynamics in Statebuilding and Peacebuiding
By Naazneen H. Barma, Naomi Levy, Jessica Piombo | Jan. 17, 2017
Naazneen H. Barma, Naomi Levy, and Jessica Piombo. 2016. Disentangling Aid Dynamics in Statebuilding and Peacebuiding: A Causal Framework. International Peacekeeping. 1-25. (DOI: 10.1080/13533312.2016.1252677)
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Scott Atran analyses the limits of rational choice in political and cultural conflict https://t.co/M83wtgY8cu
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The American Face of ISIS. A Special Report of the Australian Strategic Policy I...
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Photo by Naomi Levy. Field work in Laos as part of public services peace-buildin...
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Do women matter to national security? The men who lead U.S. foreign policy don’t think so. https://t.co/dhvrPy1Hv5
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Rethinking the War on Terror, with the help of science by Robert Gebelhoff http...
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Do women matter to national security? The men who lead U.S. foreign policy don’t...
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Rethinking the War on Terror, with the help of science by Robert Gebelhoff https://t.co/782UUp3BWP
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What do pirates want? Article by Brandon Prins, Ursula Daxecker and Anup Phayal....
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