Long Biography

Andrew Yeo is Professor of Politics and Director of Asian Studies at The Catholic University of America in Washington DC.  In addition to his most recent book, Asia’s Regional Architecture: Alliances and Institutions in the Pacific Century (Stanford University Press, 2019), he is the author or co-editor of three other books: North Korean Human Rights: Activists and Networks (Cambridge University Press 2018); Activists, Alliances, and Anti-U.S. Base Protests (Cambridge University Press 2011); and Living in an Age of Mistrust: An Interdisciplinary Study of Declining Trust in Contemporary Society and Politics and How to Get it Back  (Routledge Press 2017). His research and teaching interests include international relations theory, East Asian regionalism, Asian security, narratives and discourse, the formation of beliefs, ideas, and worldviews, civil society and democracy, social and transnational movements, overseas basing strategy, Korean politics, and North Korea.

Dr. Yeo’s current research includes a project in conjunction with the Center for International and Strategic Studies (CSIS) on North Korean civil society, examining the relationship between states, markets, and society.  Dr. Yeo also continues to research, write, and speak on issues related to US alliances, regional institutions, and multilateralism in Asia. He is currently conducting research on the US Indo-Pacific Strategy and South Korea’s New Southern Policy with grant support from the Korea Foundation and the Mansfield Foundation. Additionally, he is co-leading a collaborative research project on on great powers and overseas bases comparing Chinese, Russian, and US basing strategy in comparative perspective.

Dr. Yeo’s longer term research interests include exploring the formation of ideas and beliefs, and in particular, how (and why) activists and policymakers often draw different conclusions about issues pertaining to peace and security. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, he unpacks socialization processes which lead individuals/groups to embrace particular assumptions about the world. This in turn produces fundamental clashes regarding the meaning of security and peace on issues including nuclear non-proliferation, drone strikes, and U.S. military presence.

As part of the Bridging the Gap network, Dr. Yeo is a firm believer in connecting academic theory with policy relevant research. As an expert on East Asia, U.S.-South Korea relations, and North Korea, Dr. Yeo has written reports, given talks, or participated in roundtable discussions at the Brookings Institution, Council on Foreign Relations, Center for International and Strategic Studies, Korea Economic Institute, Stimson Center, Asia Foundation, the United States Institute for Peace (USIP), and the U.S. Congress. Dr. Yeo is currently a Luce-Mansfield scholar and a member of the National Committee on North Korea.  He is a former term member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He was a Fulbright scholar as a senior faculty in 2020 in the Philippines, and as a graduate student in 2005-2006 in South Korea.

Dr. Yeo’s scholarly publications have appeared in International Studies Quarterly, European Journal of International Relations, Perspectives on Politics, Comparative Politics, Comparative Strategy, Journal of East Asian Studies, and International Relations of the Asia-Pacific among others. He contributes to the Washington Post’s Monkey Cage blog, and has appeared or been quoted in a variety of media outlets including MSNBC, Channel News Asia, CBS radio, Wisconsin Public Radio, Channel News Asia, Voice of America, RTHK-Hong Kong, Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The New York Times Magazine, Al Jazeera, Korea Times, and The Diplomat.

As a dedicated teacher and adviser, Dr. Yeo supervises PhD students and advises undergraduate students interested in studying politics, international relations, and Asian studies. He serves on governing council of the International Studies Association’s International Security Studies section (2021-2024) and is currently the treasurer and secretary of the American Political Science Association’s International History and Politics section (2019-2021)

Dr. Yeo received his Ph.D. in Government from Cornell University, and BA in Psychology and International Studies magna cum laude from Northwestern University.