Faculty & Staff

International Relations, Comparative Politics

Civil war, ethnic conflict, terrorism, guerrilla warfare, Haiti, extreme poverty

Dr. Scarcelli is a professor of political science, specializing in international relations and comparative politics, who previously taught as visiting faculty at Ohio University and Bowdoin College. He is an elected officer of CPP’s chapter of the faculty union, the CFA, and is a faculty affiliate of the Ahimsa Center for nonviolence studies.

Dr. Scarcelli’s primary research focus is on ethnic conflict and modern civil wars. He also maintains a strong personal interest in matters of extreme poverty, stemming from his involvement, many years ago, with humanitarian development work in Haiti.

He teaches courses on a range of political violence and national security topics: International War & Peace, Terrorism, Ethnic Conflict, Transnational Crime, and Environmental Security. Dr. Scarcelli also runs CPP’s award-winning Model UN team, and was recently chosen to serve on the Board of Directors of the National Model United Nations organization.

FALL 2024

POLITICAL SCIENCE 3551: INTERNATIONAL WAR AND PEACE
An in-depth study of international war, including conventional and guerrilla war. Topics include theories of war, modern weaponry, war as a function of foreign policy, the changing nature of war, guerrilla warfare, and counterinsurgency strategy.

POLITICAL SCIENCE 4521: ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY
Focuses on problems transcending international boundaries which are not state-centric, including problems with populations, health, food, climate, energy, water, and more. Emphasis is on interdependence, collective goods, sustainability, and contrasts between wealthy and poor populations.

POLITICAL SCIENCE 4610: SENIOR THESIS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE I
Selection and completion of a thesis under faculty supervision. Thesis is to be of substantial quality on a significant problem in the student’s major area of interest within political science. Work to be completed over two semesters in PLS 4610 and PLS 4620.