Michael Z. Lopate

Michael is a Ph.D. candidate in political science at The Ohio State University and founding member of the MESO lab. His primary research applies concepts from complexity and systems theory to set out a new theory of great power decline: that as states optimize their output in an uncertain environment, it creates the conditions that can bring about their own decline. His methodological interests include computational modeling and simulation applications for theory development and empirical research. Substantively, Michael is interested in grand strategy, causes of escalation, and status in world politics.