Mark S. Cogan is Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies in the College of Foreign Studies at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan. His research interests include Southeast Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific region, as well as security studies, peacebuilding, counter-terrorism, and human rights. He is a former communications specialist with the United Nations, serving in Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East. His most recent papers include “Regionalism and bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation: the case of India and Thailand”, published in the Journal of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism in 2021 and “India–Thailand Security Cooperation: Strengthening the Indo-Pacific Resolve”, published in the Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs in 2020. His first co-edited volume, “Alternative Approaches on Peacebuilding: Theories and Case Studies”, was published in 2022 by Palgrave MacMillan. His second volume, “Indo-Pacific Diaspora in Peace and Conflict: Unity and Division in the Age of Transnational Repression” was published by Routledge in February 2026.
FORTHCOMING JUNE 2026!
Handbook of Japan-European Union Relations will be published in June 2026 by Routledge. This Handbook explores the relationship between Japan and the European Union (EU). It first outline the political, cultural and historical context for the relationship, from the first encounter by Portuguese traders in the mid-16th century to the post-Cold War era highlighting how intellectual and cultural curiosity led to a genuine, mutual appreciation among Japanese and European societies. Contributions also explore the expansive areas of macroeconomics and trade relations between Japan and the EU, including larger developments such as the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) underscoring the significance of the Japanese-European trade relationship. In order to approach the broad topic of international relations between Japan and the EU, explorations of defence and foreign policy, as well as non-defence and security related joint cooperation, such as climate change adaptation and mitigation, are featured.
NEW! Indo-Pacific Diaspora in Peace and Conflict: Unity and Division in the Age of Transnational Repression” published by Routledge in February 2026, explores critical political, cultural, and structural challenges facing Indo-Pacific diaspora communities through seven unique contexts, illuminating how these populations confront transnational repression and organizational fragmentation while rebuilding lives abroad. People from countries in the Indo-Pacific region have sought to resettle overseas, fleeing political unrest, ethnic conflict, political persecution and violence, discrimination and marginalization based on religious beliefs, and poor economic conditions. Drawing upon first-hand interviews, this book provides rich insights into the struggles of diaspora groups from Hong Kong, Thailand, Myanmar, India, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Each chapter explores unique cultural, economic, and political barriers faced by these disparate communities, from maintaining identity to confronting surveillance by home governments, while examining how diaspora organizations pursue political change, justice for human rights abuses, and international advocacy.
Alternative Perspectives on Peacebuilding: Theories and Case Studies, a co-edited volume was published in 2022 by Palgrave MacMillan. It is available from Springer, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other regional book sellers. The book analyses and furthers the academic debates on post-liberal peacebuilding, through a number of conceptual, theoretical and empirical research outputs. Part I includes a review of the recent discourse on peacebuilding, with three conceptual/theoretical perspectives relevant to post-liberal peacebuilding. The second half of the book introduces five case studies that present how alternative peacebuilding models are being shaped (or can be shaped) in practice.
Security, Pragmatism, and Opportunity: Understanding the Myanmar Crisis Through Its Neighbors: This special issue of Asian Politics & Policy (Vol. 17, No. 4, October 2025) explores three critical themes in bilateral ties between Myanmar and its neighbors: security, pragmatism, and opportunity. This introduction previews these three key areas, and presents each original research article it is situated in an increasingly unpredictable and austere regional environment.
Thailand’s Foreign Policy Domestic, Institutional, and Regional Challenges in a New Era: This Special Issue of the Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs (Vol. 7, No. 1, January/February 2024) examined the evolving geopolitical dynamics surrounding Thailand, a long-standing ally of the United States. The articles cover various aspects of Thai foreign policy, Great Power relations, human rights issues, and defense strategies.
Cogan, M.S., & Panda, J. (2026). Revisiting the Offense-Defense Balance: Drone Warfare and Taiwan’s Asymmetrical Defense Strategy. Asian Security 22(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/14799855.2026.2651097
Cogan, M.S., Thuzar, M. & Riaz, A. (2025). The Rohingya: A perceived security threat and the dominant issue in Bangladesh-Myanmar relations. Asian Politics & Policy 17(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/aspp.70048
Cogan, M.S., (2025). Pragmatism at the expense of national security: Thailand’s post-coup bilateral relations with Myanmar. Asian Politics & Policy 17(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/aspp.70037
Cogan, M.S., (2025). Introduction: Security, pragmatism, and opportunity: Understanding the Myanmar crisis through its neighbors. Asian Politics & Policy 17(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/aspp.70054
Cogan, M. S. (2024). Thailand’s new soft power focus and the makings of a paradox. Asian Affairs: An American Review, 51(2), 90–116. https://doi.org/10.1080/00927678.2024.2333684
Cogan, M.S., (2024). Can Thailand’s Military Evolve? Moving Beyond Domestic Interference, Institutional Corruption, and Personal Gain, Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs 7(1), 97-118.
Ahlawat, D. & Cogan, M. S. (2023). Can small island states escape China’s influence? The cases of Sri Lanka and Fiji. Geopolitics 29(2), 661-690. https://doi.org/10.1080/14650045.2023.2174852
Cogan, M.S., & Mishra, V. (2021). Regionalism and bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation: the case of India and Thailand. Journal of Policing, Intelligence and Counter-terrorism, 16(3), 245-266. https://doi.org/10.1080/18335330.2021.1906933
Cogan, M.S., & Mishra, V. (2020). India–Thailand Security Cooperation: Strengthening the Indo-Pacific Resolve. Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs, 7(1), 36-56. https://doi.org/10.1177/2347797020906651
Cogan, M.S. (2019). Is Thailand Accommodating China?, Southeast Asian Social Science Review, 4(2), 24-47. https://ssrn.com/abstract=3927951
Cogan, M.S. (2019) Japan’s Contribution to Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) in Afghanistan after September 11. Social Science Asia: Official Journal of National Research Council of Thailand in Conjunction with the College of Local Administration, Khon Kaen University, 5(3), 14-24. http://doi.org/10.14456/ssa.2019.17
Sripokangkul, S., & Cogan, M.S. (2019). Political Demonology, Dehumanization, and Contemporary Thai Politics. Asia-Pacific Social Science Review, 19(2), 115-130. https://doi.org/10.59588/2350-8329.1225
Sripokangkul, S., Cogan, M.S., Intharaphan, C., Muangming, A. (2018). Consent, Repression, and Emerging Student Activism in Northeastern Thailand. International Journal of Interdisciplinary Civic and Political Studies, 13(2), 13-27. https://doi.org/10.18848/2327-0071/CGP/v13i02/13-27
Cogan, M.S. (2018). Evaluating U.S Democratization Pressure on Post-Coup Thailand. Journal of Inquiry and Research (関西外国語大学研究論集) 107, 27-43. http://doi.org/10.18956/00007785
Cogan, M.S. & Balasundaram N. (2016) Political Obstacles to Justice and Reconciliation Mechanisms in Sri Lanka. The Journal of Intercultural Studies, 40, 47-62. http://doi.org/10.18956/00007735
Cogan, M.S. (2026). Transnational Repression in Contemporary Thailand. In: Chachavalpongpun, P. (ed.). Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Thailand. New York, Routledge. (in development, est. late 2026)
Cogan, M.S. (2026). Thailand, Cambodia, and the Dragon: Shifting Foreign Policy and the Rise of China. In: Chan, S. (ed.) Gauging China’s Influence Abroad. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. (forthcoming)
Cogan, M.S. (2026). Japan-EU Defense Cooperation in the Context of the Indo-Pacific. In: Cogan, M.S. (ed.) Handbook of Japan-European Union Relations. New York, Routledge. (forthcoming)
Cogan, M.S., (2026). Knowledge, Validity, Power: A Critique of Knowledge Diplomacy from an International Relations Perspective, In: Alijeva, L, Amarane-Cooper, L., Gore, T., Lake, A., MacDonald, S., and Rofe, S. (eds.) Knowledge Diplomacy: Developments and Future Trends. University of London Institute in Paris. Manchester, Manchester University Press. (forthcoming)
Cogan, M.S. (2026). Globalisation and Internationalisation: Challenges and Opportunities for Japan-EU Higher Education Cooperation. In: Cogan, M.S. (ed.) Handbook of Japan-European Union Relations. New York, Routledge. (forthcoming)
Cogan, M.S., (2026). Knowledge, Validity, Power: A Critique of Knowledge Diplomacy from an International Relations Perspective, In: Alijeva, L, Amarane-Cooper, L., Gore, T., Lake, A., MacDonald, S., and Rofe, S. (eds.) Knowledge Diplomacy: Developments and Future Trends. University of London Institute in Paris. Manchester University Press, Manchester. (forthcoming)
Cogan, M.S. (2026). Political vs. National Security: Scattered Hong Kong Diaspora and Fears of Chinese State Retaliation. In: Cogan, M.S. (ed.) Indo-Pacific Diaspora in Peace and Conflict: Unity and Division in the Era of Transnational Repression. Routledge, New York. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003522171-1, 62-83.
Cogan, M.S. (2026). Introduction: Transnational Repression and Indo-Pacific Diasporas. In: Cogan, M.S. (ed.) Indo-Pacific Diaspora in Peace and Conflict: Unity and Division in the Era of Transnational Repression. Routledge, New York. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003522171-4, 1-15.
Cogan, M.S. (2025). Declining Press Freedom as a Source of Democratic Fragility in Japan. In: Sawicka, M., Gruszczak, A. and Zdeb, A. (eds.) Mapping Democratic Fragility: Mapping the Unstable Equilibrium. Routledge, New York. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003512509-5
Cogan, M.S., (2024). Thailand’s Foreign Policy in the Indo-Pacific: Beyond Sino-U.S. Competition, In: Nagy, S, and Saxena, I. (eds.) Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific Construct. Nova Science Publishers, Hauppauge, 93-116.
Cogan, M.S., Sakai, H. (2022). Introduction: Toward Bespoke Peacebuilding. In: Cogan, M.S., Sakai, H. (eds.) Alternative Perspectives on Peacebuilding. Rethinking Peace and Conflict Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05756-4_1, 1-25.
Cogan, M.S., Sakai, H. (2022). Conceptualizing Bespoke Peacebuilding. In: Cogan, M.S., Sakai, H. (eds.) Alternative Perspectives on Peacebuilding. Rethinking Peace and Conflict Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05756-4_2, 29-53.
Cogan, M.S. (2022). Mediation as Peacebuilding: Faith-Based Mediators in Lesotho’s Peacebuilding Process. In: Cogan, M.S., Sakai, H. (eds) Alternative Perspectives on Peacebuilding. Rethinking Peace and Conflict Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05756-4_9, 211-245.
Cogan, M.S., Sakai, H. (2022). Conclusion. In: Cogan, M.S., Sakai, H. (eds) Alternative Perspectives on Peacebuilding. Rethinking Peace and Conflict Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05756-4_11
Cogan, M.S., (2022). Dictatorships and Authoritarian Regimes, Insurrections Against. Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace, and Conflict, 3rd edition. Vol. 2, 418-428. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-820195-4.00188-6
Cogan, M.S. (2026). The Good Lord Willing and the Creek Don’t Rise: Pentimento Memories of Mom and Me. By Robert W. Norris. Manchester: Tin Gate, 2023. Kyoto Review of Southeast Asia 42.
Cogan, M. S. (2024). Rama X: The Thai Monarchy under King Vajiralongkorn Edited by Pavin Chachavalpongpun. New Haven: Yale Southeast Asia Series Monograph 69, 2023. Journal of Contemporary Asia, 55(3), 530-532.
Cogan, M. S. (2024). Branding Authoritarian Nations: Political Legitimation and Strategic National Myths in Military-Ruled Thailand by Petra Alderman. London and New York: Routledge, 2024. Hardcover: 238pp. Contemporary Southeast Asia, 46(1), 173-175.
Cogan, M. S. (2023). Thai Politics in Translation: Monarchy, Democracy and the Supra-constitution. Asian Affairs, 54(2), 390-392.
Cogan, M. S. (2023). Future Forward: The Rise and Fall of a Thai Political Party. Asian Politics and Policy, 15(3), 336-338.
Cogan, M. S. (2022). Love and Death of King Ananda Mahidol of Thailand. Journal of Contemporary Asia, 53(2), 355-357.
Cogan, M. S. (2022). Rethinking American Grand Strategy. Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs, 1-4.
Cogan, M.S. (2019) Human rights in Thailand, Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs, 1(2), 103.
Cogan, M.S. (2024). China’s Stranglehold on Tibet Extends Far Beyond Human Rights. In: Panda, J. (ed.) China’s Himalayan Hustle: Revisionism Resistance Must be the Order of the Region, Institute for Security and Development Policy, Stockholm Paper, November 2024.
Cogan, M. S. (2023). Strengthening US–Vietnam Relations in the Context of Human Rights. Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs, 6(2), 42-47.
Cogan, M. S., & Gill, D. M. (2022). Legitimacy and International Development in a Taliban-dominated Afghanistan. Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs. 5(1), 72-80.
“The Political Economy of Old Ideas: The Case of Thailand’s Land Bridge”, (Conference Paper Presentation), Panel: “Peace Agreements and Pathways for Democracy in Asia”, International Political Science Association (IPSA) 28th World Congress of Political Science, Seoul, South Korea, July 12-16, 2025.
“Temporal Constructions and the Role of Visual Methodological Tools for Peacebuilding the Southern Thai Provinces”, Instituto Interuniversitario de Desarrollo Social y Paz (IUDESP), IV Permanent Doctoral Seminar, Doctorado en Estudios Internacionales de Paz, Conflictos y Desarrollo. Universitat Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Castellón, Spain (Participant, Virtual), May 22, 2025.
“Tak Bai and the Politics of Delay: Time and Temporality in Thailand’s Restive Southern Provinces”, (Conference Paper Presentation), The International Academic Forum (IAFOR), The 16th Asian Conference on the Social Sciences, Tokyo, Japan, May 16, 2025
“Political Demonology in Thailand: Linking Sovereignty, Necessity and Grievance”, (Presentation of Research) “Dia-politics: Political Diabology, Antagonist Projection, and Conspiracism” (Panelist), Southwest Popular/American Culture Association (SWPACA) 46th International Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, February 19-22, 2025
Mapping Democratic Fragility Workshop. Future Democracy Lab / Institute of American Studies and Polish Diaspora, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland (Virtual), June 5-6, 2024
“From Time Immemorial: The Importance of Time and Temporality to Peace in Thailand’s Restive Southern Conflict”, Instituto Interuniversitario de Desarrollo Social y Paz (IUDESP), III Permanent Doctoral Seminar, Doctorado en Estudios Internacionales de Paz, Conflictos y Desarrollo. Universitat Jaume I, Castellón de la Plana, Castellón, Spain (Participant, Virtual), May 22, 2024
Peace and Conflict Studies Journal (PCSJ) Conference: “Sustainable Progress, Sustainable Futures”, Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA (Attendee, Virtual), November 2-3, 2023.
“The Niche Security State: Japan’s Pursuit of International Status”, 16th Asia Pacific Conference, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Beppu, Japan (Participant, In-Person), December 2018.
International Relations I (History of Modern Diplomacy)
International Relations II (Introduction to Security Studies)
International Organizations (International Development)
Topics in Democratization (Pre-Departure Course for Study Abroad Students)
Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies
Can We Enforce Human Rights? – Understanding and Evaluating Human Rights Enforcement Mechanisms in Asia (Asian Studies Program)
Tyrants, Dictators and Strongmen: Exploring Authoritarian Rule in Asia and the Struggle for Democracy (Asian Studies Program)
Pathways to Peace: Perspectives from the East (Asian Studies Program)
