Lionel Beehner is a Ph.D. candidate in political science at Yale University. His doctoral thesis will focus on civil conflict, violent non-state actors, and the use of force. Beehner previously worked as a senior writer at the Council on Foreign Relations, where he is currently a term member. He is a member of USA Today's editorial Board of Contributors and is a frequent contributor to The New York Times' Sunday Travel, where he focuses on postwar countries (e.g. Sri Lanka, Lebanon, Iraq) opening up to tourism and development. His commentary has been published in The Los Angeles Times, Guardian, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Christian Science Monitor, Baltimore Sun, New Republic, Daily Beast, Huffington Post, and Slate, among other publications. Beehner teaches an op-ed writing course at Mediabistro.com and holds a master's degree from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.