Michael J. Schumacher, PhD

Lecturer

Dr. Michael J. Schumacher’s teaching and research lies at the intersection of Criminal Justice and Global Studies. His research analyzes why individuals engage in political violence and he relies on a variety of techniques to demonstrate the individual, social, and structural logic behind such violent action.

Dr. Schumacher’s writings are based on over a decade of field research at various sites around the world. Field research has taken him to field sites and archives across the United States as well as Egypt, Italy, Morocco, Spain, and, most of all, Tunisia (which he considers his “home-away-from-home”). In recognition of Dr. Schumacher’s dedication to research and scholarship, the College of Arts and Sciences named him a “Master Researcher” in 2025.

Aside from his research, Dr. Schumacher is also a College of Arts and Sciences “Master Teacher” who teaches classes across the fields of Criminal Justice and Global Studies including Terrorism, Political Violence, International Criminal Justice, and Social and Political Justice. In 2024, Dr. Schumacher received the Edwin T. & Vivijeanne F. Sujack Award for Teaching Excellence, the highest teaching honor in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Education

M.S., Politics & Government, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, 2014

B.S., Politics & Government and History (double major), Illinois State University, Normal, IL, 2012

Research Interests

Foreign Fighter Phenomenon
Causes and Consequences of Terrorism and Political Violence
Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding
Impact of Violent Non-State Actors on Policymaking
Democracy, Authoritarianism, and the Rule of Law

Courses Taught

Undergraduate
CJC 101 – Criminal Justice in a Global Context
CJC 336 – Political Violence and Crime
CJC 337 – Terrorism
CJC 345 – Social Justice and Crime
CJC 353 – White Collar Crime
CJC 372 – Race, Ethnicity, and Criminal Justice
CJC 378 – International Criminal Justice
Graduate
CJC 416 – International Criminal Justice

Publications/Research Listings

Schumacher, Michael J., and Eileen C. DeGuire (undergraduate student). 2025. “Instability, Regime Type, and Terrorism: A Global Comparative Analysis (2001 – 2019).” Democracy & Security. Accepted (April). Forthcoming in Print.

Emig, Addison K. (graduate student), and Michael J. Schumacher. 2025. “The Rhetoric of Radicalism: The Anti-Colonial Inspiration behind Osama bin Laden’s Ideology.” Terrorism and Political Violence 37(3) (April): 313-331.

Emig, Addison K. (graduate student), and Michael J. Schumacher. 2025. “Politicizing Terror: The (Ab)use of Counterterrorism Law for Authoritarian Ends in Tunisia.” Democratization. 32 (2) (February): 561-587.

Schumacher, Michael J., and Addison K. Emig (graduate student). 2025. “The Wilting Jasmine: The Erosion of Public Administration and Democratic Backsliding in Tunisia.” Policy Studies. Accepted (January). Forthcoming in Print.

Schumacher, Michael J., and Addison K. Emig (graduate student). 2025. “Deadly Consequences: Lessons from the Evolution of Terrorist Attacks Against United States Diplomats.” Journal of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism 20 (1) (January): 106-127.

Emig, Addison K. (graduate student), and Michael J. Schumacher. 2024. “Beyond Terrorist Attacks: The Impact of Jihadist Non-State Actors on Foreign Policy.” Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflict. Accepted (December). Forthcoming in Print.

Schumacher, Michael J. 2024. “Critical Reflections on State Terrorism: Terrorist Stereotypes, Vietnam, and the Legacy of American Cold War Cinema.” In Terrorism and Youth Popular Culture: Teaching the Next Generation from the Cold War to Present, edited by Martin Claar and Clint Jones. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing.

Schumacher, Michael J. 2023. “From Partition to Peace? A Retrospective on Religion and Reconciliation in Palestine/Israel.” Peace Review 35(1) (April): 62-71.

Schumacher, Michael J. 2023. “A Holy Peace: Sacred Values, Collective Identity, and the Future of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict.” Peace & Change 48 (1) (January): 21-38.

Schumacher, Michael J. 2021. “Critical Junctures in Terrorism Studies: The Arab Spring and the New Twenty-First Century Security Environment.” Critical Studies on Terrorism 14 (4) (December): 470-473.

Schumacher, Michael J., and Peter J. Schraeder. 2021. “Does Domestic Political Instability Foster Terrorism? Global Evidence from the Arab Spring Era (2011-14).” Studies in Conflict & Terrorism 44 (3) (February): 198-222.