Robert L. Powell

Robert Lowell Powell (July 7, 1956 – December 13, 2021) was a political scientist. He was the Robson Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley. In the field of international relations, he made influential contributions regarding the application of game theory to war and political violence.

Early life and education Powell earned his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Harvey Mudd College before travelling to the United Kingdom for his Master's degree at the University of Cambridge. He returned to California in the 1980s for his second master's degree and PhD at the University of California, Berkeley.

Career Powell joined the political science faculty at the University of California, Berkeley in 1990 and published his first book titled Nuclear Deterrence Theory. In 2012, he was honored by the National Academy of Sciences for his "development of sophisticated game theory models of conflict that shine light on the strategic dilemmas of nuclear deterrence."

Selected publications Nuclear Deterrence Theory (1990) In the Shadow of Power: States and Strategies in International Politics (1999)