Dr Andrew Capistrano's research focuses on the diplomatic history of East Asia from the mid-19th to the mid-20th centuries, centered on the entry of China and Japan into the European international system. In particular, he aims to apply game-theoretic concepts from IR to show how China's economic treaties with the foreign powers created unique bargaining dynamics and cooperation problems. His PhD thesis (supervised by Professor Antony Best) examined Anglo-American-Japanese relations after the First World War, their attempt to define a new regional order at the Washington Conference (1921-1922), and why these factors impacted Republican China's efforts to regain tariff autonomy.

Originally from San Francisco, USA, Dr Capistrano holds a BA in history from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MA in political science (international relations and political economy) from Waseda University. During his time in Japan he worked at the US Embassy's American Center Japan and as a researcher at the Asia-Pacific Initiative think tank. While studying at the LSE he was a Research Student Affiliate at the Suntory and Toyota International Centres for Economics and Related Disciplines (STICERD). His PhD research was funded by a studentship from the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation (GBSF).

Thesis

Far Eastern Questions: Britain, the Washington system, and international cooperation in China, 1921-1922