Isabella Bellezza-Smull, who earned her Ph.D. in Political Science in May of 2025, has been selected for the Joukowsky Dissertation Prize in the social sciences. Her dissertation, Exporting Homeland Security: Network Politics and the Globalization of Border Control, explores how countries work together to manage borders in today’s increasingly interconnected world.
Isabella Bellezza-Smull’s dissertation, Exporting Homeland Security: Network Politics and the Globalization of Border Control, traces the transformation of border security from traditional, territorial checkpoints to a complex global network of information sharing and cooperation among states. She dives deeply into how and why countries decide to enter into sensitive customs intelligence-sharing agreements, focusing on the crucial roles of trust, professional networks and social connections that work to shape these decisions. Bellezza-Smull interrogates these connections through the use and analysis of a unique global dataset that she built and interviews with different officials. In doing so, she was able to uncover the different social and institutional dynamics that are integral to cooperation of information sharing within international security.
“Isabella’s research makes a truly original contribution to broader scholarly debates in international relations regarding global governance, borders and territorial sovereignty and the role of trust and policy networks in resolving intergovernmental cooperation and coordination problems,” says Peter Andreas, the John Hay Professor of Political Science and International Studies.
Bellezza-Smull reflects, “During my Ph.D., I had the opportunity to present my research at a wide range of academic conferences and policy forums around the world. I’m passionate about bridging academic and practitioner communities across borders on issues related to international security.”
With the support of prestigious research awards, including a Fulbright Scholarship (which she had to decline) and a Boren Award, Bellezza-Smull has been able to pursue her passion and carry out her research. Her project is especially timely as it can help countries that are grappling with new security challenges brought on by rapid technological change.
As her committee co-chair and William R. Rhodes ’57 Professor of International Economics Mark Blyth notes, “She is truly exceptional and has written an amazing dissertation, and in doing so she has invented a whole new area of political science research.”
Bellezza-Smull is preparing to revise her dissertation into a book manuscript and will soon begin pitching the project to academic presses. She will join Northwestern University as an assistant professor of international relations in the fall of 2025.
Reflecting on the award, she says, “Receiving this award is an incredible honor and a meaningful milestone. It’s a testament to the support of my mentors and peers, and it motivates me to keep sharing my research with a broader audience.”
The Joukowsky Prize recognizes Bellezza-Smull’s exceptional scholarship and the significant contributions she has made to understanding the globalization of border control and international security cooperation. As she prepares to start her role at Northwestern University her advisors have every confidence she will continue to do outstanding work and make a lasting impact in the field of political science and beyond.
Doctoral candidates and graduates, Ella Grunberger-Kirsh, Zhaowei Jiang, John Antolik, and Isabella Bellezza Smull were selected for the Graduate School's Joukowsky Family Foundation Outstanding Dissertation Award. Prizes are awarded at the Doctoral Ceremony on May 25, 2025.