Stacie Pettyjohn is a Ph.D. candidate in the department of politics at the University of Virginia, and is currently working on her dissertation entitled “Talking with Terrorists: American Policy toward the ANC, PLO, Sinn Fein, and Hamas.” Her dissertation examines United States policy toward nationalist terrorist organizations, and identifies when the U.S. will begin a public dialogue with a terrorist organization. She also explains the conditions under which a policy of engagement can help to transform nationalist terrorist organizations into legitimate political parties, and when it will encourage further violence.