She researches gender and politics, focusing on social movements, state feminism, terrorism, and memory. Her work largely examines politics in Spain. She is the author, with Lori Poloni-Staudinger, of Terrorism and Violent Conflict: Women's Agency, Leadership and Responses (2012, Springer Press). She has also published in Politics & Gender, International Studies Quartile, and Critical Terrorism Studies. Her email address is cortbals@pepperdine.edu.