Lopez's research and policy work focuses on economic sanctions, human rights, and various aspects of peacebuilding training and education. He has [co]written/edited 12 books and more than 80 articles on these subjects. During 33 years of affiliation with the Kroc Institute, Lopez has engaged in a diverse set of policy and public roles. From mid-2010-2011, he served on the United Nations Panel of Experts for monitoring and implementing UN Sanctions on North Korea. From September 2013 – July 2015, he was Vice President of the Academy for International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding at the United States Institute for Peace in Washington, D.C.