My research examines political violence as a mechanism that both creates and drives identities. I am especially interested in the performative, political, and gendered nature of violence at individual and group levels. While I am interested in individual decision-making, my work looks at violence undertaken in the name of groups best defined as non-state actors, including extremist organizations, rebel groups, and militias. By “political violence”, I mean indiscriminate violence like suicide bombings, targeted yet widespread violence like mass rape, and even the occupation of state-owned buildings and land. Most importantly, this violence is undertaken to communicate political messages. I would argue these messages are as much about geopolitics as they are about individual and collective identities.
My current projects explore the role of faith leaders and sacred text in attitude and behavior change and the relationship between vulnerability and cooperation with armed non-state actors. As is illustrated in the descriptions below, my research pairs quantitative methods (surveys and field experiments) and qualitative data from oral histories, semi-structured interviews, and ethnographic fieldwork.
Mixed-methods study of effects of a faith leader “Gender in Islam” training-of-trainers project (treatment) to situate women’s rights, political participation, and ending violence against women within sacred text and practice. Primary data: 533 surveys, 31 key informant interviews, and 12 focus group discussions with faith leaders, women shura, and households across 11 communities in 3 districts (Herat, Afghanistan).
Multi-method study to (1) examine locally-defined vulnerability and (2) test causal relationship between vulnerability and cooperation with violent non-state actors. Feasibility/Piloting: June 2019, funded by Program on Refugees, Forced Displacement, and Humanitarian Responses at Yale University MacMillan Center.
Behavioral survey experiment testing varying causal influence of faith leaders and sacred text on community attitude change. Survey instrument uses one of three priming exercises: Telling respondent local faith leader has (1) endorsed, (2) endorsed with religious justification from sacred text, or (3) demonstrated endorsement through own behavior change. Piloting: Fall 2020 – Spring 2021.
Mixed-methods study of women’s roles – ranging from refugees, peacebuilders, and combatants – in conflict. Data Collection (ongoing): Somalia/land (2019); Afghanistan (2017); Syrian, Kurdish, and Palestinian women in Lebanon (2015); Tajikistan borderlands (2011).