Erik Cleven

I grew up in Minnesota but have lived most of my adult life in Norway. I have spent many years working with dialogue and conflict transformation efforts in conflict areas including the former Yugoslavia, the North Caucasus and Central and East Africa and have traveled to many countries of the world. This international experience, as well as my academic work, informs my teaching.
I teach a range of courses in international relations and comparative politics including the required introductory courses as well as more advanced courses in human rights, African politics, political violence and international political economy and development. I also teach the department's required research methods course.
My main research interests include ethnic violence and domestic and transnational terrorism. My dissertation research focused on the post-2007 election violence in Kenya and asked why some towns experienced higher levels of violence than others. I have a paper entitled "Press Freedom, Publicity, and the Cross-National Incidence of Transnational Terrorism" forthcoming in Political Research Quarterly (co-authored with Aaron Hoffman and Crystal Shelton). I am also engaged in research into how interethnic dialogue efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina affect interethnic social ties at the town level.
When I am not working I enjoy bird watching and hiking. I also enjoy film, visiting art galleries and going to the theater.