Research

Research Interests

I am a political scientist with a strong interdisciplinary background. My research interests range from transnational security governance, crime and violence, peace and conflict studies, and urban studies, to the sociology of knowledge, state formation processes in the Global South, to new forms of South-South cooperation. My main geographical area of expertise is Latin America, with a special focus on Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Haiti and Mexico. My current research focuses on global knowledge entrepreneurship, the global history of counterinsurgency, Latin America's Global Cold War, as well as trans-regional South-South security collaboration between Latin America and Africa in the aftermath of 9/11.

Curriculum

I hold a B.A. in Political Science from Freie Universität Berlin, where I also completed my M.A. studies (Diploma) and obtained my PhD (Dr. Phil.) in Political Science.

Before joining Roskilde University, I was an Assistant Professor (Juniorprofessor) of Political Science at the ZI Lateinamerika-Institut, Freie Universität Berlin (2014-2020). Before that, I was a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the Centre for Area Studies, Universität Leipzig (2010-2013) and a Research Associate at the Collaborative Research Center (SFB) 700, "Governance in Areas of Limited Statehood" at Freie Universität Berlin (2006-2009).

My books include Crucible of Coercion. Latin America, Empire, Global Counterinsurgency (under contract with University of California Press); Reconfiguring Intervention: Complexity, Resilience and the "Local Turn" in Counterinsurgent Warfare (co-edited with Louise Wiuff Moe, Palgrave Macmillan, 2017), The Global Making of Policing: Postcolonial Perspectives (co-edited with Jana Hoenke, Routedge, 2016); The Punitive City: Privatised Protection and Policing in Mexico City (London: Zed Books, 2016) and Public Security in the Negotiated State. Policing in Latin America and Beyond (Palgrave Macmilla, 2012). My work has been published in journals, including, Cooperation and Conflict, Geoforum, Government & Opposition, Journal of Cold War Studies, Journal of Latin American Studies, Security Dialogue and Third World Quarterly.