Publications

(2024). Shaping States into Nations: The Effects of Ethnic Geography on State Borders. American Journal of Political Science, Early View.

Abstract PDF R-package Dataset DOI

(2024). Building Tribes: How Administrative Units Shaped Ethnic Groups in Africa. American Journal of Political Science, Early View.

Abstract PDF Dataset DOI

(2024). 'Right-Peopling' the State: Nationalism, Historical Legacies and Ethnic Cleansing in Europe, 1886-2020. Journal of Conflict Resolution, Online First.

Abstract PDF R-package Dataset DOI

(2023). The Future is History: Restorative Nationalism and Conflict in Post-Napoleonic Europe. International Organization, accepted for publication.

Abstract PDF

(2023). At Any Cost: How Ukrainians Think about Self-Defense Against Russia. American Journal of Political Science, Early View.

Abstract PDF R-package Dataset DOI

(2023). Nationalism and the Puzzle of Reversing State Size. World Politics, 75(4), 692-734.

Abstract PDF Dataset DOI

(2023). Traditional Institutions in Africa, Past and Present. Political Science Research and Methods, FirstView.

Abstract PDF Dataset DOI

(2021). State Reach and Development in Africa since the 1960s: New Data and Analysis. Political Science Research and Methods, 11(3), 663–672.

Abstract PDF Dataset DOI

(2021). Linking Ethnic Data from Africa (LEDA). Journal of Peace Research, 59(3) 425–435.

Abstract PDF R-package Dataset DOI

(2021). Local Ethno-Political Polarization and Election Violence in Majoritarian vs. Proportional Systems. Journal of Peace Research, 59(2), 242-258.

Abstract PDF Dataset DOI

(2021). Who Benefits? How Local Ethnic Demography Shapes Political Favoritism in Africa. British Journal of Political Science, 51(4), 1582–1600.

Abstract PDF Dataset DOI

(2021). Roads to Rule, Roads to Rebel: Relational State Capacity and Conflict in Africa. Journal of Conflict Resolution, 65(2-3), 563-590.

Abstract PDF Dataset Appendix DOI

(2020). Continuity or Change? (In)direct Rule in British and French Colonial Africa. International Organization, 74(4), 707-741.

Abstract PDF Dataset DOI

(2018). New spatial data on ethnicity: Introducing SIDE. Journal of Peace Research, 55(5), 687–698.

Abstract PDF R-package Dataset DOI

Working Papers

(2023). Rulers on the Road: Itinerant Rule in the Holy Roman Empire, AD 719–1519.

Abstract PDF

(2023). The Train Wrecks of Modernization: Railway Construction and Nationalist Mobilization in Europe. American Political Science Review, Revise & Resubmit.

Abstract PDF

(2020). Indirect Rule, Cash Crop Production, and Development in Africa.

Abstract PDF

Ongoing Research

Dissertation

Spatial analyses of local state building and its effects on development and conflict.

Data Projects

State Reach in Africa

Spatial state reach data for African states since independence, based on travel times to national and regional capitals

Linking Ethnic Data from Africa (LEDA)

We interlink 11 ethnic datasets from Africa via the language tree.

Spatially Interpolated Data on Ethnicity

Collection of 253 near-continuous maps of local ethno-linguistic, religious, and ethno-religious settlement patterns in 47 countries.

Regions in independent Africa

Collection of GIS data on 1st level administrative units, independence - today.

African road network data

Time-varying GIS data on road networks from the Michelin map corpus 1966-2017.

Teaching

Teaching

Teaching Statement (pdf)

As an Instructor:

  • Introduction to Comparative Politics and Conflict Studies (GV4N2), selected lectures & seminars (2023-2024)
    MSc Political Science, LSE

  • The Politics of Globalization (GV4N3), selected lectures (2023-2024)
    MSc Political Science, LSE

  • Comparative Conflict Analysis, Seminar (Fall 2022)
    MSc Comparative Conflict Analysis, LSE

  • Research Design and Methods Practical Sessions (Fall 2020, 2021)
    MPhil International Relations, University of Oxford

  • Thesis Seminar (Fall 2020, 2021)
    MPhil International Relations, University of Oxford, co-taught

  • The Development of the International System and Contemporary Debates in IR Theory (Fall 2020)
    MPhil International Relations core course, University of Oxford

  • Tutoring in Practice of Politics and International Relations (Fall 2020–)
    Undergraduate degrees at the University of Oxford: Introduction to the Practice of Politics; International Relations; and International Security

  • Political Economy of Development and Conflict in Africa (Fall 2019).
    Master of Comparative and Internation Studies, ETH Zurich
    Co-taught with Yannick Pengl. Syllabus

  • Ethnic Conflict from a Political Science Perspective (2017).
    Summer School of the German National Academic Foundation
    Co-taught with Yannick Pengl. Syllabus: English | German

As a Teaching Assistant:

  • Quantitative Methods, Master level, 2015
  • Introduction to Political Economy, Undergraduate level, 2014-2015