Faculty Research

Janet Lewis
Professor, Political Science Department

How do insurgent groups form? Why do only some insurgencies become a challenge to the authority of a state – while others are defeated or disband early on? What does ethnic identity have to do with it? These questions motivate Professor Lewis’s research. She uses a variety of methods to answer them, from extensive interviews with former insurgents and counterinsurgents, to quantitative techniques and field experiments. Most of her work is based in Uganda, a highly ethnically diverse country that has suffered a great deal from armed conflict since independence. Uganda is also currently a strong U.S. military partner in efforts to maintain stability in Sub-Saharan Africa. Professor Lewis’ research has been recognized with major professional awards and has been published in top political science journals.