Jóhanna Kristín Birnir, a Bauman Endowed professor in the Department of Government and Politics, University of Maryland, collaborates with the Political Department at Gadjah Mada University in carrying out a short-term project supported by the Fulbright Specialist program. The project runs from February 2 to 15, focusing on building a data analytics “sister lab”.

Dr. Birnir studies the effects of identity (ethnicity, religion, gender) on contentious political outcomes (elections and violence) and has conducted extensive fieldwork in the Andes, Southeast Europe, and Indonesia. Her first book, “Ethnic Electoral Politics” (Cambridge University Press), examines the relationship between political access and minority strategic choice of peaceful electoral participation, protest, or violence against the state. Her most recent book (with Nil Satana), “Alternatives in Mobilization: Ethnicity, Religion and Political Conflict” (Cambridge University Press, 2022), examines the relationship between identity (ethnicity and religion) and minority peaceful and violent political mobilization. Jóhanna’s articles on identity and politics are published in numerous academic journals including Scientific Data, PNAS Nexus the American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, The Journal of Politics, Comparative Political Studies, Electoral Studies, Journal of Peace Research, Journal of Conflict Resolution, Party Politics, Latin American Research Review, Studies in Comparative International Development, and Journal of Global Security Studies. The NSF, START, Folke Bernadotte Academy, and the Global Religion Research Initiative, among others, have supported her research.