Sofia Sebastian

Background

About Sofia Sebastian

My career has been devoted to the study and management of international conflict and peace building in fragile, divided societies. Ever since I read Donald Horowitz’s Ethnic Groups in Conflict, and as a result of my early experience in environments with deep political divisions, I have always felt passionate about the study of fragility and the resolution of conflict. I have more than 15 years of experience in think tank, academic and policy environments managing research projects and providing expert advice on fragility, conflict and violence; peace building; peace operations in European and African countries; stabilization; and foreign policy. I have published a book on state building in post-conflict, divided societies; authored various articles, book chapters and op-eds on peace building in fragile, conflict-ridden environments; and participated in policymaking at the international level. I have worked in many countries around the world, including in fragile and conflict-ridden environments, and managed projects for international organizations such as the World Bank and the United Nations. As a senior analyst with a PhD in political science, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise, as well as a creative mind, to any complex scenario. I use evidence-based data and draw from various theoretical frameworks both to understand the triggers of conflict and to recommend effective strategies to manage the sources of fragility, intra-state violence, and instability. Across all of my professional efforts, I have engaged with an extensive, multi-cultural network of diplomats, scholars, practitioners, activists and the media in both Europe and the United States. I am comfortable working under minimal supervision, speaking in public, communicating complex ideas, designing and managing research projects, analyzing complex scenarios, and proposing effective solutions. AREAS OF EXPERTISE/SPECIALTIES International security | Peace Building | Peace Operations | Governance | Foreign Policy | Crisis Management | Fragility, Conflict, Violence | Research and Analysis | Policy Formulation and Implementation | Monitoring and Evaluation |