The Logic of Ethnic and Religious Conflict in Africa (Cambridge University Press, 2017)
The book asks why conflicts in Africa are sometimes ethnic and sometimes religious, even if the same groups are fighting. Using micro-level data from Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana and case examples from Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, and Sudan, the book demonstrates that individuals have distinct preferences in different identity contexts, and that political leaders exploit those preferences to mobilize supporters around their own strategic interests.
Download the Introductory chapter here.
Cambridge University Press link
Amazon link
Communal Violence and Peacebuilding in Africa.
This book project builds on my experience both as a scholar of communal conflict and terrorism and as the director of a federally funded peacebuilding initiative. It explores the patterns that cause local violence and the innovative strategies communities employ to reestablish peace. Publication is anticipated in 2027.