Adam Kochanski

Adam Kochanski is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Guelph. He holds a PhD from the University of Ottawa, specializing in International Relations. His research focuses on transitional justice, post-conflict peacebuilding, and the localization of global norms, with case studies in Cambodia, Mozambique, and Southeast Asia. He has held visiting positions at Stanford University, McGill University, and the University of Basel, and has been affiliated with UCLA and Goethe University Frankfurt.

His research is funded by grants from SSHRC, IDRC, and the International Studies Association. Notable works include his book project Framing Atrocity: The Politics of Local Transitional Justice and articles in Global Studies Quarterly, Review of International Studies, and International Journal of Transitional Justice. He teaches courses on International Relations, International Law, and Transitional Justice.

Kochanski’s work emphasizes the role of local actors in shaping global norms, particularly in contexts like South Thailand and Cambodia. He critiques the 'local turn' in transitional justice and advocates for more localized approaches to peacebuilding and human rights. His recent SSHRC grant supports research on norm localization and its impact on global policy.

Awarded grants include the SSHRC Insight Grant (2025) and fellowships from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. He actively participates in academic networks like the Transformations of Political Violence (TraCe) Center and collaborates with institutions like the Peacebuilding journal.