Adam Philip Ashforth

Adam Philip Ashforth is a Professor in the Department of Afroamerican and African Studies at the University of Michigan, affiliated with the African Studies Center and LSA. His research focuses on state formation, spiritual insecurity in South Africa, and responses to HIV/AIDS in Malawi and ethnic conflict in Kenya's Rift Valley. He holds a PhD from the University of Oxford (1987).

Education: PhD in African Studies from the University of Oxford (1987).

Research Interests: His work bridges political science, anthropology, and public health. Notable topics include:

• The interplay between spiritual beliefs and political systems in post-apartheid South Africa
• Everyday responses to HIV/AIDS in rural Malawi
• Ethnic conflict dynamics in Kenya

Awards: Winner of the Herskovits Award (2005) for Witchcraft, Violence, and Democracy in South Africa.

Advising & Grants: No specific grants or advisees listed, though his work implies extensive field research funding and mentorship in African studies.

Labs/Teams: Active in the African Studies Center and Department of Afroamerican and African Studies at U-M.