Emma Ricknell

Emma Ricknell is an academic at Linnaeus University, holding positions in the Department of Political Science (Faculty of Social Sciences). She currently serves as Head of the Department and is engaged in postdoctoral research within the 'A Questioned Democracy' environment. Her work focuses on U.S. death penalty legislation, online extremism, media governance, and democratic resilience. She earned her PhD in 2021 with a thesis analyzing legislative trends in capital punishment, and holds advanced degrees in Political Science (University of Gothenburg), Peace Studies (University of Bradford), and Journalism (Göteborgs Universitet). Professional experience includes paralegal work in California’s death penalty appeals and part-time research in the MIPOK project (2016). She has been recognized for teaching excellence and scholarly contributions, including the 2019 Carsey Scholarship and a best article award. Active in multiple research networks (LNU-POP, LiMO), she leads projects on alternative media impact and societal polarization. Recent work addresses vaccine hesitancy discourse, election interference narratives, and media resilience during crises.

Education:

• PhD in Political Science, Linnaeus University (2021)
• Master's in Political Science, University of Gothenburg
• Master's in Peace Studies, University of Bradford
• Journalism Degree, Göteborgs Universitet

Research Interests:
Her interdisciplinary work bridges political behavior, media ecology, and democratic stability. Key themes include: the decline of capital punishment in U.S. states; extremist online communities and their intersection with technology; and the role of media in shaping public discourse. She emphasizes practical applications through projects like the 'Everyday Democracy' book initiative, aiming to build societal resilience against radicalization.

Awards:

• 2021 Teacher of the Year (Linnaeus University)
• 2019 Carsey Scholar (APSA)
• 2019 Best Article in Statsvetenskaplig Tidskrift