John Aerni-Flessner

John Aerni-Flessner is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Michigan State University's Department of History, housed within the College of Social Science. He specializes in African history with a focus on Lesotho, examining themes of youth, nationalism, development, borders, and decolonization. His work emphasizes transnational connections and the impact of colonial legacies on contemporary issues.

Education:

• Bachelor’s in History with secondary education certification from Grinnell College (Iowa)
• MA and PhD in African History from Washington University in St. Louis

Research Interests:

• Lesotho’s postcolonial development challenges
• Transnational border dynamics and migration
• Decolonization processes in Southern Africa
• Impact of foreign aid and international organizations

Publications: Recent work includes a book manuscript on Lesotho’s nation-building through foreign assistance (1952-1975), multiple journal articles on border disputes, and contributions to the Historical Dictionary of Lesotho. His 2015 study on refugee smuggling in Lesotho highlights gendered aspects of resistance networks.

Media Engagement: Regular contributor to international media including The Guardian, Foreign Policy, and Radio France International, with analysis featured across four continents. Active on Twitter @LesothoJohn for Southern African political commentary.

Teaching: While primarily affiliated with the Residential College in Arts and Humanities (RCAH), he collaborates with the History Department. Courses taught include Global Slavery, Decolonization, and Malcolm X in Lansing.

Oral History Projects: Conducted extensive interviews with Basotho and American Peace Corps Volunteers in Lesotho, enriching transnational narratives of resistance and development.