Ken MacLean

Ken MacLean is a Professor of Sustainability and Social Justice and holds a dual appointment in the Strassler Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Clark University. His interdisciplinary research focuses on state violence, humanitarianism, and the politics of documentation in Southeast Asia, particularly Myanmar. He earned his Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Michigan and has held visiting fellowships at institutions including NIOD in the Netherlands and Mahidol University in Thailand.

His research explores how knowledge is produced through archival materials and digital tools, with a focus on human rights abuses and genocide. Key projects include analyzing Khmer Rouge confessions, assessing AI’s role in human rights documentation, and modeling climate-driven conflicts. His 2022 book Crimes in Archival Form critically examines fact-production practices in human rights advocacy, winning ICAS recognition. His work bridges historical analysis with contemporary legal accountability efforts before the ICC and ICJ.

• Education: Ph.D., M.S., M.A. (University of Michigan); B.A. (Princeton University)
• Grants: Mellon Foundation, Fulbright-Hays, Jacob K. Javits Fellowship

MacLean’s writings address the ethical dimensions of documenting violence, the materiality of archives, and the interplay between bureaucratic systems and societal outcomes. His labors explore how 'facts' are constructed through methods like satellite imagery analysis and oral testimonies, emphasizing transparency in human rights advocacy.