Lisa Hajjar

Lisa Hajjar is Professor of Sociology at University of California, Santa Barbara, specializing in sociology of law, human rights, and political violence with expertise in Middle East Studies and American Studies.

Her research examines legal and human rights dimensions of conflict, particularly US counterterrorism policies including torture, targeted killing, and Guantanamo detention operations. She has conducted extensive fieldwork at Guantanamo Bay, observing military commission proceedings.

Her publications analyze tensions between counterterrorism paradigms and international humanitarian law, documenting legal challenges to US policies through domestic and international courts.