About
Magnus Öberg is a Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University. He serves as Director of the Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP) and previously held the position of Head of Department from 2012-2017. His work focuses on systematic data collection and analysis of global conflict patterns, making significant contributions to peace research methodology.
Öberg's research examines the causes and consequences of civil war, with particular emphasis on the psychology of grievances, escalation processes, forced migration, and traumatization. His current project, The Moral Psychology of Grievances in Intrastate Conflict, funded by the Swedish Research Council (grant #2018-02108), investigates how moral values condition the effects of social, political, and economic factors on intrastate conflict. This work specifically addresses previously overlooked moral dimensions in nationalist, religious, and authoritarian mobilization.
His extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on conflict data collection and analysis. Öberg has led the annual Organized Violence reports since 2019, documenting global patterns of armed conflict across various dimensions including interstate conflicts, non-state violence, and the impact of emerging technologies like drones. His research spans traditional civil war studies, forced migration patterns, and methodological challenges in measuring civilian casualties.
As Director of the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, Öberg oversees one of the world's most comprehensive conflict databases. The UCDP produces several widely used datasets including the UCDP/PRIO Armed Conflict Dataset, the UCDP Non-State Conflict Dataset, and the UCDP Peace Agreement Dataset. These resources are essential for researchers and policymakers worldwide working in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
