Gwen Burnyeat

Dr. Gwen Burnyeat is a Lecturer in Social Anthropology at the University of Edinburgh's School of Social and Political Science. A political anthropologist specializing in peace, conflict, and polarization, she has conducted extensive research in Colombia for over 14 years and recently expanded her work to political divisions in Britain. Her academic background includes an MPhil from the National University of Colombia as a Leverhulme Scholar and a PhD from University College London as a Wolfson Scholar.

Research Focus

Burnyeat's research examines peace processes through ethnographic lenses, focusing on:

• State-society relations in transitional contexts
• Political polarization mechanisms in Colombia and Britain
• Disinformation impacts on peace referendums
• Storytelling as a bridge across political divides
• Grassroots peace initiatives in conflict zones

Her ERC-selected project 'Stories of Divided Politics' compares polarization dynamics in Colombia and post-Brexit Britain.

Publications & Impact

Her scholarly output demonstrates consistent focus on peace process implementation challenges, particularly:

• Government communication strategies during Colombia's peace referendum
• Community-led peacebuilding in war zones
• Cultural liberalism's limitations in polarized societies
• Ethnographic methodologies for studying state institutions

Awards & Recognition

• 2023 Public Anthropologist Award for engaged scholarship
• Leverhulme and Wolfson research fellowships
• Junior Research Fellowship at Oxford's Merton College

Professional Engagement

Burnyeat actively advises peacebuilding initiatives through:

• Rodeemos el Diálogo (Anglo-Colombian dialogue organization)
• International Centre for Transitional Justice
• Peace Brigades International

She supervises PhD candidates and leads UKRI-funded research on political polarization.