Henrik Vigh

Henrik Vigh is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Social Sciences. He is the Head of the PhD Programme in Anthropology and leads the Center for Global Criminology (CGC), which hosts the ERC-funded project CRIMTANG. His research is grounded in long-term ethnographic fieldwork in Guinea-Bissau, Europe (Lisbon, Paris), and West Africa.

His primary research interests include:

• Political anthropology
• Peace and conflict studies
• Crisis and chronicity
• Undocumented migration
• Social becoming and mobility
• Ethnographic criminology
• Racialization and globality

Henrik Vigh’s research explores how individuals navigate complex and unstable social, political, and economic environments. He is best known for developing the concept of social navigation, which describes how people tactically maneuver through contexts of crisis, conflict, and marginalization. His work spans themes such as youth mobilization, transnational crime, racialization, and the lived experiences of undocumented migrants. His publications emphasize theoretical innovation while remaining deeply rooted in empirical ethnography.

The most recent articles reflect a strong focus on ethnographic criminology, moral ambiguity in violence, and the gray zones of criminality. His work increasingly intersects anthropology with criminology, challenging methodological nationalism and exploring global crime flows. Trends show a sustained engagement with existential and tactical agency, particularly among marginalized youth and perpetrators of violence.

Henrik Vigh has contributed significantly to academic discourse through numerous publications, conference organization, and media engagement. He has co-organized events such as the 15th EASA Biennial Conference and regularly comments on political unrest and crime in the media.

He advises PhD students as Head of the PhD Programme and is involved in major research initiatives, including ERC and Velux/Carlsberg-funded projects. His team at the Center for Global Criminology fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly in ethnographic studies of crime and conflict.