Kathleen Klaus

Kathleen Klaus is an Associate Professor (Associate Senior Lecturer) at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, and a Visiting Scholar at UC Berkeley's Political Science Department for 2024-25. She holds a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2015) and a BA from Smith College (2007).

Research: Klaus focuses on political violence, peacebuilding, electoral dynamics, land rights, climate change, and forced migration, with a regional emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa. Her book Political Violence in Kenya (2020) examines land rights and electoral violence, winning APSA awards. She also studies election violence across the U.S., Europe, and Africa.

Awards & Grants: Her work has been supported by the NSF, Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation, and others. Notable accolades include the APSA Best Fieldwork Award (2015) and Dissertation Honorable Mention in African Politics.

Fieldwork: Conducted in Kenya (2010-2013), Ghana (2011-2012), Malawi (2007-2008), and Uganda (2019). She has held prior roles at the University of San Francisco (Assistant Professor), Wesleyan University (Visiting Assistant Professor), and Northwestern University (Postdoctoral Fellow).