Leif Ole Manger

Leif Ole Manger is a Professor at the Department of Social Anthropology, University of Bergen. His research focuses on Sudanese studies, diaspora communities, Islamic societies, pastoralism, and conflict dynamics. He has conducted extensive fieldwork in Sudan, Yemen, and other regions of the Indian Ocean world.

Key research interests include transnational networks of marginalized groups, state-society interactions in conflict zones, and the historical trajectories of diaspora communities. His work often bridges anthropology with political science and history, addressing themes of identity, resource management, and globalization.

Recent publications (2023) explore Sudanese brokers in Yiwu, China, and political entrepreneurial processes in Sudan. Earlier works (2000s) analyze pastoralist-state relationships among the Hadendowa Beja and Hadrami diasporas in Singapore and Hyderabad. He has advised over 20 master’s and doctoral students on topics ranging from Palestinian identity in Lebanon to youth activism in Khartoum.

Manger has contributed to UNDP evaluations in Sudan and Tajikistan, addressing land tenure issues and peacebuilding. His interdisciplinary approach combines ethnographic fieldwork with historical analysis, emphasizing long-term societal transformations.