Margit Ystanes

Dr. Margit Ystanes is an Associate Professor at the Institute for Global Development and Community Planning, University of Agder. Her ethnographic research focuses on trust dynamics, development conflicts, and urban inequality in Latin America, particularly examining the socio-political impacts of mega-events like the Rio Olympics and environmental conservation policies in Guatemala.

• Trust and social cooperation
• Urban displacement mechanisms
• Racialized governance structures
• Environmental justice in development
• Digital activism and inequality

Her recent work investigates how Olympic preparations exacerbated inequality through forced evictions and how conservation efforts in Guatemala intersect with social struggles. She has produced both academic publications and activist documentaries like Dirty Games, analyzing security dynamics and marginalized voices.

As a social anthropologist, Ystanes employs collaborative filmmaking to bridge academic and public discourse, with over 15 years of publications on Latin American inequality. Her research connects local development challenges to global neoliberal trends through ethnographic insights.