Marie-Louise Glebbeek

Dr. Marie-Louise Glebbeek is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cultural Anthropology at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Utrecht University. Her research focuses on police reform, violence, and security issues in Latin America, particularly in Guatemala. She has extensive experience in field research in challenging environments and has contributed significantly to understanding the complex dynamics of post-conflict societies.

Her research interests primarily center around:

• Cultural anthropology of violence and security in Latin America
• Police reform and institutional development in post-conflict societies
• Ethnographic methodologies in dangerous research environments
• Gender dynamics in security institutions
• Migration patterns and criminal organizations in Central America
• Public-private partnerships in law enforcement

Dr. Glebbeek's recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on the social order of violence in Guatemala City, police training developments over two decades in Guatemala, and the complex relationship between criminal groups and state institutions. Her work spans criminology, anthropology, and political science, examining how violence becomes structured in urban environments and how security institutions attempt to respond to these challenges.

Her scholarly contributions include influential studies on 'Mano Dura' (iron fist) policies in Central America, the confluence of migrants, street gangs and drug cartels in Central America, and the challenges of police reform in post-civil war Guatemala. Her research often employs ethnographic approaches to understand the lived experiences of individuals within contexts of violence and insecurity.

Dr. Glebbeek has been actively involved in academic conferences and workshops, serving as both participant and invited speaker at numerous international events focused on violence, security, and police reform in Latin America. She has also contributed as a peer reviewer for academic journals in her field and participated in consultancy work related to competency-based learning at the Guatemalan Police Academy.