Marten Brienen

Marten Brienen is an Associate Professor at Oklahoma State University, affiliated with OSU Global. His career spans multiple disciplines including Political Science, Global Studies, and Fire and Emergency Management Administration at R1 institutions. He is a historian of twentieth-century Latin America with interdisciplinary expertise shaped by diverse teaching experiences.

• PhD in Social and Political Sciences from University of Amsterdam (2011)
• Currently teaches Global Crisis Management, Complex Emergencies, and advanced research courses

His research focuses on weak institutions and their consequences, such as:

• Drug trade dynamics in Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia
• Resource populism and energy security
• Communal violence and prison overpopulation
• Corruption and disaster response failures

Article trends show evolving expertise from Latin American politics (2015-2019) to pandemic trade analysis (2022-2024) and synthetic opioid studies (2025).

Scientific recognition includes:

• Hargis Fellowship (2023)
• Two Outstanding Research Awards (2017, 2018)

He supervises graduate research and advises on academic integrity, while engaging in media outreach about Latin American political developments.