معرفی
Mats Utas is a Professor of Cultural Anthropology at Uppsala University, specializing in conflict studies, urban anthropology, and post-war societies. He served as Head of the Department of Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology from 2018 to 2024 and holds a PhD from Uppsala University (2003). His research focuses on conflict dynamics, youth marginalization, and safety in post-war environments, with fieldwork in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Japan. He is currently leading projects on aging in gangland environments and safety in urban Japan. Utas has authored numerous books and articles on conflict, democratization, and African studies, and has supervised over a dozen PhD students. He actively promotes decolonized research practices and ethical field methodologies.
Education:
- PhD in Cultural Anthropology, Uppsala University (2003)
- Docent (Associate Professor), Uppsala University (2008)
- MA in Cultural Anthropology, Uppsala University (1995)
Research Interests:
- Conflict and post-war societies in West Africa
- Risk and safety in urban contexts
- Research ethics and methodologies in conflict zones
- Youth marginality and urban violence
Grants & Projects:
- ERC-funded project on aging in gangland (2019–2024)
- Swedish Research Council grants on research brokers and facilitating researchers (2023–2025)
- Japan Foundation-funded study on urban safety in Nagasaki (2025)
Teaching & Mentorship: Utas designs courses on visual anthropology and public engagement, emphasizing student-led research and graphic methods. He has supervised 10+ PhD students and examined dozens of theses internationally.
