Rebecca Tapscott

Dr. Rebecca Tapscott is a Lecturer and Ambizione Fellow at the Graduate Institute in Geneva (IHEID), with additional Visiting Fellow roles at the University of Edinburgh’s Politics and International Relations Department and the London School of Economics’ Firoz Lalji Centre for Africa. Her work bridges political science, conflict studies, and gender theory with a regional focus on Sub-Saharan Africa.

Education:

• PhD in International Relations from The Fletcher School at Tufts University

Research Interests:

• Authoritarianism and governance in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Political violence and gender dynamics
• Decolonial thought and racial politics
• Research ethics in conflict-affected regions

Publication Trends: Her research explores authoritarian regimes, local security mechanisms, and gendered dimensions of political violence, often through empirical studies in northern Uganda and broader Sub-Saharan African contexts. Key methods include security assemblages analysis and critical theory.

Scientific Awards:

• Alfred Rubin Prize, The Fletcher School
• Carl Beck Award, International Studies Association