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Sebastian van Baalen is an Associate Professor at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University, Sweden. His research focuses on the dynamics of violence and governance in civil war, electoral violence, nonviolent action, and postwar violence, with particular expertise in Côte d'Ivoire.
He received his PhD in Peace and Conflict Research from Uppsala University in 2021, following an MSSc (2015) and BA in Political Science (2013), with exchange studies at Stellenbosch University in South Africa (2012). His academic journey progressed from PhD candidate (2016-2020) to Researcher (2021-2022) and finally to Associate Professor (since 2023).
Van Baalen's research interests span civil war dynamics, rebel governance, electoral violence, and nonviolent action in conflict zones. His work combines qualitative and quantitative methods, often drawing on field experience in Côte d'Ivoire. He has made significant contributions to understanding how armed groups govern territories, how civilians navigate and resist during civil wars, and the dynamics of electoral violence in African contexts.
His publication record shows a clear trajectory of increasingly influential work, with recent articles appearing in top journals like American Political Science Review, Journal of Peace Research, and Comparative Political Studies. His research demonstrates a consistent focus on Côte d'Ivoire while developing broader theoretical contributions to peace and conflict studies.
- Cedric Smith Prize for best article in peace and conflict research by a PhD student (2020)
Van Baalen leads the Swedish Research Council-funded project 'Opting out? Explaining the effectiveness of election boycotts' and collaborates on additional projects including 'Crossing the Rubicon: The Dynamics of Restraint in Civil War' and 'Alliances of Anarchy: Actor Constellations and Patterns of Electoral Violence.' Before his academic career, he worked as a freelance journalist, providing practical experience that informs his research approach.
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