Xu Peng

Dr Xu Peng is a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for the Study of Illicit Economies, Violence, and Development (CIVAD) at SOAS University of London. Affiliated with the Department of Development Studies, her work explores ethnic conflicts and illicit economies in Southeast Asia, particularly focusing on Myanmar's borderlands.

• Current Role: Postdoctoral researcher at CIVAD
• Key Focus: Armed politics, digital illicit economies, and governance

Her research bridges political economy and conflict studies, analyzing how illicit networks (opium, gambling, online scams) intersect with ethnic armed organizations in Myanmar. She is also investigating digital illicit economies in Southeast Asia and West Africa, emphasizing infrastructural vulnerabilities and algorithmic systems.

Xu Peng's publications in Journal of Contemporary Asia and China Perspectives address regional security and China's geopolitical influence. Her media contributions to BBC, Washington Post, and South China Morning Post highlight her public engagement.