Political scientist appointed new Wallenberg Academy Fellow

Image

Nearly 90 percent of today’s civil wars are repeat occurrences of violence. This is despite the fact that many countries have invested in so-called transitional justice – such as trials, truth commissions, or financial compensation to affected groups – to break this destructive conflict trap. Many different practices fall under transitional justice, yet there is little systematic evidence about which ones, if any, actually promote reconciliation and legitimate governance in post-conflict settings. 

"My theory is that 'injustice gaps' – when punishments imposed fail to match popular conceptions of what is proportionate to crimes committed – strongly shape both reconciliation processes and trust in the authorities responsible for delivering justice. Moreover, state-led justice mechanisms are not always sufficient to prevent old grievances from flaring up again,” says Kristen Kao, Senior Lecturer in political science.

Highlights local authorities

In the project Bridging Injustice Gaps: Peace Enhancement After Conflict Ends (BIG PEACE), she will conduct in-depth interviews, public opinion surveys, and experiments in several war-torn countries. The goal is to understand what “justice” means to different people, which actors they trust to implement it, and how these perceptions shape the prospects for sustainable peace.

“In addition to studying what measures states take, I will examine the role that religious leaders, tribal leaders, and other local authorities play in enabling people to feel that justice has been served and in helping former enemies reconcile. In many societies, local authorities enjoy greater legitimacy than the state in different domains, like justice provision."

By identifying recurring patterns across cultures and conflicts, her research can provide practical, evidence-based recommendations to governments, international organizations, and peacebuilders.

“It is a great honor to receive this fellowship, and I am very grateful! I now have the opportunity to deepen my research on how locally grounded approaches can contribute to lasting peace, while also testing new ideas that will hopefully make a real difference,” says Kristen Kao.

Kristen Kao holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of California, San Diego. She earned her master’s and PhD in Political Science at the University of California, Los Angeles. In 2015, she joined the University of Gothenburg as a postdoctoral researcher, where she is now employed as a Senior Lecturer. 

This Year’s Fellows

In 2025, 27 young researchers became new Wallenberg Academy Fellows. Read more in the press release from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation: Long-term research grants awarded to 27 new Wallenberg Academy Fellows