LAMIN KEITA, Ph.D..

I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate Fellow with the Democracy Initiative at the Keough School of Global Affairs and the Kellogg Institute for International Studies at the University of Notre Dame. My research explores the intersection of comparative political violence, security studies, politics, religion, and democracy. I analyze the complex relationships between informal and formal institutions to understand community radicalization, regime change, political economy, human rights, ethnicity and race politics, democratic erosion, elections, and the dynamics of Westphalian and Weberian states—especially in settler-colonial and postcolonial contexts.

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My upcoming first book, “Resisting Violence: Religious Communities and States in West Africa" (Cambridge University Press), examines the varying linkages of the religious communities and the governing state capacity in shaping the outcomes of violent armed jihadism. My articles have been published in the Canadian Journal of African Studies and other journals, including Security Studies.

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My research has received awards such as the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA), Social Science Research Council (SSRC)-International Dissertation Research Fellowship (IDRF), Buffet Institute for Global Studies (War & Society), Panofsky Award for the Program of African Studies, and other honors from the Department of Political Science at Northwestern University. 

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My teaching philosophy aligns with the motto: “Expand Minds & Change the World!” As a former journalist and educator, I focus on the key connections within global community perspectives. This approach broadens my students' and communities' horizons, enabling them to engage with larger thematic projects beyond their comfort zones. My research and teaching aim to support students who may not yet have experienced global issues and help them view these topics through a broader, more informed perspective.

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Before joining the University of Notre Dame as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, I received both a Ph.D. and a Master’s degree from Northwestern University