Welcome to my website. I am Dr. Amelie Freiberg, a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Chair of Political Science, International Relations, University of Mannheim

I hold a Ph.D. in Political Science from Trinity College Dublin, where I also completed my M.Sc. in International Politics. My academic journey began with a B.A. in Political Science and English Studies from the University of Mannheim

My research focuses on political violence and the dynamics of armed conflict, with particular expertise in rebel group behavior, radicalization, and violence against civilians. In my doctoral dissertation titled “Education, Indoctrination, and Conflict: The Role of Political Education in Shaping Combatant Behaviour and Sexual Violence in Civil War”, I analyzed how rebel organizations use ideological and political education to influence combatant behavior, including the use of violence.

My work emphasizes analytical precision, contextual interpretation of ideologically motivated behavior, and the role of socialization in shaping militant identity and actions. I bring deep regional expertise on conflict dynamics in Africa, as well as experience with qualitative data analysis, open-source research methods, and the interpretation of extremist narratives.

Research Interests: Armed Conflict, Political Violence, Rebel Groups, Radicalization Processes, Conflict-related Sexual Violence, OSINT, Extremist Ideologies

Currently, I lead the “Socialisation and Political Education in Rebel Groups” (SOPERG) data project, which investigates how African rebel groups employ political education to socialize their members. This dataset provides insights into the political education efforts of rebel organizations involved in African intrastate conflicts between 1989 and 2021, as documented in the Sexual Violence in Armed Conflicts (SVAC) Dataset.

For a deeper understanding of the SOPERG project, you can read my blog post on Civil War Paths: From Books to Bullets: The Spectrum of Political Education in Rebel Groups.

I welcome discussions about my research and can be reached at freibera@tcd.ie.

Beyond my academic pursuits, I have a passion for books, pets, plants, and knitting.