I have a doctorate in Sociology and Social Anthropology from the University of Helsinki (1997) and a docentship from the same department (2000). From 2002-2006 I held a fellowship from the Cultural and Social Scientific Research Council of the Academy of Finland. I am currently (until 2009) an Associate Professor (yliopistonlehtori) in Development Studies at the University of Helsinki.
The bulk of my empirical research has focused on the Southern African region, Zambia in particular, where I have carried out, all tolled, about six years of fieldwork since 1983.
Earlier work, culminating in my doctoral thesis (1997) concerned the localization of modern institutions in rural communities in the matrilineal belt of northeastern Zambia. More recently, issues related to postcolonial state formation have become the over-arching theoretical concern of my research.
For a summary of my ongoing research concerns, please see the research link to the left. The publications and recent talks & papers links give an overview of my current work and some downloadable materials.
The development link relates my flirtations with the aid industry. The public/private link takes you ever deeper into non-academic territory.