Professor of Conflict Studies at Utrecht University, the Netherlands and Head of the Conflict Research Unit of the Clingendael Institute. Professor Frerks is a development sociologist by background and received his PhD in 1991 on a study in the Matara District of Sri Lanka. He has published extensively on conflict and development issues elsewhere in the world.

Academic Background:
Rural Development Sociology, Diplomacy, International relations

Current Position:
Professor of Conflict Prevention and Conflict Management

Research Interests:
Conflict and disaster studies; development; conflict policies; Sri Lanka.

Recent Publications:
‘Refugees Between Relief and Development’, In P. Essed, G. Frerks and J. Schrijvers (eds), 2004. Refugees and the Transformation of Societies. Agency, Policies, Ethics and Politics. Oxford: Berhghahn Books.

‘Gender, Conflict and Development’ (2005). Washington, D.C.: World Bank (co-authors: Tsjeard Bouta and Ian Bannon)

‘Dealing with Diversity, Sri Lankan Discourses on Peace and Conflict’ (2005). The Hague: The Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’ (co-editor: Bart Klem).

Principles and Pragmatism: Civil-Military Action in Afghanistan and Liberia (2006). Utrecht/Amsterdam: Utrecht University/Bart Klem Research (co-authors: Bart Klem, Stefan van Laan and Marleen van Klingeren).

“Conflict, Development and Discourse” in Frerks and Klein Goldewijk (eds) (2007). Human Security and International Insecurity, p. 45-63. Wageningen: Wageningen Academic Publishers.