SUMMARY

As part of our French Success Stories, a series of portraits with French people living in New York who have succeeded in their field, the Consulate General of France in New York is pleased to present the portrait of Séverine Autesserre. Séverine is a French American expert on peacekeeping whose latest book, The Frontlines of Peace, was recently published in French. Séverine Autesserre is Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science at Barnard College, Columbia University. Her work focuses on civil wars, peacebuilding and peacekeeping, humanitarian aid, and African politics. Involved in international aid for nearly twenty-five years, Séverine has conducted research in twelve conflict zones and has influenced the reform of intervention strategies of several United Nations departments, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, and non-governmental organizations. She was one of the first to advocate for a “bottom-up” approach to peacebuilding, recognizing that the roots of conflict must be addressed at the local rather than the national level. Her TED talk on resolving collective violence has over 800,000 views and is subtitled in 19 languages. While New York has allowed her to realize her dreams and tap into her potential, Séverine remains committed to France in her methodology and writing style, which sets her apart in the world of humanitarian research.