Charles Martin-Shields, S-CAR PhD Student
Charles Martin-Shields, a PhD student in the 2011 cohort at S-CAR, was led into the Conflict Analysis field after switching focus from a specialization in German Political Development and Theory while completing his Bachelor’s degree. Martin-Shields later joined the Peace Corps and spent two years in Samoa, where he was able to see firsthand the pitfalls of international development and begin learning about how to improve this process. At S-CAR, Charles focuses his research on why some states, in spite of significant conflict risk, are resilient over time, and this interest has expanded to include research of how mobile and social technology can support conflict prevention and peacebuilding. He also has a deep interest in quantitative analysis, as well as a general interest in theories of methodology.
Charles is also the Director of Special Projects and Simulation Design at TechChange, a Washington, DC-based consulting group teaching innovative technologies for social change. Among other interesting projects, Charles has worked with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s Nairobi office, training civil society organization leaders, a project he describes as satisfying mostly due to the process of change he witnesses in participants as they learn to use the software and hardware, work through issues related to applicability in a challenging environment, and, ultimately, “complete the course by integrating the technology into their own contexts.”
Charles plans to continue working with TechChange, and perhaps write his dissertation in New York City, due to the formative work that NYU, Columbia, and the United Nations do around conflict management and technology. After his doctorate, he would like to continue his work and hopefully also make time to teach and share his passion with others. To meet the rest of our 2011 PhD cohort, check out http://scar.gmu.edu/phd-program/2011-PhD-Cohort.