Koen Vlassenroot investigates armed groups and civil wars and has carried out extensive fieldwork in eastern DR Congo, Uganda, Rwanda and the Philippines. His major contribution to the field of conflict research is to understand the social embeddedness of rural armed groups, the mobility of combatants, public authority and non-state forms of governance in conflict zones, and the social transformations induced by long-term violence. He has published numerous peer–reviewed articles and book chapters, has been Co-Principal Investigator of several five-year international research consortia, has directed large international research grants, and has conducted research and consulting activities for international donor agencies and non-governmental organizations. At UGent, he is the director of the Conflict Research Group and of the Governance in Conflict International Thematic Network.