Source: Emizet Kisangani, 785-532-0447, emizetk@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Kayela Richard, 785-532-1546, media@k-state.edu

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR HEADING TO SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA TO STUDY POST-CONFLICT RECONSTRUCTION

MANHATTAN -- A Kansas State University professor will spend eight months in central Africa researching post-conflict reconstruction as a Fulbright Scholar.

A three-time Fulbright recipient, Emizet Kisangani, professor of political science, will do his research in sub-Saharan Africa from December 2011 through August 2012. It will be his final time as a Fulbright recipient, as three awards are the limit under the program's guidelines. Kisangani was a Fulbright Senior Scholar to Africa in 2005. He earned a Fulbright Fellowship in 1978 as a graduate student in economics at the University of Oregon.

The Fulbright program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The U.S. scholar program sends approximately 1,100 American scholars and professionals per year to 125 countries.

"It's a good feeling to receive another Fulbright," he said. "The best part is that you have money to travel and do your research. I'm glad I got it because it is one of 12 fellowships given to scholars doing research in sub-Saharan Africa."

Kisangani, who is director of K-State's African Studies Center, is researching the impact of parliament and the banking sector on post-conflict reconstruction in the region. The center provides opportunities to explore conflicts in Africa through research, scholarly exchanges and on-campus lectures.

"I'm trying to show how the parliament and the banking sector are critical in post-conflict reconstruction," he said. "To some extent I think scholars have overlooked the two areas. We need to look at both the state level and the private level during post-conflict times."

Kisangani plans to travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.

"I will be collecting data by interviewing people," he said. "I will have graduate students help me interview members of the government and members of the banking system."

When Kisangani returns home, he'll start writing.

"The goal will be to publish my research," he said. "It's great because so far I have been involved with the World Bank writing reports on post-conflict reconstruction. Publishing brings more visibility for K-State and the department of political science."

Kisangani's work has appeared in numerous journals, including African Studies Review, American Journal of Political Science, British Journal of Political Science, Defence and Peace Economics, International Studies Quarterly, Journal of Modern African Studies, Journal of Peace Research and more.

He is the author of the book "Zaire after Mobutu: A Case of a Humanitarian Emergency." He also is co-author, with Michael Nest and Francois Grignon, of "The Democratic Republic of Congo: Economic Dimensions of War and Peace," and co-author, with Scott Bobb, of "The Historical Dictionary of the Democratic Republic of Congo."

He is currently writing his next book, "Civil Wars In The Democratic Republic Of Congo, 1960-2010."

Kisangani joined K-State in 1994. He earned master's degrees in economics and political science from the University of Oregon and a doctorate in political science from the University of Iowa.