Karen Brounéus

Short presentation

Professor of Peace and Conflict Research, Director of the Rotary Peace Center. My research focuses on global mental health and peace; psychological health in peacebuilding after war; truth and reconciliation processes after war; gendered dimensions of war and peace. I teach i.a. Research Ethics, Advanced Qualitative Methods, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Management. In 2023, I was honored to receive Uppsala University's prestigious Free Distinguished Teaching Award.

Keywords

• peacebuilding
• gender and conflict
• truth telling and reconciliation
• psychological health after war

Biography

Academic background

Professor in Peace and Conflict Research (2024, Uppsala)

Docent in Peace and Conflict Research (2016, Uppsala)

PhD in Peace and Conflict Research (2008, Uppsala)

Clinical psychologist (MSSc 1998, Uppsala); Teacher in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR, 2022).

Teaching

• Mindfulness-Based Stress Management
• Research ethics
• In-depth interviewing and active listening
• Advanced Qualitative Methods
• Transitional justice and reconciliation after war
• Testifying in Truth Commissions: A blessing or burden?
• Transitional justice and reconciliation in Rwanda
• The legacies of war: Postwar peacebuilding and reconciliation
• & Supervision at all levels.

Current and previous positions

Director of the Rotary Peace Center, 2024-ongoing.

Director of Studies, Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, 2014-2019.

Lecturer, National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Otago, New Zealand, January 2011–January 2014.

Postdoctoral Fellow, National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Otago, New Zealand, August 2009–December 2010.

Assistant Professor, Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, 2008–2009.

PhD candidate, Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, 2002–2008.

Clinical psychologist, Private clinical practice, cognitive behavioral therapy, Uppsala, 2002–2006.

Clinical psychologist, Childrens’ psychiatric clinic (BUP), Sala, Sweden, 1999-2000.

Clinical psychologist, UNHCR, New Delhi, India, 1999.

Awards

2023: Uppsala University's Free Distinguished Teaching Award

2013: Early Career Award for Distinction in Research, University of Otago, New Zealand

2011: New Supervisor of the Year Award, University of Otago, New Zealand.

Research

Mindfulness in Parliament

Women, war trauma and peacebuilding

Gender, politics and violence in Thailand

Why join the protests? A joint international research project on Nepal's 2006 nonviolent uprisings

Truth for Peace - the outcomes and impacts of the Solomon Islands Truth and Reconciliation Commission on attitudes toward peace (Funded by the Royal Society of New Zealand’s Marsden Fund) Report for the Solomon Islands government and ministries

Media

Media (a selection)

The importance of self-care when researching violence, Researching Peace podcast, Uppsala University, June 2026.

Mindfulness and how we can use it for student learning, Higher Ed Heroes Podcast, March 2026.

Mindfulness as a tool for decreasing political polarization, Uppsala University, Nov 6, 2025.

A journey connecting mental health and peace, Researching Peace podcast, Uppsala University, August 2025.

Researching Peace, Podcast, Uppsala University, on Doing Field Research, December 13, 2021.

The Associated Press, Australia/ New Zealand/ South Pacific. Interview on reconciliation, May 9, 2019.

Konflikt, P1, Swedish national radio, “Colombia between peace and reconciliation”, October 1, 2016.

Swedish National Television, “Forska för livet [Research for life]", Kunskapskanalen, February 2015.

Radio National New Zealand, Summer Nights with Charlotte Graham, December 30, 2013.

Obs i P1, Swedish national radio, “Is the truth healing?”, interview December 10, 2013.

Radio National New Zealand, Sunday Morning with Chris Laidlaw, October 24, 2010.

ABC Radio Australia, Pacific Beat, interview September 29, 2010

Radio National New Zealand, Tangata, interview September 25, 2010

SBS Radio Australia, World View, interview September 15, 2010

Otago Daily Times, interview September 15, 2010

Radio Rhema, Auckland, interview September 13, 2010

BBC, Northern Ireland, The Stephen Nolan Show, “Moving on after the conflict”, interview September 3, 2010.