Tatiana Carayannis is director of the Social Science Research Council’s new Understanding Violent Conflict Initiative and deputy director of the Conflict Prevention and Peace Forum. She also leads a project on China’s engagement in Africa, The China-Africa Knowledge Project, convenes the DRC Affinity Group, a small brain trust of leading Congo scholars and analysts, and serves as a research director of the Conflict Research Program and senior fellow at the London School of Economics. She holds a PhD in political science (international relations and comparative politics) from The City University of New York Graduate Center, and an MA in political science from New York University.