The Fletcher School

Patrick Meier

Doctoral Research Fellow, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Harvard University
Henry R. Luce PhD Candidate at The Fletcher School

Patrick Meier

Contact Information

Phone: 617.440.4442
Email: Patrick.Meier@tufts.edu
Email: pmeier@hsph.harvard.edu

Blog
URL: http://irevolution.wordpress.com

Curriculum Vitae

Download Patrick Meier's CV [pdf]

Research Interests

Conflict early warning, Disaster early warning, Humanitarian response; Changing role of information communication technology (ICT) in conflict early warning, crisis mapping and humanitarian response; Impact of distributed, decentralized and mobile technologies on ability of repressive regimes to control information; Intersection between emerging technology, civilian protection and strategic nonviolence in complex emergencies; Digital and cyber activism; Complex adaptive systems, organizational theory, social networks analysis and complexity science.

Recent Courses

Managing Complex Systems: From Dynamic Networks to Tipping Points
(Graduate Seminar DHP 213m, Fall 2007)
Co-organized with Professor William Moomaw

From Theory to Practice: Disaster and Conflict Early Warning/Response
E-seminar for United Nations (Professional Seminar, Fall 2007)
Co-organized with Professor Patrick Webb

Preventing Catastrophes: From Disaster to Conflict Early Warning/Response E-seminar for United Nations
(Professional Seminar, Fall 2006)

Disaster and Conflict Early Warning Systems
(Undergraduate course EXP 112, Fall 2006)

An Introduction to Disaster and Conflict Early Warning
(Osher Institute Professional Seminar, Spring 2006)

Fields of Study

International Security Studies;
International Negotiation and Diplomacy;
International Environment and Resource Policy;

Regional Interests

North, East and West Africa; Southeast Asia; Middle East

Faculty Advisors

Daniel Drezner [ website ]
Carolyn Gideon [ website ]
Peter Uvin [ website ]
Peter Walker [ website ]

PhD Dissertation

(working title)

"The Impact of the Information Revolution on Authoritarian Rule and Social Resistance"

Additional Information

I hold a B.A. (Hons) in Political Science, Economics and Philosophy from the Universities of York (UK) and California at Berkeley. I graduated with an M.A. in International Affairs and Conflict Prevention from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), and I am an alumnus of the Santa Fe Institute (SFI). My current dissertation research at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI) focuses on the changing role of information communication technology (ICT) in conflict early warning, crisis mapping and humanitarian response. For example, what is the impact of decentralized, distributed and mobile technologies on repressive regimes? Can the State really win the information race against open and decentralized networks? How is the combination of high-resolution satellite imagery, dynamic mapping tools (e.g., Google Earth), micro GPS units and SMS changing humanitarian response?

Prior to Harvard, I held research positions at The Fletcher School, the Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO) and Columbia University’s Center for International Conflict Resolution (CICR). As a professional consultant, I have worked on numerous conflict prevention and early warning projects with multiple offices/agencies of United Nations including OCHA, UNDP, UNICEF, UNEP and the UN Millennium Secretariat. I have also worked on early warning projects with the Organization for Cooperation and Security In Europe (OSCE), International Crisis Group (ICG), International Alert (IA) and Swisspeace FAST. I had the opportunity to play an instrumental role in launching West Africa’s regional conflict early warning network (WARN) and was a lead consultant on the Horn of Africa’s Conflict Early Warning and Response Network (CEWARN). More recently, I have worked as a consultant on a community-based conflict early warning/response project in East Timor. Hobbies include: theatre, tennis and jazz guitar.

Research Profile

Patrick Meier

Selected Papers and Publications

• Meier, P.. “The Impact of Climate Change on Complex Emergencies: A Role for Disaster and Conflict Early Warning,” in Brauch et al. (eds), Coping with Global Environmental Change, Disasters and Security Threats, (Springer 2008, under review).

• Meier, P., Woodard, R., and D. Sornette. 2007. “Indogenous versus Exogenous Causes of Terrorism: Insights from Earthquake Physics.” Paper presented at the American Political Science Association (APSA) convention in Chicago, August-September 2007. [Link]

• Meier, P. 2007. “New Strategies for Effective Early Response: Insights from Complexity Science.” Paper presented at the International Studies Association (ISA) convention in Chicago, February-March 2007. [Link]

• Campbell, S., and P. Meier, 2007. “Deciding to Prevent Violent Conflict: Early Warning and Decision-Making at the United Nations.” Paper presented at the International Studies Association (ISA) convention in Chicago, February-March 2007. [Link]

• Meier, P. 2007. “From Disaster to Conflict Early Warning: A People-Centered Approach.” InterAction’s Monday Developments, Vol. 25, No. 4, April 2007. [Link]

• Meier, P. 2007. “Climate Change as a Continuation of Politics by Other Means.” Journal of International Development, Environment and Sustainability, CIERP (Spring). [Link]

• Meier, P., D. Bond. 2007. “The Influence of Environmental Factors on Conflict in the Horn of Africa,” Journal of Political Geography (in press). [Link]

• Bond, D., P. Meier. 2006. “Early Warning and Peacekeeping Intelligence,” in D. Carment, ed., Peacekeeping Intelligence: New Players, Extended Boundaries. Taylor and Francis Books, London. [Link]

• Spagat, M., Meier, P., Becerra, O., and J. Restrepo. 2006. “Natural Disasters, Casualties and Power Laws: A Comparative Analysis with Armed Conflict,” paper presented at the 2006 American Political Science Association (APSA) Convention in Philadelphia. [Link]

• Meier, P. 2006. “Conflict Early Warning and Resource Related Conflicts,” in Resource-Related Conflicts in Southeast Asia (Southeast Asian Conflict Studies, published by CIDA 2006).

• Spagat, M., Meier, P., Becerra, O., and J. Restrepo, 2006. “Natural Disasters, Casualties and Power Laws: A Comparative Analysis with Armed Conflict,” paper presented at the 2006 American Political Science Association (APSA) Convention in Philadelphia.

• Bond, D., P. Meier. 2005. “CEWARN: IGAD’s Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism,” in Ramcharan, B., ed. Conflict Prevention in Practice. Martin Nijhoff Publishers, Boston: 2005. [Link]

• Levy, M., Meier, P., 2004. “Early Warning and Assessment of Environment, Conflict and Cooperation”, in: UNEP (Ed.): Understanding Environment, Conflict and Cooperation (Nairobi: UNEP, Department of Early Warning and Assessment, United Nations Environment Program). [Link]

• Carius, A., Feil, M., P. Meier. 2004. “Environment, Conflict Risk Assessment and Early Warning.” Adelphi Research & Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Working Paper.