Scholar Notes: Kelly Zvobgo

RALOHCS NOTES

Kelly Zvobgo, Pre-Doctoral Fellow for Academic Diversity

SCHOLAR NOTES

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INTERVIEW

BRINGING NEW HUMAN RIGHTS SCHOLARSHIP TO WILLIAM & MARY AN INTERVIEW WITH KELLY ZVOBGO

BY REBECCA LATOURELL Today I had the opportunity to sit down with Kelly

government and the US public on the subject of

Zvobgo, the Global Research Institute's newest

the International Criminal Court (ICC). The US

team member and its first Pre-Doctoral Fellow for

government prioritizes national sovereignty, while

Academic Diversity. The new pre-doctoral fellow

human rights advocates point to the importance

program is designed to increase the diversity of

of the ICC for human rights. I was curious if and, if

the scholarly community at the Institute, provide

so, how sensitive Americans are to these

fellows with the time and resources to complete

competing arguments. So, I designed and

their dissertations, and offer additional mentored

conducted a survey experiment. The upshot is

research opportunities for William & Mary

that Americans respond positively to human

students. Kelly, a human rights scholar who joins

rights arguments but when these arguments are

us from the University of Southern California, will

pitted against national interest arguments, they,

be working with Institute students while she

like the government, prioritize national

finishes her dissertation. She is broadly interested

interests. This is a new and interesting finding.

in human rights, transitional justice, and international law and courts.

Rebecca Latourell: Can you describe one of your recent publications and the most surprising or policy-relevant findings?

Kelly Zvobgo: I have an article forthcoming in the International Studies Quarterly. It’s called, “Human Rights versus National Interests: Shifting US Public Attitudes on the International Criminal Court.” The project was born out of an interest in the potentially divergent views of the US

Zvobgo teaching at USC

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SCHOLAR NOTES

INTERVIEW

Something else that came up in the survey, and

RL: It's prescient of them, too, in a way, given the

which wasn’t at all the focus, was how the crisis at

revelations of late June. Can you describe any of

our Southern border is shaping attitudes about

your research-in-process? What are you hoping to

institutions like the ICC. In one of the open-ended

learn, and what are the policy applications of your

response items, several survey participants said

forthcoming research?

they wished the US was a member of the ICC. That way, the Court could hold the Trump

KZ: Sure. Right now I’m writing my dissertation. My

administration accountable for the abuse that’s

subject is truth commissions, which are historical

going on. Now, I’m a human rights scholar but,

inquiries into political violence that governments

until I read these survey responses a year ago now,

create in the aftermath of civil war, authoritarian

I hadn’t myself linked what’s happening at the

government, et cetera. In the dissertation, I ask

"HERE I WAS, THE RESEARCHER BEING PUSHED

BY THE PEOPLE I'M RESEARCHING." three main questions: why are truth commissions created in some countries coming out of violent periods but not in others? Why do some commissions possess strong powers to conduct their investigation, for example subpoena powers, while others do not? And, finally, why do some truth commissions have a longer-lasting impact on politics than others? Throughout, I tell the story of how civil society organizations, both within countries and internationally, play Zvobgo with W&M Professors Pickering (L) and Roessler (R)

complementary roles to realize truth commission creation, design, and impact.

border to “crimes against humanity” per se. But, upon further reflection, I realized yes. We’re

A central contribution of this project is looking at

unfortunately meeting some of the elements:

what policy recommendations truth commissions

kidnapping — because that’s really what family

have made to governments, for example

separation is — unlawful detention, etc. all

reparations for victims, and the extent to which

happening against a civilian population. I’m not

governments have followed through and

sure if my lawyer friends would agree, but I think

implemented them. I want to know where

there’s a case to be made there. Anyway, here I

governments are doing well and where they are

was, the researcher being pushed by the people

not doing well. Are they quick to provide a public

I’m researching.

apology but slow to compensate people? Do they

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SCHOLAR NOTES

INTERVIEW

build museums and memorials, but fail to

Global Research Institute and in the Government

implement institutional reforms? Identifying areas

Department, and Mike and Sue are extraordinary

of strength and weakness can inform how not

mentors. I feel very fortunate to launch my career

only scholars, but practitioners, donor

here.

governments, et cetera, can support sound policy in the aftermath of violence.

RL: How will you work with students in your new role?

KZ: As a GRI pre-doctoral fellow, I will be hiring a few student researchers to support my main project: the dissertation and future book. In particular, this fall, we will be laying the groundwork for fieldwork in 2020. I’m planning on going to Guatemala, South Africa, and TimorLeste to meet and speak with representatives of civil society organizations to pin down three

Zvobgo presenting at a Global Research Institute Insider Insights event

things. First, what were their priorities when their respective commissions published their reports?

Were they most interested in reparations or trials or reforms? Second, how did they pursue implementation of those issues? Third, to what extent were they successful in getting their preferred policies implemented?

RL: What are you most looking forward to as you join the team at William & Mary and the Institute?

Can I say everything?! Honestly, I am so happy and excited to be here at W&M. As an institution it blends perfectly my interests in conducting high volume, high impact research, all while taking teaching and mentoring very seriously. A mentored research experience is the reason why I decided to pursue a PhD rather than go to law school. It’s important for me to create similar opportunities for others, to pay it forward. I also couldn’t ask for better colleagues, both at the

Kelly, we are thrilled to have you on the team at the Global Research Institute, and at William & Mary more broadly! Thanks for sharing a peek into your forthcoming research; we look forward to seeing some of it in print soon. For students who would like to learn more about Kelly's research, you may email her at kzvobgo@wm.edu.