Hey, I’m

Esther Brito Ruiz

My goal is to better understand how we can define and implement networked-policy responses that better respond to new dynamics of violence and trauma in identity-based conflicts - especially in areas related to the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda.

About Me

Hi there!

Thanks for stopping by. My name is Esther Brito, I am a Spanish researcher working at the intersection of international security, peace operations, governance, and gender. I have lived and studied in 6 countries across Latin America, Europe, Asia, and North America. Currently, I am a Research Assistant at the IESE Business School, a Research Director at the Strategic Policy Group, and the Editor-in-Chief at IVolunteer International.

I received my Master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science in Women, Peace, and Security, where I conducted research on ethnic conflict, genocide, and sexual violence. Beyond this, I am always looking to stay active in a variety of research groups and author articles for publications like the Harvard Kennedy School Review, The Diplomat, and The Geopolitics, among others. I have also served as a Global Shaper for the World Economic Forum, where I co-founded an NGO focused on increasing diversity in entrepreneurship.

My research interests broadly include issues of peacebuilding, security, gender, public policy, historical memory, and governance. In particular, I am focused on the intersectionality of identity-based conflict, gendered violence, and peace operations. My goal is to better understand how we can define and implement networked-policy responses that better respond to new dynamics of violence in identity-based conflicts - especially in areas related to the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda. Within this, I am particularly interested in the dynamics of sexual violence in current conflicts and genocidal processes. My methodology includes a systems thinking approach to understand the influence of the multiplicity of actors engaging in conflict-affected societies. I use these perspectives to inform policy changes that can affect both human and structural aspects of security, and better integrate measures of local and international governance for stable peacebuilding.

See my CV, Research Gate, and Google Scholar profiles for more information.

Research Experience

Research Assistant at the IESE Business School – University of Navarra (2020 – Present)

Madrid, Spain

At the IESE, the top business school in Spain, I work with Professors Pascual Berrone and Joan E. Ricart in the Department of Strategic Management, conducting academic research and writing papers on urban governments. In the team that analyses the yearly Cities in Motion Index, I work on issues of inclusion, sustainability, and local governance – particularly on replicable best practices and the new role of cities in the international community. Within this, I touch upon notions of cities as actors in peacebuilding, first-responders in disaster management, and leaders in the climate crisis.

Research Director at the Strategic Policy Group (2021- Present)

Remote

As a Research Director at SPG, I supervise the work of junior researchers, develop original projects for publication, and lead the Ethnic Conflict Explained series in the SPG Podcast. Here, I have explored the new dynamics of violent intra-state ethnic conflict in the 21st century, explained the complications in responding to ongoing genocides, and offered insight into the realities of international response and peacekeeping.

Conflict Analyst at the University of Heidelberg’s Institute for International Conflict Research (2020-2021)

Remote

At the HIIK, I contributed to the 2020 Conflict Barometer, a project that maps ongoing conflicts around the globe and informs policy at organizations like the UN and EU Commission. I conducted qualitative and quantitative data analyses on conflict profiles and monitored the development of the Montagnard conflict and socio-economic protests in Vietnam - using HIIK methodology to determine the conflicts severity and predicted trajectory.

Other Current Research Affiliations:

Researcher in the Human Security Team
ITSS Verona

Associate Fellow — War, Conflict & Global Migration Programme
Global Research Network

Researcher
Geneva Institute of international Relations

Education

MS in Women, Peace, and Security at the London School of Economics (2018 - 2019)

London, United Kingdom

At LSE, I had the chance explicitly explore the intersection of conflict and gender – delving into issues related to the Women, Peace and Security agenda, building expertise in international policy, and conducting in depth research related to conflict, human rights and international law. For my thesis, I drew from frameworks of power, domination, and embodiment developed by Arendt, Foucault, and Mbembe, and applied Claudia Card’s social death paradigm to explore the genocidal harm of sexual violence in the 1981 Guatemalan case of the Ixil Triangle.

Dual Degree in International Relations and Business Administration at the Comillas Pontifical University – ICADE (2013 - 2018)

Madrid, Spain

At ICADE, I combined my interest for international affairs and entrepreneurship to explore the impact of non-state actors and economic networks on security. For my business thesis, I evaluated the social and economic impact of sexual trafficking in Southeast Asia, with a focus of projected growth and legal anti-trafficking frameworks. For my international relations thesis, I undertook a historical analysis of the Rape of Nanking and the influence of historical memory on current Sino-Japanaese diplomatic and economic relations. During this time, I also had the chance to build up quantitative skills in Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Statistics, Econometrics, and Financial Mathematics, among others, as well as start exploring transnational dynamics in International Security and Public Policy.

Summer Semester at Stanford University (2015)

Palo Alto, USA

At Stanford, I delved into the topics of ethnic conflict, genocide and humanitarian intervention in a course taught by Dr. Bertrand Patenaude. Guided by Samantha Powers’ book “A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide” I reviewed the response from the international community and US policymakers to ongoing genocidal campaigns. This would come to shape my interest in public policy, international security, and peacekeeping.

Associates Degree in Traditional and Digital Illustration at the ESDIP – the Higher School of Professional Drawing (2014 - 2018)

Madrid, Spain

I have always believed creativity is key to develop original ideas and novel responses to the greatest problems of today. This experience gave me an extensive artistic education – helping me master everything from traditional techniques like pencil and charcoal, to digital illustration software like Photoshop, Illustrator and ZBrush. This has not only given me the ability to think outside the box, but also to make relevant visualizations to explain and build upon my research.

International Exchange Programs:

University of Tehran (2018)
—
Teheran, Iran

University of San Francisco (2016)
—
San Francisco, United States

Sogang University (2016)
—
Seoul, South Korea

Teaching Experience

Teaching Assistant in International Politics Johns Hopkins Center For Talented Youth (Summers 2018 & 2019)

Saratoga Springs, NY, USA

Worked assisting in curriculum design and teaching lectures of an intensive International Politics program. I coordinated class debates and simulations on the Syrian conflict and North Korean Nuclear Proliferation, prepared educational materials, and led lectures on Genocide and Feminist theory.

Professional Leadership & Service

Author and Sub-Editor in Chief of the Writers Council at IVolunteer International (2020 – Present)

Remote

I co-lead the Writers Council and actively publish original research on issues of volunteerism, human rights and international security. During this time, I have managed 20+ writers; providing individualized coaching, editing, WordPress, and writing support. I also assess and recruit new cohorts of writers, develop academic writing guides, and conduct formal trainings within the Writers Council.

Global Shaper of the World Economic Forum (2018 – 2019)

Madrid, Spain

Selected as youngest member of the Global Shapers Madrid Hub, a community of World Economic Forum-curated changemakers striving to make a contribution in their communities. Within this community, I met with national leaders, founded my own NGO, and made strides to expand the conversation on diversity in the Spanish entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Non-Profit Co-Founder of Empowering Diversity in Tech and Startups (2017– 2018)

Madrid, Spain

Co-founded a diversity- oriented NGO within the Global Shapers hub of Madrid. Building this initiative from the bottom up with a small team allowed me to co-create a strategic action plan, build communications campaigns, and secure core institutional partnerships – like Google Campus and Impact Hub. As part of the excecutive team, I helped organized and coordinated our flagship event “How we can bring diversity in the startup ecosystem?”, securing high-profile speakers - including CEOs and organizational ambassadors – to help broaden the conversation on diversity in Spain.

Listen To My Podcast

Check out my podcast with the Strategic Policy Group on ethnic conflict. I publish episodes explaining the dynamics of identity and violence in 21st century – including genocide, humanitarian intervention, sexual violence, community destruction, and Peacekeeping Operations. New episodes coming soon!

Click to Listen

Cities & Governance — My Book Is Coming Out Soon!

I am currently working on my first book, covering the dynamics of urban governments as global actors, and understanding how the patterns of local governance can influence and transform global agendas and national policies. From the role of cities as agents of poverty reduction, to their role as front-line responders to disasters, or their influence in the promotion and regulation of new technologies, this book aims to offer insight for academics and policymakers on the way urban governance is set to pave the way for global progress in the core areas of human security.