Francesca R. Jensenius

Research Professor (part time)

Francesca R. Jensenius is Research Professor (part time) at NUPI and Professor at the Institute for Political Science at the University of Oslo. She specializes in comparative politics, comparative political economy, and research methods, with a regional focus on South Asia.

Her main research interest is how electoral dynamics and institutional design affect different types of inequality in societies. She pursues her research through a multi-method approach, combining large-scale data collection and analysis with extensive field work.

Several of Jensenius' publications are about state approaches to empowering minorities and women, in India and elsewhere. In the book Social Justice through Inclusion: The Consequences of Electoral Quotas in India (OUP 2017), she explored the long-term effects of electoral quotas for the Scheduled Castes (the former "untouchables"). In addition, she has published on, among other things, the political inclusion of women in Indian politics, the link between the organizational features of political parties and electoral outcomes, and how electoral incentives affect local-level development patterns. 

Jensenius is currently working on the relationship between political institutions, electoral dynamics, and local-level development patterns in India, as well as a comparative project about how legal regimes and legal changes across the world affect women and other marginalized communities.  

Jensenius was the Nils Klim Prize laureate of 2018, and was awarded the Christian Michelsen Prize for outstanding development research in 2016.

See personal website for further information.

EDUCATION:

2007 - 2013 University of California, Berkeley: PhD in Political Science, Travers Department of Political Science

2005 - 2007 Duke University: MA in Political Science

2001 - 2005 University of Oslo: BA in Social Science

WORK EXPERIENCE:

2019 -           Research Professor (part time), NUPI

2019 -           Professor, the Institute of Political Sceince, University of Oslo

2018 -           Associate Professor, the Institute of Political Sceince, University of Oslo

2013 - 2019 Senior Research Fellow, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI).

2009             Consultant, Political Section, Royal Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi.

2008             Senior executive officer, Section for South Asia, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2003 - 2007 Project Officer, International and National Assistance Division, Norwegian Red Cross.

2005             Project officer, Tsunami Operation Team, Norwegian Red Cross

2003 - 2004 Media observer, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (part time).

Publications All publications

Projects All projects

Events All events

  • Can quotas lead to social justice?
    Event
    Tue 20 Jun 2017
    Time: 16:45 Europe/Oslo | Location: NUPI

    What are the long-term effects of electoral quotas? This is the topic NUPI researcher Francesca R. Jensenius has studied in her new book. At this book launch, she and Mari Teigen (ISF) will talk about some of her key findings and their relevance for discussions of political inclusion in Norway and elsewhere.

  • Women in elected politics: variations, barriers, and effects
    Event
    Mon 13 Jun 2016
    Time: 12:30 Europe/Oslo | Location: NUPI

    NUPI is happy to welcome Torild Skard, Mala Htun and Elin Bjarnegård to share insights from their recent research on women in elected politics across the world

  • Sectarianism and the politics of Shii ritual in contemporary Pakistan
    Event
    Mon 2 Nov 2015
    Time: 11:00 Europe/Oslo | Location: NUPI

    This seminar focuses on popular piety among Pakistan’s Twelver Shii community, and on the politics of public ritual in relation to international reformist movements and mounting sectarianism in the country.

  • The Indian challenge: Diplomacy beyond Europe's order
    Event
    Mon 8 Jun 2015
    Time: 12:00 Europe/Oslo | Location: C.J. Hambros plass 2 D

    Why does India seek to challenge and undermine Western orders?

Articles All articles