Jenna Torosian

RESEARCH ASSISTANT - CLASS OF 2011

Author Biography

Jenna Torosian was a Research Assistant at the Fund for Peace during 2011. Since joining the Fund for Peace in 2011, she has worked primarily on a variety of conflict assessment projects, including the Failed States Index (FSI) and the Universal Network of Local Knowledge (UNLocK). She is currently a team member of the Country Profiles project, which seeks to provide insight into scores published in the FSI through two-page country profiles explaining key events that affected the scores for each country. She has also co-athored a report with Jumoke Balogun on corruption and intimidation in Nigeria’s 2011 election cycle.
Jenna received a BS in Political Science (emphasis in International Relations), a BA in History, and a minor in Italian from Santa Clara University, where she focused mainly on ethnic identity, leadership roles, and peace negotiations. She also completed American University’s Gateway Graduate Program in International Affairs. She plans on obtaining an MA in Security Studies in the next few years.

Education
American University Gateway Graduate Program (International Affairs)
Santa Clara University, BS/BA (Political Science/History)

Languages:
English, Italian

Hometown:
Fresno, California

Publications

Profile 2011: Guinea-Bissau

Published November 30, 2011 | By Jenna Torosian

Guinea-Bissau continues to struggle with political stability linked largely to the military. After the 2009 elections — that were deemed free and fair — mutinous soldiers detained the Prime Minster and Army Chief of Staff. The drug trade has increased, leading to more destabilization in the fragile country. Corruption is pervasive and rule of law is crumbling. International community members are pulling aid and restricting trade and travel to Guinea-Bissau. Assets in the U.S. and Europe belonging to high ranking government officials have been frozen because of their alleged direct links to the illegal narcotics trade. The country is still rebuilding from the civil war, and though some progress is being made in reconstruction, the country’s recovery will likely be long and difficult. Uncertainty is set to continue as the President Sanha struggles to manage the fragile balance of power with the military until the 2012 parliamentary elections.

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Country Profiles

Guinea-Bissau

Jenna Torosian

Read more about Profile 2011: Guinea-Bissau

Preparing for the Election Cycle in Nigeria

Publication CR-11-09-UL
Report available in PDF and Flash formats

During the period covered by this report (August-November 2010) the election season was getting under way. This report compiles the incidents and issues documented by civil society in the UNLocK Nigeria early warning network, with a particular focus on the state and local levels in the Niger Delta region. According to these incident reports, candidates reportedly engaged in intimidation against their opponents. Candidates and their family member were kidnapped or killed. Criminal and vigilante elements were reportedly co-opted or recruited for political reasons. Officials were accused of corruption. The government’s rebel amnesty program continued to falter due in part to ambiguity and controversy over who is eligible to participate. Floods destroyed homes and poverty.

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