Steven Radil, Ph.D.
Political Geographer | Conflict & security analyst | Researcher & author
About
Political geographer and conflict analyst whose work spans academic research, policy advising, and applied consulting.My research examines how political violence, territorial authority, and networked infrastructure intersect in conflict-affected regions, with particular focus on West Africa and the Sahel.I'm the principal of GeoPublic Analytics, a research firm specializing in social science and geospatial analyses. I am an affiliate faculty member at the University of Florida, where I contribute to the African Networks Lab, and a Senior Research Fellow with the Corvinus University of Budapest's Institute for Advanced Studies.
Current research
Territory, sovereignty, and infrastructure in conflict zones
How gaps in territorial sovereignty open up when roads and supply networks are contested by states and non-state actors.
Armed conflict and security in West Africa
Research program on the geography of conflict across West Africa, focusing on cities, borderlands, and infrastructure.
Energy and war
How the deliberate destruction of energy networks works to reshape territorial control during wartime.
Latest publications
Books & reports
Roads and Conflicts in North and West Africa (OECD, 2025), latest major report on regional security, published by OECD's West African Studies series.
Academic articles
Mapping the long-term trajectories of political violence in Africa, Applied Geography (2026).
Essays & commentaries
Ghana’s Northern Sovereignty Gap: JNIM and the Burkinabe Border, African Arguments (2026).
Consulting & advisory work
I provide research and analysis for international organizations, policy institutions, and NGOs working on pressing social issues. My work includes geospatial analysis, policy-oriented research design, and subject-matter advising. For inquiries, please use the contact form below.
