She studies civil wars and the emergence of informal institutions of security governance. Her current research focuses on community mobilization against insurgent violence, the formation of militias—parties to armed conflict that are neither incumbents nor insurgents—and their impact on civil war dynamics. She is also broadly interested in African politics, transnational aspects of civil wars, and peacekeeping. She has conducted field research in Mozambique, Zambia, and Malawi. Corinna received her PhD from Yale University, and prior to that studied at Free University Berlin and Sciences Po Paris.