About me
I’m a Postdoctoral Fellow in political science at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). I am examining the link between demographic bulges and social trust in Africa as part of the DIVIDENDS project run by the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO).
Aside from the DIVIDENDS project, my current research examines the determinants of generalised trust and the extent to which the ‘cultural’ and ‘experiential’ approaches are useful frameworks for understanding this. I am also interested in language politics, intergroup relations, ethnic conflict, and quantitative methods.
Prior to starting at NTNU, I was an associate lecturer in the School of Politics and International Relations at the Australian National University, where I also completed my PhD between 2018 and 2021. My doctoral research examined the relationship between language, communication and social trust. I also hold a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from Victoria University of Wellington, and a BA(Hons) from the University of Auckland.
I was born and mostly raised in Wellington, New Zealand, and have also lived and studied for various periods in Canada, Poland and Taiwan. My main interests outside of academia include music, movies, sport and travel.
Email: michael.kumove@ntnu.no
Michael Kumove 