My academic interest is related to the contemporary, empirical study of religion and politics; religion, conflict and peace building: religion, state and civil society. I have worked on these topics in Latin America, West Africa and the Middle East. My main emphais is on Christianity and Islam. I have a PhD in the history of religions (2015) focusing on the growth of Pentecostalism in Nigeria and Guatemala. Currently I am involved in a research projects with partners in Norway, Indonesia, Pakistan and Nigeria examining ideas and networks in the growing field of Muslim humanitarianism (https://www.prio.org/Projects/Project/?x=1858).
Before starting at MF I worked at the International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO), among other tasks as the Director of the PRIO Cyprus Centre (PCC). The PCC is a research- and dialogue centre in Nicosia working on topics related to peace building in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Latest academic publications
- Horsfjord, V. L. & Kloster, S. T. & Lende, G. & Løland, O. J. (2022). Global Christianity. Current Trends and Developments, Pickwick Publications, ISBN: 9781725281110
- Lende, G. (2020). City of Gods and Goods: Exploring Religious Pluralism in the Neoliberal City, Routledge International Handbook of Religion in Global Society,, Routledge, ISBN: 978-1-138-18250-9
- Horsfjord, V. & Kloster, S. T. & Lende, G. & Løland, O. J. (2018). Global kristendom. En samtidshistorie, Universitetsforlaget, ISBN: 9788215030128
- Løland, O. J. & Lende, G. & Horsfjord, V. & Kloster, S. T. (2018). Global kristendom : en samtidshistorie, Global kristendom. En samtidshistorie,, Universitetsforlaget, ISBN: 9788215030128
Education and practice
2003
Cand. Philol, Religionshistorie (UiO, UiB): spansk, arabisk, Midtaustenhistorie
Voluntary position
2016
Member of international advisory board, The International Centre for Inter-Faith Peace and Harmony (ICIPH), Nigeria
2015
Member of Board/ Chair of Board, The Norwegian Human Rights Fund
2003
Co-editor/co- founder, Babylon- Scandinavian Journal on the Middle East