MATSUBARA Yuka
| MATSUBARA Yuka |
| [Belonging・Position] | African and Latin American Studies Group, Area Studies Center |
| [Research Field] | African Area Studies, West African Politics |
| [email] |
Yuka_Matsubara 
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| researchmap | Profile Information (Research history, education, papers & publications) |
| Japanese page |
Previous research
I joined the Institute of Developing Economies in 2025 and I am currently enrolled in the doctoral program at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo. My research interests include armed conflicts in Africa, post-conflict institutional reforms, with a particular emphasis on Sierra Leone in West Africa. During my master program, I analyzed why two peace agreements signed during the armed conflict between 1991 and 2002 collapsed, focusing on organizational changes within conflict parties. For my doctoral dissertation, I have been studying the post-conflict decentralization process in Sierra Leone, examining the relationships between central and local governments as well as between local governments and traditional authorities.
Current research projects
In Sierra Leone, significant reforms of the local governance system were implemented after theend of the conflict. These reforms aimed to address the oppressive and exploitative structures of local governance, which were identified as key drivers of the conflict. Central to these efforts were initiatives to promote decentralization and limit the influence of traditional authorities, known as “chiefs,” whose power is deeply rooted in kinship and community ties. However, more than 20 years after the end of the conflict, signs of a rollback in decentralization and the resurgence of chiefs' authority have emerged. My research examines how rapid decentralization was carried out, why the process is now shifting, and the dynamics between central government, local government, and chiefs. Besides of Sierra Leone, many African countries have implemented decentralization reforms, accompanied by transformations in their systems of chieftaincy since the 1980s. In the future, I plan to expand my research to include local governance systems in countries beyond Sierra Leone.
Membership of Academic Societies
Japan Association for African Studies, Japan Association of International Relation