Richard Matthew

Richard Matthew is a distinguished Professor of International and Environmental Politics at the University of California, Irvine, where he serves as Associate Dean of Research and International Programs in the School of Social Ecology. As the founding Director of the Center for Unconventional Security Affairs and the Blum Center for Poverty Alleviation, he has established himself as a leading authority on environmental security and peacebuilding. His research explores the complex intersections between environmental factors and violent conflict, with particular focus on how natural resources can either fuel conflicts or serve as pathways to peace. With a Ph.D. from Princeton University, he has conducted extensive fieldwork in conflict zones across South Asia and Africa, contributing to over 150 publications including seven books. His expertise has been recognized through appointments as Vice-President of the Environmental Peacebuilding Association, Senior Fellow at both the International Institute for Sustainable Development in Geneva and the Munk School at the University of Toronto. His work demonstrates that environmental issues are increasingly critical to security, showing that conflicts linked to natural resources are twice as likely to relapse within five years. Matthew's contributions have earned him recognition from the U.S. Congress, California State Legislature, and City of Los Angeles, while his insights have been shared through multiple TEDx talks and as a featured storyteller on The Moth.