Policy engagement

Alongside research I work with election observation and policy organisations, as an observer on the ground, as an adviser and consultant, and through policy writing and talks.

Roles and assignments

• 2026–Advisory board member, Polaris Electoral Observatory
• 2019–Election observer and statistician, election observation roster, Folke Bernadotte Academy
• 2025Research consultant, International IDEA. Wrote the chapter on trends in electoral violence in 2024 for the Review of the 2024 Super-Cycle Year of Elections
• 2023Short-term election observer, OSCE, seconded by the Folke Bernadotte Academy to Turkey (two election observation missions)
• 2022–2023Research consultant, Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation. Built a database on funding streams to youth-led peacebuilding and on project impacts and outcomes
• 2018–2022Election worker in Swedish elections, Stockholm; district co-chair in the 2022 general election
• 2019Short-term election observer, OSCE, seconded by the Folke Bernadotte Academy to Uzbekistan
• 2014–2015Intern and research assistant, Democracy and Development team, International IDEA

Policy writing

• Olafsdottir, G. (2025). Precarious paths to democracy: Electoral violence and the struggle for democratization. Development Dissertation Brief 2025:03. The Expert Group for Aid Studies (EBA).
• Olafsdottir, G. (2025). Election-related violence. In T. S. James (Ed.), Review of the 2024 super-cycle year of elections: Trends, challenges and opportunities. International IDEA.
• Olafsdottir, G., & Kalin, I. (2025). The peace process and constitutional reforms in Turkey. SUITS Policy Brief 2025:2. Stockholm University Institute for Turkish Studies.
• Hegre, H., Petrova, K., Olafsdottir, G., & Gilmore, E. (2023). Bias in economic models ignores the impact of war in poor nations. PRIO Blogs.
• Olafsdottir, G. (2020). Promoting women’s rights: Creating conditions for post-conflict peace? WIIS Policy Brief, Women In International Security. Honourable mention, 1325 and Beyond essay contest.

Talks and outreach

• 2025Presentation, “Conflict, Democracy, and Peace: Exploring What Works”, seminar organised by the Expert Group for Aid Studies (EBA), Stockholm
• 2024Invited talk, internal workshop for the Electoral Processes team, International IDEA, Stockholm
• 2024Invited talk, research seminar, Swedish Institute of International Affairs, Stockholm
• 2024Invited talk for a visiting delegation from the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Uppsala
• 2020Invited panellist, “1325 and Beyond: New Perspectives for the Next Decade”, Women In International Security and Heinrich Böll Stiftung (online)