Prof. Dr. Dennis Petri | Political Science | Best Researcher Award

Professor in International Relations at Latin American University of Science and Technology, Costa Rica

Dennis Paul Petri, PhD, is a prolific political scientist and international scholar specializing in religious freedom, political advocacy, and Latin American governance. He is currently the International Director of the International Institute for Religious Freedom and serves as Associate Professor and Chair of Humanities at the Latin American University of Science and Technology. With over two decades of professional involvement across academia, policy research, civil society, and international consultancy, Petri has developed a reputation for bridging academic insight with actionable policy guidance. His interdisciplinary expertise and deep regional knowledge have positioned him as a leading voice in global religious freedom discourse.

Profile

Orcid

Education

Dr. Petri earned his PhD in Humanities from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, focusing on the specific vulnerability of religious minorities. He holds a dual master’s degree in Political Science and Comparative Politics (specializing in Latin America) from Sciences Po, Paris, where he also completed his undergraduate studies. His academic formation included advanced training in statistics from Princeton University and political negotiation at Harvard Extension School. His early academic development reflects a tri-continental engagement, encompassing institutions in Europe, Latin America, and the United States.

Experience

Petri’s career spans academia, international NGOs, policy institutes, and editorial leadership. He has served as Regional Manager and Director for various religious freedom advocacy organizations including Open Doors International. In academia, he has held teaching and research appointments at the University of Amsterdam, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, and multiple Latin American institutions. He has also collaborated extensively with governmental and multilateral organizations such as the European Parliament, OECD, and Organization of American States. His consultancy work has covered issues ranging from corruption and civic engagement to conflict mediation and social policy. As a multilingual expert, Petri has operated across diverse cultural contexts, from Central America to Sub-Saharan Africa.

Research Interest

Dr. Petri’s research focuses primarily on religious freedom, vulnerability assessment of minority groups, governance systems, political advocacy, and the intersection of religion with organized crime and public policy. His theoretical frameworks blend political science with human rights and religious studies. He has contributed to key global initiatives such as the Violent Incidents Database and the Global Religious Freedom Index, producing policy-relevant scholarship that informs national and international bodies. His research extends into themes of constitutional analysis, data-driven policy tools, and the socio-political roles of religious actors in authoritarian and democratic contexts alike.

Award

Dennis Petri’s contributions have earned him a range of academic and civic accolades. Among them are the Distinguished Professor Award from the Latin American University of Science and Technology (2022, 2023), the Jack Shand International Travel Award from the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (2023), and decorations such as the Order of Merit from the Department of Meta (Colombia) and the Commander of The Great Order of the Council of Manizales. He has also been the winner of the New Study Program Proposals Contest (2021) for a master’s curriculum in Global Public Affairs, reflecting his innovation in higher education.

Publication

Among Dr. Petri’s over 100 publications, the following seven stand out for their academic relevance and policy impact:

1. Petri, D.P., Wisdom, K.J., & Bainbridge, J.T. (2025). Tracking Religious Freedom Violations with the Violent Incidents Database: A Methodological Approach and Comparative Analysis. Data, 10(5), 72. https://doi.org/10.3390/data10050072 — cited for advancing empirical tools in religious freedom studies.

2. Petri, D.P. & Fox, J. (2025). What do Constitutions say about religious freedom? More than you would think, and less than you would like! Derecho en Sociedad, 19(1), 271–284. https://doi.org/10.63058/des.v19i1.322 — explores constitutional texts across nations.

3. Petri, D.P. & Klocek, J. (2025). External and Internal Threats to the Freedom of Religion or Belief of Indigenous Peoples in Latin America. Religions, 16(2), 209. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16020209 — cited for its focus on indigenous rights.

4. Petri, D.P. (2024). Blocking the Transmission of Faith: Exploring the Relationship between Religious Persecution and Family Disruption. International Journal for Religious Freedom, 17(2), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.59484/BRMQ3698 — investigates familial dimensions of persecution.

5. Petri, D.P. & Glasius, M.E. (2022). Vulnerability and Active Religious Behavior: Christians and Crime Syndicates in Mexico. Human Rights Quarterly, 44(3), 514–536. https://doi.org/10.1353/hrq.2022.0025 — a seminal article on religious life under criminal threat.

6. Petri, D.P. & Boyd-MacMillan, R. (2022). What Persecution To Endure, To Resist, or To Flee? Evangelical Review of Theology, 46(1), 38–50. — reflects on theological and practical responses to repression.

7. Petri, D.P. & Buijs, G.J. (2019). The Societal Relevance of Religious Freedom Research: Notes for Academia, Public Policy and Vulnerable Religious Groups. International Journal for Religious Freedom, 12(1/2), 7–16. — recognized for framing religious freedom as a public good.

Conclusion

Dennis Paul Petri’s trajectory reveals a scholar-practitioner deeply committed to human rights, pluralism, and civic empowerment. With a solid academic foundation, significant cross-sector experience, and impactful research outputs, he has positioned himself as a thought leader in political science and religious freedom. His ongoing work continues to inform policies and practices that support vulnerable communities worldwide, making a compelling case for the importance of interdisciplinary scholarship in tackling global challenges.