[4] She writes about war and peace, peacebuilding, peacekeeping, humanitarian aid, the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and African politics.

Autesserre is the Ann Whitney Olin Professor and Chair of Political Science at Barnard College, Columbia University (New York, US), where she specializes in international relations and African studies.

[5][6][7] Autesserre's early research culminated in her first book, The Trouble with the Congo: Local Violence and the Failure of International Peacebuilding published in 2010.

[8] Drawing on interviews and field research, Autesserre presents a case study of the international intervention during the Democratic Republic of Congo's unsuccessful transition from war to peace and democracy (2003–06) where she argues that local rivalries over land, resources, and political power motivated widespread violence.

[12] She demonstrates that everyday elements – such as expatriates’ social habits and common approaches to understanding their areas of operation – strongly influence peacebuilding effectiveness.

[14] Autesserre's third book, The Frontlines of Peace: An Insider's Guide to Changing the World,[15] was released by Oxford University Press in 2021[16] and translated in French and Japanese in 2023.

[33] Her publications on peacebuilding have helped shape intervention strategies for several United Nations departments,[34][35] philanthropists,[36] activists,[37] and non-governmental organizations.

[21][38] She has testified before the U.S. Congress[39] and the United Nations Security Council,[40] and her research has been quoted in debates at the U.S. House of Representatives[41] and the Canadian Parliament.