Research
The Department of Politics is a leading centre for research in European and British politics and has a growing reputation in the area of international security and intervention. It has a particular focus on international politics and policy, on people and power, as well as on institutions, theories and processes. It is a young and dynamic unit with a strong community of researchers focusing on academic innovation, public engagement and links with practitioners.
Research groups
Research in the Department is organised around three research groups which include two well established research centres:
European Politics
This group includes research on European foreign and security policy, the role of the EU as an international actor, European integration theories, European equality policies and social policy, regionalism studies, area studies, environmental policy and opposition to the EU.
Centre for Research on the European Matrix (CRonEM)
CRonEM operates within the European Politics research group. It was originally established in the early 2000s thanks to University funding to support cross-disciplinary work. Re-launched in 2012, CRonEM is now the focal point for the development of a critical approach to European Studies that moves beyond disciplinary silos.
Government and Opposition
Researches in the Government and Opposition group specialise in electoral behaviour, party politics and party patronage, campaigns and elections, and citizens’ impressions of parties and their leaders. They also research social movements, opposition and resistance, populism and radicalisation, and social media. Their research is grounded in cutting edge theoretical and methodological debates in social/political theory, gender theories and public opinion analysis.
Security and Conflict
The group comprises staff who focus on cross-cutting issues in Security Studies, including humanitarianism, post-conflict reconstruction and peace-building, foreign and defence policy, technological change and intervention, normative theory and intervention and non-state armed groups.
Centre for Research on International Intervention (cii)
Cii operates within the Security and Conflict group. Established with University support and since 2013 a Faculty Research Centre, its main aims are to produce a critique of traditional approaches to security studies by shifting the focus from interveners to the subjects of interventions and promoting a multidisciplinary agenda.
Research seminars and public lecture series
The Department conveys weekly research seminars in which staff and researchers from other universities discuss ongoing research projects. It also organises regular public lectures with high profile speakers including academics, politicians and diplomats to debate pressing, current events.