Department of Politics, International Relations and Human Rights research
The department is committed to advancing the study and practice of politics, international relations and human rights both in academia and in public policy. All staff members are well-established academics in their fields, engaged in an array of high-profile activities, with strong national and international profiles.
We hold research seminars and events throughout the academic year to discuss the work of visiting researchers, practitioners, and leading academics in the fields of politics, international relations and human rights. Together with our Centre for Human Rights, Solidarity and Practice we also run an annual Human Rights Festival. Leading activists, practitioners and academics join students and staff for a week-long festival. The festival is also open to the wider public. In 2021 the festival was held in partnership with the University of North Carolina Charlotte, US.
The department hosts a thriving community of PGR students who research a wide range of topics and collaborate closely with members of staff in the organisation of workshops, conferences and public events.
Areas of research strength
Particular areas of research strength are:
- Human rights and social justice
- Conflict and security
- Nationalism and identity
- Food politics
- Migration and refugees
- Populism
- Environmental politics
- Legacies of colonialism
- Neo-liberalism
- Party activism
- Protest and social movements
- Human Rights, Society and Justice Research Group
- Migration and Nationalism Research Group
- Power, Conflict and In/Securities Group
- Political Economy Research Group (PERG)
- Religion, Public Institutions and Culture Research Group
Our research has a wide geographical scope. Besides the UK, we cover Europe (particular Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Italy), the Middle East, East Asia, North America, Latin America and South Africa. Over recent years we have made significant efforts to diversify and decolonise our research agenda challenging, for instance, eurocentric approaches to the study of East Asia; working on legacies of colonialism and slavery; and questioning political theory's whiteness. The department's research is carried out under the umbrella of the Centre for Research on Communities, Identities and Difference (CResCID) and organised around the following cross-departmental research groups:
Publications
You can find out more about our staff research interests and their recent publications by visiting their individual profiles.
How to apply
Before you apply, consider whether a research degree is right for you: find out about the research degrees we offer and see which one works best for you; investigate the research happening now across Kingston; check if we have expertise in your research area and consider who you would like to work with as your supervisor.
Feel free to contact individual members of staff in the department for advice on the process or to discuss your proposed project.
To apply, please ensure you select the exact qualification, start date and mode of attendance which can be found here.
