School of Politics and International Studies - Research and Expertise

Our research

We have set out a ten year plan to investigate and understand the politics of global challenges.

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Research centres

Our centres of excellence facilitate global collaborations, interdisciplinarity and impact.

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Impact and engagement

We collaborate with a wide range of partners to produce policy-relevant, impactful research.

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Interdisciplinarity

World-leading interdisciplinary activity forms a cornerstone of our identity and is integral to our research mission.

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The Politics of Global Challenges

Our intellectual focus is on the politics of global challenges: the inherently political processes through which global challenges are created, understood, and mediated by the exercise and contestation of power in its various forms. It is through this lens that the School of Politics and International Studies and our six Research Centres pursue our respective research agendas. We promote rigorous social scientific inquiry at the heart of interdisciplinary engagements, coordinating closely with societal stakeholders at every stage of the research cycle. Our research environment thus acts as a hub to coordinate activities across the School, University and beyond.

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A world map image representing the global, collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of the research carried out in the School of Politics and International Studies Research centres

Research centres

Our research activity in our core areas of expertise is driven by six interconnected centres of excellence.

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Research impact

We collaborate with a wide range of partners to produce outstanding, policy-relevant research.

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Postgraduate Virtual Open Days Intellectual leadership

Intellectual leadership

Our research contributes significantly to both the sustainability and enhancement of the wider discipline through our intellectual leadership.

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Interdisciplinarity

We have embedded interdisciplinarity in our everyday practice by establishing our research centres as hubs that develop new interdisciplinary networks beyond the social sciences.

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Our research environment

We are committed to retaining and growing a diverse and inclusive research community which integrates academic staff, post-doctoral researchers, and doctoral researchers.

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Our experts

The school brings together academics from across political, international relations, and development disciplines. Our expertise covers all the main regions of the world.

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Research projects

Find out more about research projects past and present within the School of Politics and International Studies.

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Research degrees

Join our postgraduate research community and pursue your passion with the support of our expert academics.

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News and events

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POLIS academics publish new article on EU health response to Covid-19

Dr Markus Fraundorfer and Dr Neil Winn have published an article on the…

Tuesday 16 November 2021

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Dr Jack Holland gives evidence in Parliament

The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee invited Dr Holland as…

Monday 15 November 2021

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INTER.PARES launches new online course designed by Professor Cristina Leston-Bandeira

INTER.PARES, a global project funded by the EU to strengthen the capacity of…

Tuesday 26 October 2021

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Dr Owain Williams co-authors Telegraph article on lessons learnt from Covid

Dr Owain Williams, Lecturer in Political Science and International Relations,…

Friday 17 September 2021

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Centre for Contemporary Political Theory Seminar Series: Dr James Souter

The Centre for Contemporary Political Theory welcomes Dr James Souter (University of Leeds) for the launch of new book 'Asylum as Reparation: Refuge and Responsibility for the Harms of Displacement.'

Wednesday 8 December 2021, 15:30 - 17:00

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Decolonising gender in peacebuilding and development projects

The Centre for Global Development hosts the third and final seminar in its series on decolonisation and development this semester.

Thursday 9 December 2021, 14:00

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Centre for Contemporary Political Theory Workshop: Theorising Solidarity

The Centre for Contemporary Political Theory is pleased to offer a workshop on Theorising Solidarity.

Friday 11 February 2022, 9:30 - 17:00

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Centre for Contemporary Political Theory Seminar Series: Garrett Brown

The Centre for Contemporary Political Theory welcomes Dr Garrett Brown (University of Leeds).

Wednesday 23 February 2022, 15:30 - 17:00

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