School of Politics and International Studies - Research and Expertise
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.
Research centres
Our research activity in our core areas of expertise is driven by six interconnected centres of excellence.
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We collaborate with a wide range of partners to produce outstanding, policy-relevant research.
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Our research contributes significantly to both the sustainability and enhancement of the wider discipline through our intellectual leadership.
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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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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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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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Find out more about research projects past and present within the School of Politics and International Studies.
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Join our postgraduate research community and pursue your passion with the support of our expert academics.
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BJPIR celebrates rise in impact factor and 25th anniversary
Influential politics and international relations research journal celebrates…
Friday 27 June 2025
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Professor Jan Selby receives Horizon grant for methane project
A €2.5m grant has been awarded to Professor Jan Selby by the European…
Wednesday 25 June 2025
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Scholars establish global research network on economic crime in Africa following workshop hosted at the University of Johannesburg
The joint workshop, titled ‘Global Research Network on Economic Crime in…
Thursday 19 June 2025
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Successful book launch and seminar from visiting scholar
Postdoctoral Fellow from KU Leuven in Belgium launched his new book at the…
Thursday 5 June 2025
More on Successful book launch and seminar from visiting scholarCOP at 30, Paris at 10, Trump at 2: What Future for Climate Multilateralism?
One-day workshop, University of Leeds, UK, Wednesday 2 July 2025
Wednesday 2 July 2025, 09:30 - 17:30
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