1. Faculty of Social Sciences
  2. School of Sociology and Social Policy
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  4. Profile
Dr Simon Prideaux

Dr Simon Prideaux

  • Position: Associate Professor of Sociology and Social Policy
  • Areas of expertise: Social Policy, Disability and Crime
  • Email: S.J.Prideaux@leeds.ac.uk
  • Phone: +44(0)113 343 4423
  • Location: 12.11 Social Sciences Building

Profile

My primary interest is in taking an interdisciplinary approach to Social Policy which incorporates a greater theoretical, historical and geographically holistic approach toward the welfare debates, conflicts and comparisons relating to the decision-making process in the UK and elsewhere.  By doing so, my work is naturally drawn to a critique of policies framed around issues concerning disability, ethnicity, class, poverty and crime (which, inevitably, is a Social Policy concern of its own).

Research interests

The variety and interdisciplinary nature of my research is reflected in my publications and external talks/lectures over the years.  I have written, co-authored and edited four books entitled Crimes of States and Powerful Elites (forthcoming, 2021), State Crime and Immorality: The Corrupting Influence of the Powerful (2016), Understanding Disability Policy (2012) and Not So New Labour: A Sociological Critique of New Labour’s Policy and Practice (2005).  Similarly, I have published in the journals Social Policy & Administration, the Canadian Journal of Sociology, Political Quarterly, Disability & Society and the International Journal of Social Welfare, whilst giving talks and/or keynote speeches to academics, students and local/national government officials alike in Canada (Toronto), the Czech Republic (Olumouc), Finland (Mikkeli), Japan (Osaka and Tokyo), Malta (Saint Julians), Portugal (Braga and Lisbon), Slovakia (Tatranska Lomnica), Taiwan (Chung Cheng, Kaohsiung and Taipei) and the UK (Bath and Lancaster).

<h4>Research projects</h4> <p>Any research projects I'm currently working on will be listed below. Our list of all <a href="https://essl.leeds.ac.uk/dir/research-projects">research projects</a> allows you to view and search the full list of projects in the faculty.</p>

Student education

During my time at Leeds, I have taught/supervised at all levels of undergraduate study in the areas of Sociology, Social Policy, Disability Studies and Crime.  Currently I am the lead convenor and co-creator of the Level 3 module State Crime and Immorality of the Powerful.  Indeed, the forthcoming book named above predominantly contains work produced by students on this module and thus reflects the critical, research-oriented complexion of the module.  At postgraduate level, I have established and taught on modules about Disability Studies, Social Policy and Critical Theory.

Research groups and institutes

  • Centre for Disability Studies
<h4>Postgraduate research opportunities</h4> <p>The school welcomes enquiries from motivated and qualified applicants from all around the world who are interested in PhD study. Our <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk">research opportunities</a> allow you to search for projects and scholarships.</p>