I joined York St John as a Lecturer in International Relations in 2019 having previously worked as a Research Fellow at the University of Leeds and as a Teaching Fellow at the University of Southampton. I was awarded my PhD in 2018 by the University of Sheffield for a thesis examining the theoretical foundations of common humanity and its motivational influence on the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) principle. I also hold an MA and BA (Hons) in International Relations, both from the University of Leeds.
My research works at the intersection between the disciplines of International Relations and Political Theory in order to interrogate and assess the normative and practical issues surrounding global collective action in response to insecurities caused by mass atrocity crimes, climate change, and global pandemics.
My teaching philosophy is built around the encouragement of students to think critically and engage in reflexive practices, which I believe to be essential in helping to facilitate active and engaged participation in lectures and seminars. I have experience in the development, design and delivery of teaching in International Relations at both postgraduate and undergraduate levels and am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
I convene the following modules:
- POL4008M Understanding World Politics
- IRL4003M International Security
- POL5014M International Relations: Theory and Practice
- POL6008M Global Governance
- IRL6001M The Politics of Global Health
- IRL 7002M New Security Challenges in a Multi-Polar World
My research mainly focuses on the complex interaction between politics, morality and law at the global level, with particular emphasis on the UN Security Council and international peace and security. I am passionate about exploring both the normative and practical challenges of motivating international collective action, in specific regard to issues such as humanitarian intervention, human rights protection, climate change and global pandemics.
My previous research has included working as part of a British Academy funded project to explore the UK's role and reputation as a permanent member of the UN Security Council after the decision to leave the European Union. The project built on an interdisciplinary approach to explore how the UK's status and diplomacy as a permanent member is perceived by other members of the UN Security Council. This research fed into broader debates concerning the UK's role in peacekeeping, international development and international security, following the decision to leave the EU.
For my latest research, I am exploring the UN Security Council's response to new and emerging security threats linked to climate change and global pandemics. I examine in particular the rise of informal practices to specifically address these new security challenges in order to spotlight both the current limitations and constraints of the Security Council's formal rules and practices, whilst also highlighting the creative ways in which states have already begun to adapt practices in more informal settings to try and alleviate these constraints.
Research interests:
- Mass atrocity prevention
- The politics of humanity
- UN Security Council
- International peace and security
- Intervention and peacekeeping
- Global governance
- UK foreign policy
- International relations theory
- Security and climate change
- Global health
Media coverage of research
“Brexit causing ‘palpable decline’ in UK influence at the UN”, article in The Guardian on ‘Global Britain in the United Nations’ report.
“Brexit weakens Britain’s influence at the UN”, article in The Economist drawing on ‘Global Britain in the United Nations’ report.
“Brexit already weakening UK’s global influence, says study”, article in The Hindustan Times on ‘Global Britain in the United Nations’ report
Recent publications
I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a convenor of the BISA Peacekeeping, Peacebuilding and Human Rights working group.
I am also a member of the European Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (ECR2P), Academic Council of the United Nations System, International Studies Association, British International Studies Association, European International Studies Association.
I have provided commentary and analysis for media outlets such as Politico, The i paper, Mediapart (France) and Times Radio Breakfast show.
In addition, I have also acted as a peer reviewer for publishers such as Oxford University Press, Palgrave Macmillan, Routledge and Edward Elgar Publishing.
