Research expertise
All of our staff are active researchers across a broad range of topics in Politics.
The Expertise Database is also an excellent resource if you are looking for specific areas of knowledge. It is particularly focused on (1) assisting prospective graduate research students to find appropriate supervisors and (2) serving the needs of print or broadcast media professionals seeking stories, comment, interviews, or background.
Please note that the list below is not comprehensive; more information on each staff member's research interests and a list of their publications can be found on their individual profile pages.
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Political Theory
| Political Theory | Associate Professor Vicki Spencer Dr David Jenkins |
| Feminist Theory | Associate Professor Vicki Spencer |
| Postcolonial Theory | Dr Lena Tan |
| Ethics and International Relations | Professor Philip Nel Associate Professor James Headley |
| History of Ideas | Associate Professor Vicki Spencer |
| Marxism | Associate Professor Brian Roper |
| Nationalism and national identity | Associate Professor James Headley |
| Political economy of inequality | Professor Philip Nel |
| Social Inequality | Associate Professor Brian Roper |
| History and theories of democracy | Associate Professor Brian Roper Associate Professor Vicki Spencer |
| Theories of Justice | Associate Professor Vicki Spencer |
| Recognition Theory | Associate Professor Vicki Spencer |
| Toleration, culture and identity | Associate Professor Vicki Spencer |
| Theories of power and liberty | Associate Professor Vicki Spencer |
New Zealand Politics
| New Zealand Politics | Professor Janine Hayward Associate Professor Brian Roper |
| Environmental Politics | Professor Janine Hayward |
| Treaty of Waitangi | Professor Janine Hayward |
| Electoral systems and reforms | Professor Janine Hayward |
| Local Government | Professor Janine Hayward |
| Constitutional Politics | Professor Janine Hayward |
International Relations
| International Relations Theory | Associate Professor James Headley Associate Professor Nicholas Khoo Dr Lena Tan Professor Robert Patman |
| Identity and Constructivisim | Dr Lena Tan, Associate Professor James Headley |
| The European Union | Associate Professor James Headley |
| China's Foreign and Security Policy | Associate Professor Nicholas Khoo |
| International Relations of Asia | Associate Professor Nicholas Khoo |
| Middle East international politics | Dr Leon Goldsmith |
| Foreign policies of emerging powers | Professor Philip Nel Dr Lena Tan |
| Global Security | Professor Robert Patman Dr Lena Tan |
| US Foreign and Security Policy | Professor Robert Patman |
| Russia's Foreign and Security Policy | Associate Professor James Headley Professor Robert Patman |
| Globalization and Conflict | Professor Robert Patman |
| Critical Approaches to International Relations | Dr Lena Tan |
| Postcolonial and Decolonial approaches to IR | Dr Lena Tan |
Comparative Politics / Area Studies
| Middle East | Dr Leon Goldsmith |
| Indonesia | Dr Lena Tan |
| Russia, Central/Eastern Europe and the Balkans | Associate Professor James Headley |
| The European Union | Associate Professor James Headley |
| Great powers and the Horn of Africa | Professor Robert Patman |
| Corruption, politics, and development | Professor Philip Nel |
| Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict | Associate Professor James Headley |
| Politics of the Media | Dr Chris Rudd |
Politics programme staff publications
Below is a list of just some of the books published by Politics programme staff:
Books published by Politics staff (PDF)
More information about each staff member's publications can be found on their profile page:
Our people in the Politics programme
