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, linked here.
Political Theory | |
| Political Theory | Assoc Prof Vicki Spencer |
| Feminist Theory | Assoc Prof Vicki Spencer |
| Postcolonial Theory | Dr Lena Tan |
| Ethics and International Relations | Prof Philip Nel, Assoc Prof James Headley |
| History of Ideas | Assoc Prof Vicki Spencer |
| Marxism | Assoc Prof Brian Roper |
| Nationalism and national identity | Assoc Prof James Headley |
| Political economy of inequality | Prof Philip Nel |
| Social Inequality | Assoc Prof Brian Roper |
| History and theories of democracy | Assoc Prof Brian Roper. Assoc Prof Vicki Spencer |
| Theories of Justice | Assoc Prof Vicki Spencer |
| Recognition Theory | Assoc Prof Vicki Spencer |
| Toleration, culture and identity | Assoc Prof Vicki Spencer |
| Theories of power and liberty | Assoc Prof Vicki Spencer |
New Zealand Politics | |
| New Zealand Politics | Prof Janine Hayward, Assoc Prof Brian Roper |
| Environmental Politics | Prof Janine Hayward |
| Treaty of Waitangi | Prof Janine Hayward |
| Electoral systems and reforms | Prof Janine Hayward |
| Local Government | Prof Janine Hayward |
| Constitutional Politics | Prof Janine Hayward |
International Relations | |
| International Relations Theory | Assoc Prof James Headley, Assoc Prof Nicholas Khoo, Dr Lena Tan, Prof Robert Patman |
| Identity and Constructivisim | Dr Lena Tan, Assoc Prof James Headley |
| The European Union | Assoc Prof James Headley |
| China's Foreign and Security Policy | Assoc Prof Nicholas Khoo |
| International Relations of Asia | Assoc Prof Nicholas Khoo |
| Middle East international politics | Dr Leon Goldsmith |
| Foreign policies of emerging powers | Prof Philip Nel, Dr Lena Tan |
| Global Security | Prof Robert Patman, Dr Lena Tan |
| US Foreign and Security Policy | Prof Robert Patman |
| Russia's Foreign and Security Policy | Assoc Prof James Headley, Prof Robert Patman |
| Globalization and Conflict | Prof 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 | Assoc Prof James Headley |
| The European Union | Assoc Prof James Headley |
| Great powers and the Horn of Africa | Prof Robert Patman |
| Corruption, politics, and development | Prof Philip Nel |
| Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict | Assoc Prof 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
Postgraduate research and theses
Please see our postgraduate student profiles page
