Department of Politics Our People, Department of Politics, University of Otago, New Zealand

The Department of Politics is a vibrant community of experts from many different countries who take students and students’ interests seriously. Our staff are all experts in their fields, and all are actively engaged in research which enriches their teaching.

Politics staff will respond to emails only during business hours Monday-Friday.

For a complete listing of staff phone and email contacts please visit the University of Otago phone book.

Head of Department

Professor Janine Hayward
New Zealand politics, Treaty of Waitangi, environmental politics, local government, electoral systems and reform, constitutional politics

Academic staff

	Professor Lisa Ellis Political Theory PhPE Director
	Professor William Harris Politics and history of the Levant states and Turkey, Middle East comparative and international politics Student Exchange Advisor Course Advisor Research Ethics Advisor
	Associate Professor James Headley Russian foreign policy, the European Union, nationalism and ethnic conflict, International Relations theory 100-level student Advisor MPols Convenor (2019) Course Advisor
	Associate Professor Nicholas Khoo On Research and Study leave from 9 July 2018 to 30 June 2019. China's foreign and security policy, international relations of Asia, International Relations theory, strategic studies, Cold War history
	Professor Philip Nel The political economy of inequality, corruption and development, foreign policies of emerging powers, ethics and international relations PhD Coordinator
	Professor Robert Patman US foreign policy, international relations, global security, great powers and the Horn of Africa MIntSt Director
	Associate Professor Brian Roper New Zealand politics, political economy, social inequality, gender and feminism, Marxism, history and theories of democracy MA Coordinator
	Dr Chris Rudd Politics of the media PPE Representative
	Associate Professor Vicki Spencer Contemporary political theory, multiculturalism, toleration, the politics of recognition, humility, comparative political theory, feminist theory, History of Ideas including J. G. Herder, the Enlightenment, John Locke. MPols Convenor (2018)
	Dr Lena Tan On Research and Study leave from 2 July 2018 to 3 January 2019. Postcolonialism, International Relations theory, constructivism, identity, Indonesia, US foreign policy