The School of Politics and International Relations is home to innovative research in numerous exciting subject areas. It ranked 7th overall in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) in 2021, meaning its reseach is considered world leading and internationally excellent. It also ranked 7th for the excellence of its published work and 6th in terms of impact of its reseach.
Research in the School covers three broad themes: Comparative politics, international relations, and political theory. Below you can discover more about the recent research our academics have produced.
In her book ‘Sinews of War and Trade, Shipping and Capitalism in the Arabian Peninsula,’ Prof Laleh Khalili explores the significance of a new ‘maritime silk road’ which begins in China and moves across the Arabian peninsula. The book explores its impact on capitalism as we know it, as well its political implications.
Like most of the staff within the School, her research informs her teaching: “My teaching has drawn from my research and I have taught modules on political violence, struggles over infrastructures, gender, culture, politics of resistance, broad surveys on comparative and international politics of the Middle East, ethics of research, and a range of other subjects.”