Research at the School of Politics and International Relations
The dedicated team at the School consistently delivers groundbreaking research in Political Science and International Relations, setting a high standard for scholarly work in these crucial areas. Their commitment to rigorous scholarship and innovative thinking makes them respected in the academic community.
The School of Politics and International Relations dedicates itself to producing impactful research that addresses critical political science and international relations issues. Our research revolves around the following key areas:
Foreign Relations of Southeast Asia
Politics and International Relations primarily analyses Southeast Asia's foreign relations and geopolitics. The focus areas include studying Southeast Asia's position within the strategic dynamics of the Indo-Pacific, evaluating ASEAN's role as a key player in regional geopolitics, and examining the foreign policies of individual Southeast Asian states, with a focus on Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Myanmar.
The Politics of Southeast Asia
The School also has expertise in studying domestic politics in Southeast Asia, regionally and within individual ASEAN member states. This research explores how ASEAN tackles region-specific matters and analyses the political dynamics within individual member states through various lenses, including comparative politics, political economy, public policy, federalism, subnational politics, party institutionalisation, regional governance, and decentralisation.
Infrastructure Politics
This research area focuses on the growing field of infrastructure financing, which has become a global strategic priority since the advent of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). With the emergence of competing initiatives like the G7's 'Build Back Better' initiative and the European Union's 'Global Gateway,' our research assesses the economic statecraft and geopolitical considerations of these diverse infrastructure endeavours.
The research conducted at the School of Politics and International Relations goes beyond theoretical exploration. It actively engages with real-world challenges and contributes to policy debates. Our faculty is involved in innovative research addressing pressing political science and international relations issues:
Dr Jason Pandya-Wood's monograph, "The Kindness Fix: How and Why We Must Build a More Compassionate Society" (Policy Press, 2024), calls for compassionate systems leadership in social welfare.
Dr Benjamin Barton's monograph, "The Doraleh Disputes: Infrastructure Politics in the Global South" (Palgrave Macmillan, 2022), examines the geopolitical impact of China's Belt and Road Initiative.
Dr Karma Tashi Choedron's British Council International Programme Fund grant for the project "Enhancement of Manufacturing and Oil Palm Third-Party Audit Compliance with Certification Bodies and Industry in Malaysia."