Political Science

Main research areas

• European Union
• EU economic, social, ecological, conflict, and democracy policies
• British, Danish, and Swedish relations with the European Union
• Critical Social Theory
• Planetary Politics

Main teaching areas

• Masters in European Affairs
• EU in planetary politics
• British, Danish, and Swedish relations with the EU
• International Relations
• Research Methods
• Active Learning

Current research and teaching

My research is on the European Union’s normative power in planetary politics, examining the symbioses between planetary economy, society, ecology, conflict, and polity. In planetary economy I research EU freedom and social solidarity with a current focus on EU economic prosperity and competitiveness. In planetary society I research EU human rights and equality with a current focus on EU social fairness. In planetary ecology I research EU sustainable development and climate change with a current focus on EU sustainability and climate adaptation. In planetary conflict I research EU sustainable peace and rule of law with a current focus on the preparedness union strategy. In planetary polity I research EU democracy and good governance with a current focus on EU protecting democracy. My research methods focus on the interlocking symbioses between these policies.

I have 30 years of research experience on the European Union's relations with Britain, Denmark, and Sweden. My research currently focuses on EU SDG Agenda 2030 and EU Enlargement 2030, as well as projects marking the twentieth anniversary of the normative power approach, including a forum on the ‘Arrival of Normative Power in Planetary Politics’ and a special issue on ‘Normative Power in the Planetary Organic Crisis’.

My Active Learning pedagogy uses research to inform courses on the Masters in European Affairs, international relations, and research methods. I teach courses on 'European Governance', ‘Europe in Global Affairs’, 'Everyday Europe', ‘International Relations’, ‘Political Cinéma’, and 'Active Learning in Social Science'. I am an advocate of the student-centred pedagogy of Active Learning. I run workshops and courses on Active Learning and incorporate its pedagogy into my teaching.