Biography

Robert is a Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations. He teaches on a range of undergraduate units on the Politics and IR undergraduate programme and coordinates Study Skills and Researching Political Analysis. At postgraduate level he co-ordinates External Relations of the European Union.

Robert’s research brings together interests in International Relations, European Studies and Political Theory, with a twin focus on issues of legitimacy and security. His research on legitimacy and international order reflects on questions about the practical application, and normative desirability, of different models of transnational democracy. His research on security is centred on the Reflexive Security agenda emerging in International Relations about managing the risks presented by the contemporary global order.

Research interests

Research Clusters

• Transnational Europe

Discipline Areas

• International Relations
• European Studies
• Political Theory

Current Research Projects

Legitimacy and international order: This project is concerned with the challenges presented by contemporary international institutions for establishing relevant criteria to judge standards of legitimacy. Linked to this project is an article examining whether institutional differences are relevant not only in terms of inhibiting or facilitating the practical realisation of different ideal democratic criteria but also whether they are normatively relevant. Another paper which seeks to map the ways in which the inclusion and exclusion of expert and non-expert voices help to inform understandings of legitimacy in particular policy domains has been accepted for delivery at the forthcoming Political Studies Association (PSA) Annual Conference.

Reflexive Security: This project seeks to contribute to the emerging scholarship within the field of International Relations that uses Ulrich Beck’s ‘World Risk Society’ thesis and its related concepts to better understand insecurity in the contemporary international order. Linked to this project is a conference paper accepted for delivery at Oita University in Japan.