POLSIS PhD doctoral researchers In 'PhD doctoral researchers' PhD doctoral researchersPOLSIS Doctoral research degreesPolitical Science and International Studies PhD/MPhilPOLSIS staffPhD doctoral researchers Doctoral researchers are integral to the research activities of the department. A research degree is a unique opportunity to develop new skills, develop problem-solving abilities and make a valuable contribution to new knowledge. Some current PhD profiles from across the department Abdiweli Garad DescriptionAbdi Garad is undertaking doctoral research into state-building and interventions using a case study approach and process-tracing method to unstructured interviews. Alejandra Garcia Diaz Villamil DescriptionFeminist Political Transformational Leadership: Evaluating the impact of Bolivian women leaders in advancing the social justice agenda. Alex Brown DescriptionRethinking the GDR Opposition: Reform, Resistance and Revolution in the Other Germany. Alexander Samuel Popowich DescriptionSam Popowich is investigating the role of artificial intelligence in the financial sector through the lens of 'Italian Theory'. Alice Spilman DescriptionAlice joined the ICCS at the University of Birmingham on the MSc Global Cooperation and Security, graduating with a Distinction in 2017. André Vella DescriptionThe Limits of Parliamentary Privilege: Transparency and Accountability Anja Benedikt DescriptionImaginings of Identity: The Construction of National Identity in the Immigrant Integration Discourse in Germany. Bruno de Seixas Carvalho DescriptionBruno de Seixas Carvalho is examining the fantasy of Global Britain: Ontological security, maritime security, and the UK's foreign policy after Brexit. Chiara Cervasio DescriptionThe security dilemma in Sino-Indian Relations Chris Featherstone DescriptionWhy did the US and the UK decide to invade Iraq in 2003? A Comparative Foreign Policy Analysis Darcy Luke DescriptionFrom 'funny money' to 'hard cash': Cash limit reforms to Treasury control of public expenditure in the context of the global crisis of capital in the 1970s D'arcy Ritchie DescriptionD'arcy Ritchie is a doctoral researchers in the Department of Political Science and International Studies. D'arcy is researching the feminist politics of shame. Darren Murphy DescriptionMaking peace with the public: Can public discourses on human needs for security, identity, recognition and equal participation encourage support for peace processes ending intractable conflicts? David J. Zell DescriptionMajor cultural commemorations and the construction of cultural & political identity in the GDR, 1959-1983. Donatella Bonansinga DescriptionThe Role of (In)security in Populist Narratives Edward Affainie DescriptionDoes (Income) Inequality Predict Conflict Between Ethnic and Religious Groups in Africa? Elio Di Muccio DescriptionState management of technological and economic performance in industry: The Ministry of Technology in Britain, 1964-1970 Emanuel Bourges DescriptionEmanuel Bourges holds a BA in History and a Master's in Government and Public Affairs from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Emily Burn DescriptionEmily Burn is undertaking doctoral research on the links between acknowledged political interest, perceptions of politics, and political engagement. Francisco Figueiredo de Souza DescriptionSouth-South Cooperation Hana Mosavie DescriptionResearch exploring the impact gender has during cultural formation due to economic decisions and structures. Henry Price DescriptionMapping neoliberal depolicitisation via the discursive relations of contemporary feminist activism Ivor Bolton DescriptionThe implementation of German heritage policy and the representation of the German Democratic Republic through memorials and museums. Jake Scott DescriptionJake Scott is undertaking doctoral research into the phenomenon of populism and its theoretical relationship to democracy. Jaroslava Barbieri DescriptionJaroslava Barbieri research into Russian foreign policy and post-Soviet affairs to European studies and political philosophy. José Pascal da Rocha DescriptionJosé Pascal da Rocha is investigating the role of mediators in mediated ceasefires in the Sudan negotiations Joseph Ward DescriptionWhy risk a referendum? Reassessing the politics of the referendum in the UK Karma Lama Tamang DescriptionKarma's doctoral research is about ethics of nonviolent political actions. The project seeks to demonstrate how methods of nonviolent politics share similar morally troubling features with violent political methods. Koffi Henry Sawyer DescriptionEnhancing Electoral Democracy in Africa: The Impact of Intergovernmental Organisations in Promoting Credible Elections Marco Guglielmo DescriptionFloating (On) Platforms? European Left Parties and the Digital Revolution. A Gramscian Analysis. Many scholars argue that European Left Parties were facing major ideological and electoral crises during the 2010s. Marlene Schrijnders DescriptionFrom London to Leipzig and back: Goth scenes in the GDR between Endzeit and Revolution. Nicolò Fasola DescriptionNicolò's doctoral research aims at providing a theoretical account of Russia's distinctive approach to war-fighting and its interrelation with the country's self-perception and worldview. Olga Aymerich Franch DescriptionCommunity responses to the return and reintegration of ISIL affiliated families in Iraq. Patrick Vernon DescriptionPatrick is undertaking research on the heteronormative character of mass violence and responses to mass violence Paul Betts DescriptionA critical review of 'evidence-based' policy in British policing. Paul Michael Graystone DescriptionFrom 'Bridge of Cooperation' to Russia's Baltic Bastion: Exploring the Role of State Identity in Contemporary Russian Security Policy in Kaliningrad, 2000-2018. Paul Rogers DescriptionPaul's research focuses on how institutions mediate the capabilities of disabled people when confronted by extreme droughts and floods. Pourya Nabipour DescriptionPourya Nabipour is undertaking doctoral research into the role of national identity in Iran's nuclear policy Shardia Briscoe-Palmer Description(De) Construction of Masculinity and the Discrimination of the 'Other': An analysis into the masculinitie(s) performed by black men in the Caribbean Solomon Bunting Caulker DescriptionSolomon Bunting Caulker is undertaking doctoral research focused on Post-Conflict security sector governance in Sierra Leone: Deficits as Inhibitors of National Development Szymon Parzniewski DescriptionThe role of migrants in building city resilience for emergency response and disaster disk reduction (DRR): a case study of Birmingham (UK) and Sendai (Japan). Thais Bessa DescriptionCan girl brides choose? Discourses on child and early marriage and representations of female agency Umer Karim DescriptionSaudi Foreign Policy William Horncastle DescriptionAn investigation into the relationships between Political Finance Systems and Financial Inequality Yishu Ren DescriptionYishu Ren's research focusses on the impact of foreign investments from emerging economies on the norms of global environmental governance and considers the resulting political affects. Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS) Donatella Bonansinga DescriptionThe Role of (In)security in Populist Narratives Chiara Cervasio DescriptionThe security dilemma in Sino-Indian Relations Sumedh Rao DescriptionTrust and Cooperation as Social Identity in Northern Ireland Alice Spilman DescriptionAlice joined the ICCS at the University of Birmingham on the MSc Global Cooperation and Security, graduating with a Distinction in 2017. More Information: Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS) Institute for German Studies (IGS) Alex Brown DescriptionRethinking the GDR Opposition: Reform, Resistance and Revolution in the Other Germany. Anja Benedikt DescriptionImaginings of Identity: The Construction of National Identity in the Immigrant Integration Discourse in Germany. David J. Zell DescriptionMajor cultural commemorations and the construction of cultural & political identity in the GDR, 1959-1983. Ivor Bolton DescriptionThe implementation of German heritage policy and the representation of the German Democratic Republic through memorials and museums. Marlene Schrijnders DescriptionFrom London to Leipzig and back: Goth scenes in the GDR between Endzeit and Revolution. More information: Institute for German Studies (IGS) Course information: German Studies (Social Sciences) PhD/MPhil Centre for Russian, European and Eurasian Studies (CREES) Paul Michael Graystone DescriptionFrom 'Bridge of Cooperation' to Russia's Baltic Bastion: Exploring the Role of State Identity in Contemporary Russian Security Policy in Kaliningrad, 2000-2018. More information: Centre for Russian, European and Eurasian Studies (CREES) Course information:Russian and East European Studies PhD/MPhil