Research in the Department of Politics

Are you interested in doing research in politics at Goldsmiths? If so, then you need to know what we do and what is distinctive about us.

Our research at Goldsmiths includes but extends beyond the traditional boundaries of the discipline of Politics. As well as providing a solid coverage of regular fields such as International Politics, European Politics, British Politics, Political Economy and Political Theory, we have strong interests in topics outside the normal parameters of political research found at other universities. We undertake and supervise studies in post-colonial politics and theory – particularly South Asia, China and Africa – and also on the relationship between art and politics. In terms of methodology, we are interested in empirical analysis and data collection, textual and discourse analyses, ‘hermeneutic’ and philosophical enquiry, and the examination of historical and contemporary aspects of cultures and societies.

This wide range of interests and approaches sets us apart from traditional Political Science departments. Our staff have received awards from the ESRC, the AHRC and the British Academy, and actively run various research organisations within the Department and the College. These include the Centre for Post-Colonial Studies, the Centre for the Study of Global Media and Democracy, and the Research Units in Governance and Democracy, and Politics and Ethics. All staff members are actively involved in research and have produced a variety of publications in their fields. We also have a growing community of full and part-time PhD students, some of them funded by ORS, AHRC or Departmental Scholarships.

If you are looking to undertake research in areas that we share, then contact a member of staff who might be interested in your research (see our Staff pages) or get in touch with the Director of Postgraduate Studies for Politics, James Martin.