Research
Our research is focused around three broad themes:
- One central theme, for both the field and the School, has always been how we should understand and think about conflict, peace and security. At St Andrews, this includes research on political violence and terrorism, international security, conflict between (and within) state and non-state actors, institutional responses to conflict, post-war reconstruction, normative theories of war and peace, human rights, regional tensions, the social construction of conflict, and the political economy of peace and violence.
- A second central theme has been how we should understand the evolving character of global and supra-national institutions. This encompasses work on formal international institutions (eg. the UN, regional associations), on regimes (environment, non-proliferation, on ideas about and practices of global order (the rise of great powers, the possibilities of global constitutionalism and global justice), and the interface between international relations and international law.
- A third theme is the interpenetration of civil societies and international relations, encompassing work on religion and politics, debates around trauma and memorialisation, work on the ways in which ‘hidden actors’ are represented and understood in international relations (eg. children), ideas and practices revolving around human rights politics, and the politics of resistance in the global south.
In addition we have major strengths in area studies which help to ground our research into these broad thematic areas. Some of this activity is carried out under the umbrella of our various research centres, some within other collaborative contexts both within and outside the university, and some by individual researchers
Research Centres
Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPCS)
The Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies was established in 2005. It aims to establish and maintain a forum committed to advancing critical theoretical, conceptual and empirical understandings of the development of responses to conflict and the construction of peace, in particular the relationship between conflict and forms of peace.
Centre for Study of Terrorism and Political Violence (CSTPV)
The Centre for Study of Terrorism and Political Violence (CSTPV) was established in 1994. It aims to investigate the roots of political violence, to develop a body of theory spanning its various disparate elements, and to study the impact of violence, and responses to it, at societal, governmental, and international levels.
Centre for Russian, Soviet and Central and Eastern European Studies (CRSCEES)
The Centre for Russian, Soviet and Central and Eastern European Studies (CRSCEES) aims to promote the study of Russia, the former Soviet Union, and Central and Eastern Europe by bringing together staff and students from different academic disciplines with interests in this field.
Centre for Global Constitutionalism (CGC)
The Centre for Global Constitutionalism (CGC) provides an institutional home for the exploration of rights, rules and responsibilities at the global level. The Centre aims to provide conceptual clarity on the idea of global constitutionalism and to ameliorate conflicts at the global level that arise from confusing conceptions of rights, rules and responsibilities.
Centre for the Study of Religion and Politics (CSRP)
The Centre for the Study of Religion & Politics (CSRP) was founded in November 2004 by a group of academics attached to the Schools of Divinity, International Relations, Modern Languages, and Philosophical and Anthropological Studies within the University of St. Andrews. Dr Mario I. Aguilar, Reader in Divinity, is the current director and CSRP is located within St. Mary's College and the School of Divinity.
Institute of Middle East, Central Asia and Caucasus Studies (MECACS)
The Institute of Middle East, Central Asia and Caucasus Studies (MECACS) aims to stimulate interdisciplinary discourse, research and teaching on this geographic area by providing venues to bring together specialists and scholars in the field across the University of St. Andrews' diverse schools and disciplines, especially in the partner Schools of International Relations and History.
Centre for Syrian Studies
The Centre for Syrian Studies aims to foster scholarship and dialogue about Syria and exchanges between Syrian and British scholars and others. It will undertake research on contemporary Syria, specifically, on economic and political reform in Syria and on security and foreign policy issues concerning Syria.
The Centre is a unit of MECACS, a part of, and under the authority of, the University of St. Andrews. The activities of the Centre include sponsoring of fellows and research, a speakers series, an annual conference of workshop and publications.
