- School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies,
University of Bristol
11, Priory Road
BS8 1TU
Bristol
UK - +44 0117 9288829
- International Relations, Politics, European Studies, European Politics, Nationalism And State Building, European Foreign Policy, and 16 moreSecurity sector Reform, Europeanisation, European Union, Peacebuilding, Western Balkans, European Union Politics, Bosnia, Enlargement and Integration in the EU, EU Enlargement, ESDP/ CFSP, EU CFSP & CSDP, Governance, Accountability, Political Science, Human Rights, and EU External Actionedit
- Personal profile Research Fellow, European Foreign and Security Policy Studies Programme (2006-2007); Teaching Fello... morePersonal profile
Research Fellow, European Foreign and Security Policy Studies Programme (2006-2007); Teaching Fellow at Loughborough University (2007-2008); Post-doctoral Research Fellow at University of Bath (2007-2009); Lecturer at Bristol from 2009.
Research
My primary research interest lies in European foreign and security policy. In particular, my doctoral research analysed the European Union's activities in Bosnia (1991-2006). Drawing on historical institutionalism, the thesis used the empirical data to explore how the development of institutions affected the coherence and effectiveness of EU foreign policy over time. I am also interested in EU enlargement and the Europeanisation of the Western Balkans, security sector reform and organised crime. In other projects, I have explored international socialisation and learning processes within EU institutions, with particular reference to European foreign policy.
Teaching
My teaching interests are in Europeanisation, European foreign policy and international human rights. My teaching is research-led, but it is also designed to stimulate students' critical abilities and confidence. I am committed to facilitating student participation through the use of a wide range of teaching methods, including seminar discussions, group work, presentations, role-play and simulation exercises. I also rely on new technologies, such as virtual learning environments (Blackboard), powerpoint presentations, films, documentaries and other audiovisual resources. I am currently teaching:
POLI11103: Comparative Government and Politics
POLI31562: The EU in the World
M3030: International Human RightS
M3028: Europeanisationedit
This book represents the first ever comprehensive study of the EU’s foreign and security policy in Bosnia. Drawing on a wealth of fresh empirical material, it demonstrates that institutions are a key variable in explaining levels of... more
This book represents the first ever comprehensive study of the EU’s foreign and security policy in Bosnia. Drawing on a wealth of fresh empirical material, it demonstrates that institutions are a key variable in explaining levels of common foreign security policy (CFSP) coherence and effectiveness over time. In doing so, it also sheds new light on the role that intergovernmental, bureaucratic and local political contestation have played in the formulation and implementation of a European foreign policy. The study concludes that the EU’s involvement in Bosnia has not only had a significant impact on this Balkan country in its path from stabilisation to integration, but has also transformed the EU, its foreign and security policy and shaped the development of the EU’s international identity along the way. The book will be of great interest to researchers and students of EU politics, International Relations and Bosnian politics.
Research Interests:
Taken together, some recent events represent a watershed in the global geopolitical landscape. The strategic repositioning of the US towards the Indo-Pacific, NATO's withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Russian invasion of Ukraine... more
Taken together, some recent events represent a watershed in the global geopolitical landscape. The strategic repositioning of the US towards the Indo-Pacific, NATO's withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Russian invasion of Ukraine highlight the need for EU member states to invest more and better in the defence sector. Industrial cooperation between national champions is pivotal to reduce unnecessary duplications and foster interoperability. The naval defence sector is among those suffering particularly from market fragmentation, although there have been important examples of collaboration thanks to the Permanent Structured Cooperation and European Defence Fund. In view of further cooperation, the European Patrol Corvette, or Modular and Multirole Patrol Corvette, represents a first attempt of EU-level defence cooperation at large scale in the naval sector. The success of this project would set an important precedent in the realisation of the defence goals set by the EU in the Strategic Compass.
Research Interests:
This article examines the rise of resilience discourses in EU foreign policy. The European Union Global Strategy (EUGS) refers to building state and societal resilience in its neighbourhood as one of the key strategic priorities of the... more
This article examines the rise of resilience discourses in EU foreign
policy. The European Union Global Strategy (EUGS) refers to
building state and societal resilience in its neighbourhood as one
of the key strategic priorities of the EU. This article argues that the
discourse of resilience that permeates the EUGS chimes well with
a pragmatist turn in social sciences and global governance. The
EUGS introduces resilience-building alongside an emphasis on
flexibility, tailor-made approaches and the need for local
ownership, capacity-building and comprehensiveness. More
importantly, the new EUGS proposes “principled pragmatism” as a
new operating principle in its foreign policy. While this might
suggest a more pragmatic EU foreign policy, a closer examination
of the EUGS discourse reveals significant tensions between a
pragmatic and a principled foreign policy, which undermine the
added value of resilience-building as a new foreign policy paradigm.
policy. The European Union Global Strategy (EUGS) refers to
building state and societal resilience in its neighbourhood as one
of the key strategic priorities of the EU. This article argues that the
discourse of resilience that permeates the EUGS chimes well with
a pragmatist turn in social sciences and global governance. The
EUGS introduces resilience-building alongside an emphasis on
flexibility, tailor-made approaches and the need for local
ownership, capacity-building and comprehensiveness. More
importantly, the new EUGS proposes “principled pragmatism” as a
new operating principle in its foreign policy. While this might
suggest a more pragmatic EU foreign policy, a closer examination
of the EUGS discourse reveals significant tensions between a
pragmatic and a principled foreign policy, which undermine the
added value of resilience-building as a new foreign policy paradigm.
Research Interests:
"The establishment of the European External Action Service (EEAS) by the Lisbon Treaty was preceded by time-consuming negotiations about the composition, organization, budget and accountability of the service. In spite of the negative... more
"The establishment of the European External Action Service (EEAS)
by the Lisbon Treaty was preceded by time-consuming negotiations about the composition, organization, budget and accountability of the service. In spite of the negative views among EEAS officials concerning the actual implementation of the reforms, they displayed a surprisingly positive attitude towards the new organization and identified strongly with it. This contribution aims to explain this empirical puzzle by drawing on two different approaches to attitude formation: one based on material calculations and another one on socio-psychological factors. It shows that a narrow understanding of rationality based on short-term career-related calculations cannot account for the support that the EEAS garnered among its ranks since a majority of officials reported a negative impact in terms of careers prospects. An explanation of positive attitudes towards the EEAS thus needs to take into account a broader conception of ‘career prospects’, including other indicators such as reputation and job satisfaction. Moreover, this contribution shows how a strong identification with the European Union (EU) and a desire to make EU foreign policy work might also explain why officials profess strong support for the EEAS."
by the Lisbon Treaty was preceded by time-consuming negotiations about the composition, organization, budget and accountability of the service. In spite of the negative views among EEAS officials concerning the actual implementation of the reforms, they displayed a surprisingly positive attitude towards the new organization and identified strongly with it. This contribution aims to explain this empirical puzzle by drawing on two different approaches to attitude formation: one based on material calculations and another one on socio-psychological factors. It shows that a narrow understanding of rationality based on short-term career-related calculations cannot account for the support that the EEAS garnered among its ranks since a majority of officials reported a negative impact in terms of careers prospects. An explanation of positive attitudes towards the EEAS thus needs to take into account a broader conception of ‘career prospects’, including other indicators such as reputation and job satisfaction. Moreover, this contribution shows how a strong identification with the European Union (EU) and a desire to make EU foreign policy work might also explain why officials profess strong support for the EEAS."