Biography

Research Interests

I am interested in the politics of deeply divided societies, particularly the role of post-conflict power-sharing in fostering peace and democracy. My work covers Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Iraq. My work has been published as several monographs (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2015), (Palgrave Macmillan 2012, with David Galbreath), an edited volume (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2013, with Brendan O'Leary) and articles in journals including Cooperation and Conflict, Democratization, Government and Opposition, Ethnopolitics, Irish Studies in International Affairs, Journal of European Integration, Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding, Security Dialogue, and Nationalism and Ethnic Politics.

I am presently working on three research projects that explore the diversity of voices on constitutional change in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland post-Brexit. One project, in collaboration with Professor Jennifer Todd (funded by the Irish Research Council) designs a series of mini deliberative events with women's groups across Northern Ireland and the border region. Two other projects, in collaboration with Professor Jennifer Todd and Dr Dawn Walsh (UCD), funded by the Irish Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, map the diversity of voices on constitutional change to understand who these other groups are, how they approach constitutional debate, and how they would wish to participate in any future process. These research projects draw on focus groups and interviews with groups largely disengaged from constitutional politics (women's groups, ethnic minorities, and youth).

I am also researching the operation of power-sharing democracy in deeply divided, conflict-affected states (mostly Northern Ireland but also Bosnia, North Macedonia and Iraq). With Professor Allison McCulloch (Brandon University, Canada), I am working on an analysis of the life-cycle of power-sharing systems.

Research Overview

• Ethnic Conflict and Peace Processes
• The role of International Organisations in Post-Conflict Peace-Building
• Power-Sharing in Deeply Divided Places
• Minority Rights in Europe

Current Research

I am presently working on three research projects that explore the diversity of voices on constitutional change in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland post-Brexit. One project, in collaboration with Professor Jennifer Todd (funded by the Irish Research Council) designs a series of mini deliberative events with women's groups in local settings across Northern Ireland and the border region. Two other projects, in collaboration with Professor Jennifer Todd and Dr Dawn Walsh (UCD), funded by the Irish Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, map the diversity of voices on constitutional change to understand who these other groups are, how they approach the emerging constitutional debate, and how they would wish to participate in any future deliberative process. The latter two research projects draw on focus groups and interviews with groups largely disengaged from mainstream constitutional politics (women's groups, ethnic minorities, and youth).

I was previously Co-Investigator (with Dr Allison McCulloch, Brandon University, Canada) on an Insight Development Grant funded by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada (2017-2019). The project investigated the normative and instrumental reasons why third-party mediators turn to power-sharing strategies during peace negotiations. We published our findings as  journal articles in Cooperation and Conflict and the Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding, as well as policy papers and conference presentations.

Funding and Grants

Negotiating Difference on a Shared Island? (Irish Research Council, 2021-2022) (with Professor Jennifer Todd, University College Dublin)

Mapping the Multiplicity of Voices on Constitutional Change in Northern Ireland post-Brexit (Irish Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 2020-2021) (with Professor Jennifer Todd and Dr Dawn Walsh, UCD)

Giving Voice to Diversity: Plural Perspectives on Constitutional Change in the Republic of Ireland (Irish Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 2020-2021) (with Professor Jennifer Todd and Dr Dawn Walsh, UCD) 

The External Governance of Power-Sharing Settlements (Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada, 2017-2019) (with Dr Allison McCulloch, Brandon University)

Designing Good Governance in Two Post-War Societies (Bosnia and Lebanon) (Scottish Funding Council) (with Dr John Nagle, University of Aberdeen)

UN-EU Cooperation in Peacebuilding, Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland

Teaching Responsibilities

• War and Peace in International Politics (4th year undergraduate)
• Introduction to Politics and International Relations (1st year undergraduate)
• Protest and Peace in Divided Societies, MSc Political Activism and Campaigning