Loughborough International Relations, Politics and History
@irph.bsky.social
We are International Relations, Politics and History at Loughborough University, part of the School of Social Sciences and Humanities. We offer seven undergraduate programmes, an MA in International Security, and doctorates.
Another great entry in the 'What Our Students Say' series. Josh McWilliams graduated with a degree in History and Politics in 2025.
'I knew it right away that Loughborough was featuring in my university applications.'
'I knew it right away that Loughborough was featuring in my university applications.'
Josh McWilliams | Undergraduate study | Loughborough University
Josh studied History and Politics - graduating in 2025.
www.lboro.ac.uk
February 6, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Another great entry in the 'What Our Students Say' series. Josh McWilliams graduated with a degree in History and Politics in 2025.
'I knew it right away that Loughborough was featuring in my university applications.'
'I knew it right away that Loughborough was featuring in my university applications.'
Reposted by Loughborough International Relations, Politics and History
PhD proposals wanted for the annual scholarship competition at @lborouniversity.bsky.social School of Social Sciences and Humanities! Looking forward to receiving proposals on #peace and #security, internal #conflicts, #PVE, particularly but not exclusively with a focus on #WestAfrica.
Applications are open for PhD studentships in the School of Social Sciences and the Humanities, of which IRPH is a part. Deadline: 12 March.
Open call: www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgr...
Call for UK applicants from a Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic background: www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgr...
Open call: www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgr...
Call for UK applicants from a Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic background: www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgr...
February 5, 2026 at 11:20 AM
PhD proposals wanted for the annual scholarship competition at @lborouniversity.bsky.social School of Social Sciences and Humanities! Looking forward to receiving proposals on #peace and #security, internal #conflicts, #PVE, particularly but not exclusively with a focus on #WestAfrica.
Reposted by Loughborough International Relations, Politics and History
Interested in doing a PhD? See below for an upcoming opportunity in my department!
Applications are open for PhD studentships in the School of Social Sciences and the Humanities, of which IRPH is a part. Deadline: 12 March.
Open call: www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgr...
Call for UK applicants from a Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic background: www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgr...
Open call: www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgr...
Call for UK applicants from a Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic background: www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgr...
February 5, 2026 at 11:13 AM
Interested in doing a PhD? See below for an upcoming opportunity in my department!
Reposted by Loughborough International Relations, Politics and History
I'd be happy to support potential applicants working in my research areas, including (but not limited to) animals in moral and political philosophy.
Applications are open for PhD studentships in the School of Social Sciences and the Humanities, of which IRPH is a part. Deadline: 12 March.
Open call: www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgr...
Call for UK applicants from a Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic background: www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgr...
Open call: www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgr...
Call for UK applicants from a Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic background: www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgr...
February 5, 2026 at 10:33 AM
I'd be happy to support potential applicants working in my research areas, including (but not limited to) animals in moral and political philosophy.
Applications are open for PhD studentships in the School of Social Sciences and the Humanities, of which IRPH is a part. Deadline: 12 March.
Open call: www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgr...
Call for UK applicants from a Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic background: www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgr...
Open call: www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgr...
Call for UK applicants from a Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic background: www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgr...
February 5, 2026 at 10:32 AM
Applications are open for PhD studentships in the School of Social Sciences and the Humanities, of which IRPH is a part. Deadline: 12 March.
Open call: www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgr...
Call for UK applicants from a Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic background: www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgr...
Open call: www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgr...
Call for UK applicants from a Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic background: www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgr...
Trump and his aides invoke frequently Thucydides when they discuss American foreign policy, but misunderstand or misrepresent his words. In a new paper, IRPH's Dr Tom Waldman (Senior Lecturer in Security Studies) asks what Thucydides could REALLY teach Trump.
What Thucydides Could Really Teach Trump
The Trump administration’s embrace of coercion, transactional alliance politics and performative displays of strength is often defended as hard-headed realism in an unforgiving international system...
www.tandfonline.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:40 AM
Trump and his aides invoke frequently Thucydides when they discuss American foreign policy, but misunderstand or misrepresent his words. In a new paper, IRPH's Dr Tom Waldman (Senior Lecturer in Security Studies) asks what Thucydides could REALLY teach Trump.
Last week, Loughborough University marked Holocaust Memorial Day. This included IRPH's Dr Paul Maddrell delivering a lecture called 'The Preventability of the Holocaust'.
You can read more about Holocaust Memorial Day at Loughborough below.
You can read more about Holocaust Memorial Day at Loughborough below.
Loughborough marks Holocaust Memorial Day 2026
On Tuesday 27 January, Loughborough University is hosting two events for staff and students who wish to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. These events aim to educate, raise awareness, and allow time to ref...
www.lboro.ac.uk
February 3, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Last week, Loughborough University marked Holocaust Memorial Day. This included IRPH's Dr Paul Maddrell delivering a lecture called 'The Preventability of the Holocaust'.
You can read more about Holocaust Memorial Day at Loughborough below.
You can read more about Holocaust Memorial Day at Loughborough below.
Huge congratulations to IRPH's Pragya Rai, who passed her doctoral viva with modest corrections. Congratulations Dr Rai!
Pragya's thesis, The Role of Misogyny in Far-Right Violent Extremist Discourse, was examined by Professor Caron Gentry (Lancaster) and Dr Victoria Browne (IRPH).
Pragya's thesis, The Role of Misogyny in Far-Right Violent Extremist Discourse, was examined by Professor Caron Gentry (Lancaster) and Dr Victoria Browne (IRPH).
January 30, 2026 at 10:50 AM
Huge congratulations to IRPH's Pragya Rai, who passed her doctoral viva with modest corrections. Congratulations Dr Rai!
Pragya's thesis, The Role of Misogyny in Far-Right Violent Extremist Discourse, was examined by Professor Caron Gentry (Lancaster) and Dr Victoria Browne (IRPH).
Pragya's thesis, The Role of Misogyny in Far-Right Violent Extremist Discourse, was examined by Professor Caron Gentry (Lancaster) and Dr Victoria Browne (IRPH).
We're very happy to share that IRPH's Dr Guy Aitchison has been awarded a grant by the Leverhulme Trust for ‘The Right to Liveability: An Ethical Assessment'. The three-year, £222,648 project begins on 1 July 2026.
He will be recruiting a Research Assistant to work on the project soon!
He will be recruiting a Research Assistant to work on the project soon!
I’m thrilled to announce that I have been awarded a Research Project Grant by the Leverhulme Trust for the project, ‘The Right to Liveability: An Ethical Assessment'. The £222,648 project will beg...
I’m thrilled to announce that I have been awarded a Research Project Grant by the Leverhulme Trust for the project, ‘The Right to Liveability: An Ethical Assessment'. The £222,648 project will begin o...
www.linkedin.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:03 PM
We're very happy to share that IRPH's Dr Guy Aitchison has been awarded a grant by the Leverhulme Trust for ‘The Right to Liveability: An Ethical Assessment'. The three-year, £222,648 project begins on 1 July 2026.
He will be recruiting a Research Assistant to work on the project soon!
He will be recruiting a Research Assistant to work on the project soon!
Reposted by Loughborough International Relations, Politics and History
New from @lboropr.bsky.social: 'Moral people should support "lab-grown" meat, even if they reject conventional meat – new ethics research suggests', covering my recent work on cultivated meat and virtue ethics!
www.lboro.ac.uk/media-centre...
www.lboro.ac.uk/media-centre...
Moral people should support ‘lab-grown’ meat, even if they reject conventional meat – new ethics research suggests
People who care deeply about animals, the environment and human wellbeing may have good moral reasons to support cultivated meat, according to new research.
www.lboro.ac.uk
January 29, 2026 at 1:20 PM
New from @lboropr.bsky.social: 'Moral people should support "lab-grown" meat, even if they reject conventional meat – new ethics research suggests', covering my recent work on cultivated meat and virtue ethics!
www.lboro.ac.uk/media-centre...
www.lboro.ac.uk/media-centre...
IRPH's Prakash Rote recently co-convened a panel at NorDev25 in Oslo, Norway, called Problematising Solidarity, Social Justice and Sustainability.
Prakash's paper was 'A vernacular understanding of terrorism from the global south'. A journal special issue is underway; watch this space!
Prakash's paper was 'A vernacular understanding of terrorism from the global south'. A journal special issue is underway; watch this space!
January 28, 2026 at 3:13 PM
IRPH's Prakash Rote recently co-convened a panel at NorDev25 in Oslo, Norway, called Problematising Solidarity, Social Justice and Sustainability.
Prakash's paper was 'A vernacular understanding of terrorism from the global south'. A journal special issue is underway; watch this space!
Prakash's paper was 'A vernacular understanding of terrorism from the global south'. A journal special issue is underway; watch this space!
Why study International Security at Loughborough?
A new informational video (featuring @alexchristoy.bsky.social, @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social, and others!) is now live on @lborouniversity.bsky.social's YouTube channel.
A new informational video (featuring @alexchristoy.bsky.social, @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social, and others!) is now live on @lborouniversity.bsky.social's YouTube channel.
Why study International Security at Loughborough University?
YouTube video by Loughborough University
www.youtube.com
January 27, 2026 at 11:34 AM
Why study International Security at Loughborough?
A new informational video (featuring @alexchristoy.bsky.social, @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social, and others!) is now live on @lborouniversity.bsky.social's YouTube channel.
A new informational video (featuring @alexchristoy.bsky.social, @giuliapiccolino.bsky.social, and others!) is now live on @lborouniversity.bsky.social's YouTube channel.
Reposted by Loughborough International Relations, Politics and History
In March, I'm going to be visiting the London campus of Loughborough University to speak at an event called 'Is Capital Alive?' to mark the release of a new book from my law colleague Clair Quentin.
If you'd like to join us, the details are below!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/is-capital...
If you'd like to join us, the details are below!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/is-capital...
Is Capital alive?
Panel discussion and book launch featuring Clair Quentin, Chandni Dwarkasing and Josh Milburn
www.eventbrite.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 9:57 AM
In March, I'm going to be visiting the London campus of Loughborough University to speak at an event called 'Is Capital Alive?' to mark the release of a new book from my law colleague Clair Quentin.
If you'd like to join us, the details are below!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/is-capital...
If you'd like to join us, the details are below!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/is-capital...
Reposted by Loughborough International Relations, Politics and History
I'm pleased to share that I've won a pump-priming grant from CARMA - Cellular Agriculture Manufacturing Hub. I'll be working with Jack Waverley and Victoria Stephens (both of the University of Manchester) to explore prospects for cellular agriculture in the UK fashion industry.
Carma Project
carmahub.co.uk
January 25, 2026 at 12:00 PM
I'm pleased to share that I've won a pump-priming grant from CARMA - Cellular Agriculture Manufacturing Hub. I'll be working with Jack Waverley and Victoria Stephens (both of the University of Manchester) to explore prospects for cellular agriculture in the UK fashion industry.
Did you catch last night's The World Tonight on Radio 4? It contained more great coverage work from IRPH's Professor Marcus Collins (@elhistorioso.bsky.social) on 'The BBC’s First Homosexual'.
The show is available on BBC Sounds; the discussion starts at about the 37 minute mark.
The show is available on BBC Sounds; the discussion starts at about the 37 minute mark.
BBC Radio 4 - The World Tonight, President Zelensky slams Europeans for being in ‘Greenland mode’
At Davos, the Ukrainian president attacked his European allies for their passivity.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 23, 2026 at 10:03 AM
Did you catch last night's The World Tonight on Radio 4? It contained more great coverage work from IRPH's Professor Marcus Collins (@elhistorioso.bsky.social) on 'The BBC’s First Homosexual'.
The show is available on BBC Sounds; the discussion starts at about the 37 minute mark.
The show is available on BBC Sounds; the discussion starts at about the 37 minute mark.
Congratulations to Anouska Kecojevic, who recently graduated from our International Security MA programme and was awarded a School of Social Sciences and Humanities Community Prize for her contribution to the programme, the department, and the School.
Anouska: we wish you the best!
Anouska: we wish you the best!
January 22, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Congratulations to Anouska Kecojevic, who recently graduated from our International Security MA programme and was awarded a School of Social Sciences and Humanities Community Prize for her contribution to the programme, the department, and the School.
Anouska: we wish you the best!
Anouska: we wish you the best!
Reposted by Loughborough International Relations, Politics and History
Some recent news...
Huge congratulations to IRPH's Dr Dan Breeze (@danielbreeze.com), who this week passed his PhD viva with no corrections. His thesis, Creeds of Kinship: An Animal-Human History of the Lives and Ideas of Anna Kingsford and Henry Salt, was examined by @janehamlett.bsky.social and @msadams.bsky.social.
January 22, 2026 at 11:13 AM
Some recent news...
Reposted by Loughborough International Relations, Politics and History
Research in dusty #BBC archives on how #LGBT people were portrayed in the media in the 1950s by my friend and colleague Marcus Collins comes to life in a play! Thanks to @theguardian.com for telling the story. @irph.bsky.social @lboropr.bsky.social
The Guardian has just published a lovely article about #BBCFirstHomo, a @ukri.org-sponsored play by Inkbrew based on my research on the first British doc about homosexuality. Catch the tour during @lgbthm.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/j...
‘Naked homophobia’: play revisits BBC’s first programme on gay men in 1950s
Original script from 1954 referring to ‘troubles of this kind’ to be brought to life on stage for LGBT+ History Month
www.theguardian.com
January 20, 2026 at 11:59 AM
Research in dusty #BBC archives on how #LGBT people were portrayed in the media in the 1950s by my friend and colleague Marcus Collins comes to life in a play! Thanks to @theguardian.com for telling the story. @irph.bsky.social @lboropr.bsky.social
Reposted by Loughborough International Relations, Politics and History
I'm very excited to share this news!
Anyone interested in animals in the history of thought, women in the history of philosophy, or animal biography should be aware of Dan's research. Watch this space for forthcoming publications...
Anyone interested in animals in the history of thought, women in the history of philosophy, or animal biography should be aware of Dan's research. Watch this space for forthcoming publications...
Huge congratulations to IRPH's Dr Dan Breeze (@danielbreeze.com), who this week passed his PhD viva with no corrections. His thesis, Creeds of Kinship: An Animal-Human History of the Lives and Ideas of Anna Kingsford and Henry Salt, was examined by @janehamlett.bsky.social and @msadams.bsky.social.
January 21, 2026 at 1:53 PM
I'm very excited to share this news!
Anyone interested in animals in the history of thought, women in the history of philosophy, or animal biography should be aware of Dan's research. Watch this space for forthcoming publications...
Anyone interested in animals in the history of thought, women in the history of philosophy, or animal biography should be aware of Dan's research. Watch this space for forthcoming publications...
Huge congratulations to IRPH's Dr Dan Breeze (@danielbreeze.com), who this week passed his PhD viva with no corrections. His thesis, Creeds of Kinship: An Animal-Human History of the Lives and Ideas of Anna Kingsford and Henry Salt, was examined by @janehamlett.bsky.social and @msadams.bsky.social.
January 21, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Huge congratulations to IRPH's Dr Dan Breeze (@danielbreeze.com), who this week passed his PhD viva with no corrections. His thesis, Creeds of Kinship: An Animal-Human History of the Lives and Ideas of Anna Kingsford and Henry Salt, was examined by @janehamlett.bsky.social and @msadams.bsky.social.
Reposted by Loughborough International Relations, Politics and History
📢 Delighted to announce publication of #pacifist rejoinders to the #Hitler question, with @ejisbisa.bsky.social: doi.org/10.1017/eis..... Paper tackles head on some of arguments pacifist detractors expect victory over, complicating their critique, & expanding unpacking pacifist critique.
January 14, 2026 at 8:21 AM
📢 Delighted to announce publication of #pacifist rejoinders to the #Hitler question, with @ejisbisa.bsky.social: doi.org/10.1017/eis..... Paper tackles head on some of arguments pacifist detractors expect victory over, complicating their critique, & expanding unpacking pacifist critique.
Reposted by Loughborough International Relations, Politics and History
The Guardian has just published a lovely article about #BBCFirstHomo, a @ukri.org-sponsored play by Inkbrew based on my research on the first British doc about homosexuality. Catch the tour during @lgbthm.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/j...
‘Naked homophobia’: play revisits BBC’s first programme on gay men in 1950s
Original script from 1954 referring to ‘troubles of this kind’ to be brought to life on stage for LGBT+ History Month
www.theguardian.com
January 17, 2026 at 9:27 AM
The Guardian has just published a lovely article about #BBCFirstHomo, a @ukri.org-sponsored play by Inkbrew based on my research on the first British doc about homosexuality. Catch the tour during @lgbthm.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/j...
www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/j...
Congratulations to Meghann Swann, who won our International Security Postgraduate Dissertation Prize for her project 'Knowing When to Duck: Situational Awareness and the Embodied Labours of Everyday Security'.
Meg recently graduated from IRPH's International Security MA programme.
Meg recently graduated from IRPH's International Security MA programme.
January 10, 2026 at 1:22 PM
Congratulations to Meghann Swann, who won our International Security Postgraduate Dissertation Prize for her project 'Knowing When to Duck: Situational Awareness and the Embodied Labours of Everyday Security'.
Meg recently graduated from IRPH's International Security MA programme.
Meg recently graduated from IRPH's International Security MA programme.
Another great entry in the @lborouniversity.bsky.social's 'What Our Students Say' pages! Below, Samara Hackett (graduated 2025) talks about her time studying History and International Relations.
'Loughborough has such a large student community that you are almost guaranteed to find people for you.'
'Loughborough has such a large student community that you are almost guaranteed to find people for you.'
Samara Hackett | Undergraduate study | Loughborough University
Samara studied History and International Relations - graduating in 2025.
www.lboro.ac.uk
January 9, 2026 at 11:56 AM
Another great entry in the @lborouniversity.bsky.social's 'What Our Students Say' pages! Below, Samara Hackett (graduated 2025) talks about her time studying History and International Relations.
'Loughborough has such a large student community that you are almost guaranteed to find people for you.'
'Loughborough has such a large student community that you are almost guaranteed to find people for you.'
Reposted by Loughborough International Relations, Politics and History
📢 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
Pacifism and Nonviolence: Questioning IR's Theories, Practices and Epistemologies
New section at EISA Pan-European Conference 📍 Lisbon 📅 1-4 September 2026
As violent crises intensify globally, how can pacifist and nonviolent approaches reshape International Relations?
Pacifism and Nonviolence: Questioning IR's Theories, Practices and Epistemologies
New section at EISA Pan-European Conference 📍 Lisbon 📅 1-4 September 2026
As violent crises intensify globally, how can pacifist and nonviolent approaches reshape International Relations?
PEC 2026 | EISA
eisa-net.org
January 6, 2026 at 5:27 PM
📢 CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
Pacifism and Nonviolence: Questioning IR's Theories, Practices and Epistemologies
New section at EISA Pan-European Conference 📍 Lisbon 📅 1-4 September 2026
As violent crises intensify globally, how can pacifist and nonviolent approaches reshape International Relations?
Pacifism and Nonviolence: Questioning IR's Theories, Practices and Epistemologies
New section at EISA Pan-European Conference 📍 Lisbon 📅 1-4 September 2026
As violent crises intensify globally, how can pacifist and nonviolent approaches reshape International Relations?