Research Group

Economy, Society and Governance

Many people in train station with stairs.

We are a group of human geographers with research interests in economic, social, and political geographies.

About

We research:

Economic geographies, including: regional development and growth, evolutionary economic geography, industrial policy, the creative economy, entrepreneurship, firm creation, business networks, and postcapitalist craft economies.

Social geographies, including: migration, diaspora, heritage, gender, care, everyday life, and affect.

Political geographies, including: governance, citizenship, political participation, diaspora governance, nationalism, regional and local governance, intermunicipal cooperation, civil society, art and activism, urban protest, urbanisation and conflict, digital democracy, and digital refusal.

People, projects and publications

People

Dr Brian Hracs

Associate Professor

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Dr Han Wang

Lecturer in Economic Geography

Research interests

  • Economic Geography

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Dr Jen Dickinson

Associate Professor

Research interests

  • > models of diaspora mobilisation and governance, including policy at the national and international levels, the role of diaspora civil society and civil society, diplomacy & geopolitics
  • > the impacts of diaspora economic and political mobilisation in origin countries, particularly on inequality, cultural heritage landscapes & tourism development

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Dr Julie Vullnetari

Associate Dean EDI
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Dr Lucie Glasheen

Teaching Fellow in Human Geography
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Professor Nick Clarke

Professor of Political Geography

Research interests

  • I research governance and citizenship, with a focus on three main areas:
  • 1) Innovative responses to globalisation (2004-present). This research has been funded by grants from the ESRC, the Nuffield Foundation, and the Local Government Alliance for International Development. The focus has been on global citizenship, ethical consumption, and interurban partnerships. See especially my co-authored book, Globalising Responsibility (2011, Wiley-Blackwell).
  • 2) The challenges presented to representative democracy by the 2007-2008 financial crisis, the rise of populism, Brexit, and the COVID-19 pandemic (2013-present). This research has been funded by grants from the ESRC and the British Academy. The focus has been on the relations between national and local government, and between politicians and citizens. See especially my co-authored book, The Good Politician (2018, Cambridge University Press).

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Dr Nick Dorward

Lecturer in Human Geography

Research interests

  • Political Geography
  • Urban Studies
  • Global Development 

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Dr Paul Hurley

Snr Teaching Fellow in Academic Practice

Research interests

  • Participatory research
  • Inclusive academic practice
  • Creative methodologies

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Professor Peter Sunley

Professor in Human Geography

Accepting applications from PhD students

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