An Open Letter to Keir Starmer
We, the undersigned, strongly advise against the proposed changes to the UK immigration system of May 12, 2025, and your associated rhetoric. We are UK-based academics, researchers and writers who study politics. Our concerns are twofold:
First, the proposed changes are bad policy. They will make the lives of those in the visa routes harder and more insecure. They will also harm British citizens, placing our care and higher education sectors under further strain. Hurting the most vulnerable is exactly the opposite of what Labour should stand for.
Second, the government positioning itself as ‘tough’ on immigration and asylum will not have the intended effect of sidelining the far-right. We believe that accepting their core premise – the main problem facing the country is immigrants – only validates them. Attempting to outbid them with deportations and visa denials will always fall short. They will not be satisfied with falling net migration numbers. They will never be satisfied.
The far-right is on the rise globally. What is needed in this moment is a clear articulation of why they are wrong, and an aggressive defence of core liberal democratic values.
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Signed (225) :​​​​​
Alasia Nuti
Senior Lecturer
University of York
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Gabreile Badano
Senior Lecturer
University of York
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Michael Freeden
Emeritus Professor of Politics
University of Oxford
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Rob Ford
Professor of Political science
University of Manchester
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Santiago Sanchez-Pages
Professor of Economics
King's College London
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Matt Matravers
Professor of Law
University of York
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Neil Carter
Professor of Politics
University of York
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Udit Bhatia
Lecturer
University of York
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Jan Kandiyali
Associate Professor in Political Theory
Durham University
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Ruth Kelly
Lecturer in Human Rights
University of York
Joshua Forstenzer
Senior Lecturer in Philosophy
University of Sheffield
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Erica Baffelli
Professor of Japanese Studies
The University of Manchester
Hannah Kuper
LSHTM
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Minna Kuper
Senior University Teacher in Religion, Gender and Society
University of Sheffield
Saba Joshi
Lecturer
University of York
Eva Herman
Research Fellow
University of Manchester
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Matt Lesch
Lecturer
University of York
Rahul Rao
Reader
University of St Andrews
Jules Holroyd
Senior Lecturer
University of Sheffield
Clara Sandelind
Lecturer in Political Theory
Manchester University
Bradly Hillier-Smith
Associate Lecturer in Legal, Moral, and Political Philosophy
University of St Andrews
Jim Chamberlain
Philosophy Teaching Associate
University of Sheffield
Guy Aitchison
Senior Lecturer
Loughborough University
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James Brown
British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Sheffield
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Colin Jennings
Reader
King's College London
Rebecca Buxton
Lecturer in Social and Political Philosophy
University of Bristol
Anna Sanders
Lecturer
University of York
Daphne Halikiopoulou
Chair, Professor in Comparative Politics
University of York
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Gordana Uzelac
Reader
London Metropolitan University
Belinda Pratten
Senior Lecturer
London Metropolitan University
Alya Khan
Senior Lecturer
London Metropolitan University
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Nicholas Watson
Professor
University of Glasgow
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Eric Olson
Professor of Philosophy
University of Sheffield
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Meghan Blomfield
Senior Lecturer in Political Philosophy
University of Sheffield
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Rodrigo Campos
Research Associate
University of York
Roger Crisp
Director
Uehiro Oxford Institute
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Lyndsey Stonebridge
Professor
University of Birmingham
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Shawn Hargreaves Heap
Professor
King's College London
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Simon Parker
Professor
University of York
Martin O'Neill
Professor of Political Philosophy
University of York
James Souter
Lecturer
University of Leeds
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Adrain Blau
Professor of Politics
King's college London
Maxime Lepoutre
Lecturer
University of Redding
Nathan Oseroff-Spicer
Writer
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Lise Herman
Senior Lecturer
University of Exeter
Jacob Erikson
University of York
Sandra Kroeger
Professor
University of Exeter
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Krzysztof Krakowski
Lecturer
Kings College London
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Marco Giani
Senior Lecturer
University College London
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Chris Armstrong
Professor of Political Theory
University of Southhampton
Harriet Gray
Senior Lecturer
University of York
Richard Bellamy
Professor of Political Science
University College London
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Kimberly Hutchings
Professor
QMUL
Nicolai Gellwitzki
Lecturer
University of York
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John Evemy
Lecturer
University of York
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Elizabetta Brighi
University of Westminster
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Hannah Richter
Assistant Professor in Politics
University of Sussex
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Julian Limberg
Senior Lecturer
King's College London
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Jonathan Benson
Lecturer in Political Theory
University of Manchester
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Joerg Schaub
Senior Lecturer
University of Essex
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Portia Roelofs
Lecturer in Politics
King's College London
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Cecile Laborde
Professor
University of Oxford
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Paul Apostolidis
Professor
LSE
Yusuf Imaad Khan
PHD Candidate
London School of Economics and Political Science
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Adam Swift
Professor of Political Theory
UCL
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Christopher Bertram
Professor Emeritus
University of Bristol
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Joseph Phillips
Lecturer
Cardiff University
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Carol Atack
Fellow, Newham College
Cambridge
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Anna Katsoulaki
Lecturer in Law
Cardiff University
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Daniel Newman
Professor of Law
Cardiff University
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Robin Jervis
Principal Lecturer
University of Brighton
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Colin Tyler
University of Hull
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Ben Rosher
University of Glasgow
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Keran Durkin
Lecturer
University of York
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Lucy Riall
Professor
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Daniel Hutton Ferris
Lecturer in politics
Newcastle University
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Scott Williamson
Associate Professor of Comparative Political Economy
University of Oxford
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Sarah Bufkin
Assistant Professor
University of Birmingham
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Rachel Alsop
University of York
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Carolyn Snell
Professor
University of York
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Alice Nah
Associate Professor
Durham University
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Stephen Ashe
Associate Professor
Durham University
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Rebecca Brown
Research Associate
Durham University
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Victoria Basham
Professor of International Relations
Cardiff University
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Aggie Hirst
Reader
King's College London
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Virginia Mantouvalou
Professor of Human Rights and Labour Law
UCL
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Jesse Bachir
University of Birmingham
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Thomas Moore
Associate Professor in International Relations
University of Westminster
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Simon Mabon
Professor of International Politics
University of Lancaster
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Matilda Carter
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Glasgow
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Kathryn Starnes
Manchester Metropolitan University
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Gabriel Siles-Brugge
Professor of Global Governance & Public Policy
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Peter Lawler
Professor
University of Manchester
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Lisa Forsberg
Senior Research Fellow, Uehiro Oxford Institute
University of Oxford
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Lucia Sa
Professor of Brazilian Studies
University of Manchester
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Elizabeth Kahn
Associate Professor of Political Theory
Durham University
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Dorothy Kwek
Cardiff University
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Julie Clark
Senior Lecturer
UWS
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Lauren Wroe
Associate Professor
Durham University
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Ashley Dodsworth
University of Bristol
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Zeynep Kaya
Lecturer
University of Sheffield
David Duriesmith
Senior Lecturer
The University of Sheffield
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Hugo Drochon
Associate Professor
University of Nottingham
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Patricia Nabuco Martuscelli
Lecturer in International Relations
University of Sheffield
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Simon Mabon
Professor of International Politics
University of Lancaster​​
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Joanne Britton
Senior Lecturer
University of Sheffield
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Yva Alexandrova
Writer and PHD Candidate
University of Sheffield
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Julie Walsh
Senior Lecturer in Sociology
University of Sheffield
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Lisa Stampnizky
Lecturer
University of Sheffield
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Aness Webster
Associate Professor
Durham University
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Siobhan Lambert-Hurley
Professor
University of Sheffield
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Jonathan Collinson
Lecturer in Law
University of Sheffield
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Majella Kilkey
Professor
University of Sheffield
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Kaltum Osman-Rivers
PHD in Sociology
University of Sheffield
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Cloe Truck
University of Sheffield
Toby Buckle
Host
Political Philosophy Podcast
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Jonathan Wolff
Emeritus Professor of Values and Public Policy
University of Oxford
Tom Shakespeare
Professor of Disability Research
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
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Fabienne Peter
Professor of Philosophy
University of Warwick
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Stephen Laurence
Professor of Philosophy
University of Sheffield
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Claire Dunlop
Professor
University of Exeter
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Matthew Paterson
Professor of International Politics
University of Manchester
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Kathrine Jenkins
Professor of Philosophy
University of Glasgow
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Stuart White
Associate Professor of Politics
University of Oxford
Greg Lusk
Assistant Professor
Durham University
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Liam Shields
Senior Lecturer in Political Theory
University of Exeter
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Lior Erez
Research Assistant, Blavatnik School of Government
University of Oxford
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Max Haywood
Senior Lecturer in Ethics and Political Philosophy
University of Sheffield
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Miguel Martinez Lucio
Professor
The University of Manchester
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Stefania Marino
Senior Lecturer In Employment Studies
University of Manchester
Christian Schemmel
Senior Lecturer in Political Theory
University of Manchester
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Victoria Wang
PHD Researcher
University of Edinburgh
Daniel Butt
Associate Professor
University of Oxford
Eilidh Beaton
Lecturer
University of Aberdeen
Ben Davis
Lecturer
University of Sheffield
Phillip Roberts
Lecturer, Department of Politics
University of York
Matthew Gibney
Professor of Politics and Forced Migration
University of Oxford
Matia Vannoni
Senior Lecturer
King's College London
Paul Billingham
Associate Professor of Political Theory
University of York
Carlo Ludovico Cordasco
Lecturer
University of Manchester
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Angie Hobbs
Professor the Public Understanding of Philosophy
University of Sheffield
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Sara De Jong
Professor
University of York
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Komarine Romdenh-Romluc
Senior Lecturer
University of Sheffield
Phillip Mayne
Lecturer
University of York
Luca Barlassina
Senior Lecturer
University of Sheffield
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Fabienne Peter
Professor of Philosophy
University of Warwick
Gianni Smarra
Political Theorist
King's College London
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Bruno Leipold
London School of Economics and Political Science
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Shuk Ying Chan
Lecturer
University college London
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Adam Fusco
Lecturer
University of York
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Catherine Max
Catherine Max Consulting
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Haley McAvay
London School of Economics
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Da Chilosi
Lecturer in Economic History
King's College London
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Catriona McKinnon
Professor of Political Theory
University of Exeter
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Judith Krauss
Lecturer
University of York
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James Wilson
Professor of Philosophy
University College London
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Tomaz Fares
University of York
Daniele Giradi
Lecturer in Economics
King's College London
Andrew Blick
Professor
King's College London
Luke Moore
Associate Lecturer
University of York
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Koshka Duff
Assistant Professor
University of Nottingham
Nina Obermeier
Lecturer
King's College London
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Matthew Whiting
Senior Lecturer
University of York
Miriam Ronzoni
Professor of Political Theory
University of Manchester
Robin Douglass
Professor
King's College London
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Joe Turner
Senior Lecturer in International Relations
University of York
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Jeanne Morefield
Associate Professor of Political Theory
University of Oxford
David Owen
Professor of Social and Political Philosophy
University of Southampton
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Thalia Gerzso
Lecturer
University of York
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Pavlos Vasilpoulos
University of York
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Mollie Gerver
Lecturer in International Ethics
King's College London
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Elise Woodard
Lecturer
King's College London
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Anna Alexandrova
Professor
University of Cambridge
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Luke Lavender
PHD Candidate
QMUL
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Jeremy Moulton
Senior Lecturer
University of York
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Myriam Fotou
Lecturer in International Relations
Cardiff University
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Helen Dexter
Associate Professor
University of Leicester
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Laura Brace
Professor
University of Leicester
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Jeremy Moulton
Senior Lecturer
University of York
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Elia Ayoub
Postdoctoral Researcher
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Emmy Eklundh
Senior Lecturer
Cardiff University
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Clare Stevens
Lecturer in International Relations
Cardiff University
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Moya Lloyd
Professor
University of Essex​
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Sarah Drews Lucas
Senior Lecturer
University of Essex
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Loubna El Amine
Lecturer
Kings College London
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Laura Montanaro
Senior Lecturer
University of Essex
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Clare Smith
Associate Professor
University of York
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Samuel Mace
Teaching Fellow
University of Leeds
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John Foot
Professor of Modern Italian History
University of Bristol
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Caroline von Taysen
PHD
University of Westminster
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Catherine Donovan
Durham University
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Keran Durkin
Lecturer
University of York
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Susan Forde
Career Development Fellow
Durham University
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Alfred Moore
Senior Lecturer
University of York
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Katherine Puddifoot
Associate Professor
Durham University
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Felix Westeren
PHD Candidate
London School of Economics
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Diana Popescu-Sarry
Assistant Professor
University of Nottingham
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Alison Jobe
Associate Professor in Sociology
Durham University
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Vicky Squire
Professor of International Politics
University of Warwick
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Humeira Iqtidar
Professor of Politics
King's College London
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Giulia Cavaliere
Lecturer in Philosophy
University College London
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Stephan Engelkamp
Senior Lecturer
King's College London
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Koen Slootmaeckers
Reader in International Politics
City St George, University of London
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Andrea Cornwall
Professor
King's College London
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Aylon Cohen
Department Lecturer in Feminist Political Theory
Oxford University
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Carys Hughes
Research Fellow
University of East London
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Sherilyn MacGregor
Professor of Environmental Politics
University of Manchester
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Ewa Karwowski
Senior Lecturer in Finance and Development
King's College London
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Albert Weale
Emeritus Professor Political Theory and Public Policy
UCL
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Hannah Carnegy-Arbuthnott
Lecturer
University of York
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Ellen Hietsch
PhD Candidate
University of Manchester
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Owen Parker
Senior Lecturer
University of Sheffield
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Philip Horn
Senior Lecturer
University of Sheffield
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Holly Rooke
Doctoral Researcher
University of Sheffield
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Rebecca Murray
Lecturer
University of Sheffield
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Sundari Anitha
Chair in Sociological Studies
University of Sheffield
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Sojiny Yu
Research Fellow
University of Sheffield
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Gabriella Cioce
Lecturer
University of Sheffield
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Hannah Lewis
Senior Lecturer
University of Sheffield
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Jamie Coats
Senior Lecturer
University of Sheffield
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Pauline Blistene
Lecturer
King's College London
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Manjeet Ramgotra
Senior Lecturer
SOAS University of London
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Shirin Rai
Professor
SOAS
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Nate George
Lecturer
Department of Politics and International Relations, SOAS
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Maria Rashid
Lecturer in Politics and International Relations
SOAS