The Politics Programme is a vibrant community of experts from many different countries who take students and students' interests seriously. Our staff are all experts in their fields, and all are actively engaged in research which enriches their teaching.
Politics staff will respond to emails only during business hours Monday–Friday.
Head of Politics
Associate Professor James Headley
Russian foreign policy, the European Union, nationalism and ethnic conflict, International Relations theory
Course Adviser
Academic staff
Dr Leon Goldsmith
Middle Eastern and Comparative Politics
Professor Janine Hayward
New Zealand politics, Treaty of Waitangi, local government, electoral systems and reform, constitutional politics
Course Adviser
MPols Convenor
Dr David Jenkins
Political theory
Course Adviser
Associate Professor Nicholas Khoo
China's foreign and security policy, international relations of Asia, International Relations theory, strategic studies, Cold War history
Professor Robert Patman
US foreign policy, international relations, global security, great powers and the Horn of Africa
MIntSt Director
Associate Professor Brian Roper
New Zealand politics, political economy, social inequality, gender and feminism, Marxism, history and theories of democracy
Kaiāwhina Māori and Pacific Island support
International Student Exchange Adviser
Dr Lena Tan
Postcolonialism, International Relations theory, constructivism, identity, Indonesia, US foreign policy
PhD / MA / DipGrad Co-ordinator
Dr Christine Winter
Environmental justice, multispecies justice, indigenous justice, decolonial and anticolonial theory.
Kaiāwhina Māori
Part-time academic staff
Rachel Billington
Professor Lisa Ellis
Dr Peter Grace
Jim Guest
Brock Anderson
Liam Schwarz
Michael Swanson
Emeritus Professor
Emeritus Professor Philip Nel
Administration
Bronwyn Craig
Administrator
Email bronwyn.craig@otago.ac.nz