Dr David Rampton

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Biography

My main teaching and research interests lie at the intersection of conflict, security and identity politics engaged from a critical studies perspective, with a regional focus on South Asia. Within this broad framework, I am specifically interested in understanding nationalism as a diffuse phenomenon co-constituted through the interface of global power, particularly liberal order, with local forms of social order and political mobilization. My research association at CISD is focused on continued collaboration with my co-author, Dr. Suthaharan Nadarajah, also of CISD.

I am currently completing a book entitled, Power, Identity and Conflict in Sri Lanka due for publication by Rowman and Littlefield International in 2016, which focuses on the historical development of hegemonic Sinhala Buddhist nationalism in Sri Lanka. My research has been published in edited volumes and high-ranking journals including Review of International Studies and Commonwealth and Comparative Politics.

I received my MSc and my PhD from the Department of Politics and International Studies, SOAS. Between 2012 and 2015, I was an LSE Fellow in Global Politics based in the International Relations and Government Departments where I taught the Masters courses, Politics of Globalisation and Conflict and Peacebuilding, (which I still convene). Between 2004 and 2012 I was a Senior Teaching Fellow at SOAS based at CISD, Development Studies and Politics departments where I taught courses on international relations, diplomacy, nationalism studies and migration.

I have engaged in high impact policy work on conflict, security, governance, migration and rights issues with aid and advocacy agencies including UNHCR, The World Bank, UK Government (DfID/FCO), The Asia Foundation, International Crisis Group and the Berghof Foundation.

Research interests

Interests: Security, conflict and peace studies; international relations; global politics; identity politics; nationalism, religion and ethnicity; theories of power; development studies; comparative politics; forced migration; religion and secularism; political violence and insurgency; political and social theory; postcolonial and subaltern studies; historical sociology; post-structuralism, hermeneutics and phenomenology; South Asia; political/social mobilization.