NEWREPUBLIC (€1.5 million)

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Funder: European Research Council Starting Grant

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Duration: January 2026-2030

 

Full title: The New Republicanisms: The Misinterpreted Ideologies of Democracy Movements in Authoritarian Africa in their Persuasion, Mobilisation and Support.

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This project is about the ideas that animate anti-autocratic movements. In it, I investigate: what messages most effectively mobilise resistance to autocrats, and would-be autocrats?

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In parallel, I investigate what anti-autocratic ideas animate democracy movements today?

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The empirical site of this research is Africa, but I am focused on generating conclusions of significance to anti-autocratic actors around the world.

The project begins in January 2026, and runs for five years. I will be assembling a six-person team to deliver it. It will consist of a post-doc, two PhD students, an administrator, an teaching-oriented assistant professor, and of course, myself.
 

I am confident that this reseach will generate conclusions of urgent and real-world significance to those confronting autocrats around the world. I am eager to build the links to make this happen, so if you are interested in being part of that, please get in touch.

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Effectiveness of Anti- Authoritarian Movement Messaging (£10,000)

 

Funder: BA-Leverhulme Small Research Grant.

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Duration: July 2025 to February 2027

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Full title: Priming Republican Attitudes? Popular Conceptions of Democracy and the Effectiveness of Anti- Authoritarian Movement Messaging

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Populist or Elitist Plebeian? (£5,000)

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Funder: Sussex School of Law, Politics and Sociology, Seedcorn Funding Scheme

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Duration: November 2023 to June 2024.

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Full title: Populist or Elitist Plebeian? What Attitudes Legitimise Electoral Autocracy in Tanzania?

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Fighting for Democracy (£9,000)

 

Funder: Carnegie Trust Research Grant

 

Duration: funding awarded but not received, due to PI move from Aberdeen to Sussex

 

Full title: Fighting for Democracy. New Ideologies of Opposition in Contemporary Authoritarian Regimes.

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Republican anti-corruption messages (£2,400)

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Funder: Aberdeen School of Social Sciences

 

Duration: February 2023 to June 2023

 

Full title: Republican anti-corruption messages. Making anti-corruption campaigning anti-oligarchic

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Rally-intensive campaigning [reserve-listed]

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Funder: ESRC Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Midlands Graduate School

 

Duration: 2019

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The Emergence of Programmatic Politics (€22,000)

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Funder: International IDEA

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Duration 2012 to 2013

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Collaboration Prof. Nic Cheeseman.

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