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Professor Lee McGowan
School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and PoliticsProfessor McGowan’s research focuses on European Politics. He is particularly interested in the structures of EU governance with special reference to European competition policy; the relationship between the UK and the EU; the theme of far right and populist politics and political violence.
This research has particular relevance to recent developments and explores two of the most salient themes, Brexit and populism. The objective of the research activity is to advance knowledge and understanding of both research areas.
Professor Lee McGowan, JEAN MONNET CHAIR, 2016-2019
Communciating Europe through Learning and Teaching (CELTTUS)
In August 2016 I was awarded by the European Commission (as part of the ERASMUS+ programme) a prestigious Jean Monnet Chair in European Integration. The Chair award and the first at Queen's University Belfast since the early 2000's - followed a succesful application on a proposal that sought to communicate Europe and is designed to develop, deliver and expand teaching and research on the European Union at Queen's University Belfast as well as using the Jean Monnet Chair to communicating Europe to wider civil society.
Contact info
Research Interests
Open to PhD applications in the field of
- The Politics of Brexit
- Populism in Europe and North America
- Far Right Politics
- Right-wing violence in Europe
- Competition policy and single market governance
Public outreach & key achievements
- Awarded a Jean Monnet Chair in European Integration by the European Commission in 2016
- Has held three ESRC grants looking at the interface between Northern Ireland and the EU with reference to institutions of governance, public opinion and the implications of Brexit
- Held a British Academy research grant on Far Right Parties in the European Parliament and looked at the case of the British National Party.
Research students
| PhD Title | Populism in the UK, Germany and Austria |
| Name | Rebecca Kerr |
| Country | Ireland |
| Years of Study | 2017-2020 |
| PhD Title | Devolved Discourses: Rural Environmental Politics in Northern Ireland and Scotland in the Shadow of Brexit |
| Name | Sean Herron |
| Country | Scotland |
| Years of Study | 2018-2021 |
| PhD Title | The influence of non-state actors on the outcome of the UK’s EU withdrawal negotiations |
| Name | Niall Robb |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Years of Study | 2018-2021 |
| PhD Title | Northern Ireland: Borders and the Peace Process |
| Name | Olivia Brabazon |
| Country | England |
| Years of Study | 2018-2021 |
Alumni: Where are they now
| PhD Title | Regions and Regionalism in Sweden |
| Country | Sweden |
| Current Position | Reader in Politics, Karlstad University, Sweden |
| PhD Title | Northern Ireland: The European Dimension to Devolution in Northern Ireland |
| Country | Ireland |
| Current Position | Senior Lecturer, University College Cork |
| PhD Title | Interest Group Mobilisation in France |
| Country | UK |
| Current Position | Professor of Energy Politics, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands |