Dr Xavier Mathieu (he/him)
Department of Politics and International Relations
Lecturer in International Relations


Full contact details
Department of Politics and International Relations
Elmfield Building
Northumberland Road
91Ö±²¥
S10 2TU
- Profile
-
Dr Xavier Mathieu joined the department in May 2023 as a Lecturer in International Relations. Prior to joining 91Ö±²¥, Xavier was Lecturer at the University of Liverpool, Teaching Associate at Aston University, and Post-doctoral Fellow at the Centre for Global Cooperation Research (Germany). He holds a PhD from the University of 91Ö±²¥ and an MA in International Relations from the University of Bordeaux (Sciences Po). Xavier’s research looks at violence and French coloniality (in particular terrorism and anti-terrorism in colonial and post-colonial contexts), as well as the concept of sovereignty and interventions. His research is inspired by post-colonial and post-structuralist approaches.
- Research interests
-
My current project looks at violence in colonial and post-colonial contexts through the lens of the body. This project explores colonial and post-colonial violence as embodied practices that help build racial hierarchies. I use examples from French colonial and contemporary practices, connecting the colonial and post-colonial periods in order to provide a unique perspective on contemporary practices of security. This project also sheds light on the way bodies participate in resisting (post-)colonialism: through their materiality, bodies can exceed the violence imposed on them.
- Publications
-
Books
Edited books
Journal articles
Chapters
- Research group
-
International Relations
- Supervision Expertise
I welcome PhD candidates in my areas of research, in particular:
- Violence and (counter)terrorism in colonial and post-colonial contexts;
- Sovereignty, Interventions and peacebuilding;
- Colonialism and its legacies (especially for French international relations and security practices).
- Critical and post-colonial approaches to security
- Historical approaches in global politics (colonial history and the legacies of colonialism).