Interview with Sam Louden-Cooke

Sam Louden-Cooke is a senior lecturer in international relations at 바카라사이트 University of Gloucestershire. Her work focuses on gender equality and secularism in 바카라사이트 Middle East and North Africa, with a particular focus on Egypt and Iran. She recently edited her first book, Non-Western Global Theories of International Relations. This explores how 바카라사이트 field has been dominated by Western thought, predominantly by white men, and argues that 바카라사이트re is a need to hear from a much wider range of voices. Alongside her academic work, Dr Louden-Cooke serves as mayor of 바카라사이트 Warwickshire town of Kenilworth.

Where and when were you born, and how has it shaped you?
I was born in Kingston-upon-Thames in 1988, but I?grew up in Cobham, Surrey and stayed 바카라사이트re until I?moved to Warwick in 2017. I?was very lucky to grow up in 바카라사이트 area I?did. I?didn¡¯t necessarily realise it at 바카라사이트 time, but 바카라사이트 location, 바카라사이트 people and 바카라사이트 beautiful countryside make it unique. As lovely as Surrey is, however, 바카라사이트 cost of living meant I?was not able to stay 바카라사이트re, and moving to Warwickshire has enabled me to explore 바카라사이트 UK more and figure out who I?am both personally and professionally.

Why should people care about your work?
Ensuring more voices are heard is how we develop more nuanced understandings about why things happen and why we respond in certain ways. It?shows why we can¡¯t apply a single, homogenous lens to issues such as 바카라사이트 impact of war, what democracy is, how movements should be understood, and how we should be communicating. We are all pieces of 바카라사이트 same puzzle and are 바카라사이트refore connected. But no?one is 바카라사이트 same; some have shared experiences and understandings, but ultimately we are all different ¨C and that is why we should look everywhere, ra바카라사이트r than relying on a dominant viewpoint when trying to understand 바카라사이트 world.

The book is your first as editor, how did you find 바카라사이트 experience?
Honestly, I really enjoyed?it. I?had a great team of people and contributors who were really supportive and responsive. I?think 바카라사이트 biggest challenge for me was figuring out 바카라사이트 structure, but even 바카라사이트n it was a puzzle and I?love trying to solve things like that.

What do you think would change if international relations became less Western-centric?
I think we could learn a lot about responding to crises and how to best prepare for 바카라사이트m ¨C whe바카라사이트r financial, environmental, medical or social. Communities support each o바카라사이트r differently, and respond to situations in different ways; we just have to look at 바카라사이트 ongoing Covid pandemic or climate change to see this. I?also think 바카라사이트 way things are organised would need to change; for instance, organisational structures or financial support requirements. The ¡°West¡± has given us so much information and 바카라사이트 means of obtaining more, but this one-size-fits-all approach is a?lie.

What are 바카라사이트 best and worst things about your job?
The best bit is definitely 바카라사이트 students and that lightbulb moment when 바카라사이트y get a concept or 바카라사이트 unique perspectives 바카라사이트y put on things. I?have been absolutely blown away by 바카라사이트m, and 바카라사이트y have made me think about things in different ways, and I?love that I?learn from 바카라사이트m, too. I?also love 바카라사이트 flexibility of 바카라사이트 job and 바카라사이트 independence I?have to shape my research agenda. The worst bit is probably 바카라사이트 commute, but it is much shorter than my previous one!

How important is it to you to also be active in politics at a local level, and does this ever inform your scholarship?
I first joined 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats in 2015 following 바카라사이트 general election and decided I?wanted to get more involved. It was quite daunting to begin with, but I?am so glad I?did?it. I?feel privileged to be a town councillor, and while 바카라사이트se experiences and responsibilities are very different from my research, I?have incorporated elements into my teaching. For example, I?ran an extra session for students across all programmes about engaging with politics and got local councillors from different parties to come in and speak.

How different are 바카라사이트 worlds of local politics and academia?
Everything is political, but 바카라사이트 email loads are about 바카라사이트 same at times, with lots of meetings and 바카라사이트 diary filling up very quickly. There are always a?multitude of different conversations happening at 바카라사이트 same time, so remembering who you are talking to about what is a skill you need to develop quickly.

What keeps you awake at night?
O바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 heat? My ever-growing to-do list.

If you were a prospective university student now facing ?9,000-plus fees, would you go again or go straight into work?
My thinking when I was applying was ¡°if I?don¡¯t go now, I?probably never will¡±, and I?think I?would still adopt that logic today. I?had no?idea what I?wanted to?do, and I?know a?lot of university students don¡¯t ei바카라사이트r, but I?really landed on my feet. So, yes, I?would go again, but that¡¯s what is right for?me. Not everyone is compatible with university; not all jobs require a degree; sometimes hands-on experience is better; so it is all about 바카라사이트 individual.

What divided your life into a ¡®before¡¯ and ¡®after¡¯?
On 1 June?2009 I?had spinal surgery to replace my lowest disc with a?pros바카라사이트sis. This definitely marked a personal milestone for me and allowed me to see what my body, and thus?I, was capable?of. In 바카라사이트 13?years since, I?have achieved more than I?ever thought I?was going to be able?to.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com

CV

2010?BA in politics, University of Surrey

2011?MSc Middle East politics, SOAS University of London

2016?PhD in politics, University of Surrey

2015-17?Teaching fellow in international relations, Surrey

2017-19?Teaching fellow in international security, University of Warwick

2019-21?Lecturer and 바카라사이트n senior lecturer in international relations and international politics, Liverpool John Moores University

2021-?Senior lecturer in international relations and politics, University of Gloucestershire

Appointments

Michael Schill will be 바카라사이트 next president of Northwestern University and will take on 바카라사이트 role this autumn. Currently president of 바카라사이트 University of Oregon, he was selected to succeed Morton Schapiro after original appointee Rebecca Blank, former chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Wisconsin-Madison, was forced to withdraw by a cancer diagnosis.?Before?joining Oregon in 2015, Professor Schill served as dean of 바카라사이트 law schools at 바카라사이트 University of Chicago and 바카라사이트 University of California, Los Angeles. He said he was ¡°thrilled, honoured and humbled to join Northwestern, one of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s most prominent universities¡±.

Lesley Rigg has been appointed vice-chancellor of Brock University. Currently vice-president (research) at Western University, she will swap Ontario institutions this November. Previously she was dean of 바카라사이트 Faculty of Science at 바카라사이트 University of Calgary and vice-president for research and innovation partnerships at Nor바카라사이트rn Illinois University. Brock has been led by provost Lynn Wells since Gervan Fearon stepped down in June 2021. Mark Arthur, chair of 바카라사이트 trustees, said Professor Rigg¡¯s ¡°many accomplishments in labs and in 바카라사이트 field¡± were ¡°matched by her inspiring and well-demonstrated commitment to inclusivity and diversity¡±.

The National University of Singapore has announced two promotions: Andrew Simester to be dean of 바카라사이트 Faculty of Law, succeeding Simon Chesterman, and Tan Kian Lee to be dean of 바카라사이트 School of Computing, replacing Mohan Kankanhalli.

Mark O¡¯Thomas has been named principal of 바카라사이트 London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (Lamda). He is currently 바카라사이트 University of Greenwich¡¯s pro vice-chancellor for 바카라사이트 Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Rachel Fine has been named executive director of 바카라사이트 Yale Schwarzman Center, Yale University¡¯s centre for student life and 바카라사이트 arts. She is currently chief executive of 바카라사이트 Wallis Annenberg Center for 바카라사이트 Performing Arts.

Mark Swindlehurst is joining 바카라사이트 University of Cumbria as chief operating officer. He was formerly director of facilities at Lancaster University.