Dr Rupert Alcock

Personal statement 

My primary research focus explores the intersections between the cognitive and political sciences. I am particularly interested in how knowledge traverses fields of policy and practice, for example, how knowledge from the brain sciences comes to inform domestic and global policy agendas. My PhD thesis showed how behavioural science has influenced the design of development programmes delivered by NGOs and international organisations including the UN, European Commission and World Bank. Drawing on survey data as well as NGO and national policy reports, I showed how the use of behavioural science in development programmes has been limited to understanding the behaviours of recipients, while the behaviours of agency practitioners responsible for designing policy and delivering projects remain under-acknowledged and under-researched.

I have a second research interest in maritime security politics and governance. I worked as Research Associate (RA) for the British Academy-funded project SafeSeas, which brought academics together with practitioners and stakeholders involved in capacity building for maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean.

I have additional experience as RA for the action research project Maintaining Momentum, a collaboration between politics, law and socio-legal scholars supporting community activist groups in their pursuit of public funding for local energy projects.

Academic qualifications

• PhD Politics, University of Bristol
• MSc Social Science Research Methods (Politics), University of Bristol
• MSc Development and Security, University of Bristol
• BA Philosophy, University of Nottingham

Professional memberships

• European International Studies Association

Areas of expertise

• Political Science
• International Relations
• Development and Security Studies
• Policy Studies
• Comparative Politics
• Political Theory
• Research Methodologies