Research

Raised during the North of Ireland's transition from violent conflict towards imperfect peace, my academic career has been shaped by a desire to better understand and critique the impact of legacies of violence. This focus and commitment to social justice led to my decision to analyse and investigate the impact of colonial violence in other contexts, specifically Palestine. As an interdisciplinary scholar in 'Peace and Conflict Studies', my research critically examines transitional justice, liberal peacebuilding, settler colonialism and forced displacement in both the North of Ireland and Palestine.

As a qualitative researcher, I have engaged in extensive periods of fieldwork, including significant time spent living in the West Bank, Palestine. I have worked with a range of groups and individuals, including children and young people growing up in conflict, former combatants, members of the Palestinian Bedouin communities, and those who experienced historical displacement during Northern Ireland's 'Troubles'. My aim is to better understand the impact of peacebuilding practices on the most marginalised and oppressed in transitional/post-conflict contexts.

To maximise the impact of my work I have sought innovative ways of showcasing research findings to a wider audience including, by way of artistic exhibition(s)/installations. My work entitled: ‘Burn/t Out’, with award winning New York artist, Casey Asprooth-Jackson, was launched in Belfast in April 2019 at Artcetera Studios (reviewed here: Northern Lens: Burn/t Out: Crimes against social cohesion | Northern Slant), and has subsequently been showcased at the University of Oxford, and the University of Rochester.

I am a regular commentator on issues relating to 'conflict' in Palestine and the North of Ireland with op-Ed’s in high profile news outlets including: The Irish Times, The New Statesman, Opinio Juris, the Globe Post, and 'The Conversation'. In addition, I am a frequent contributor to: TRT World, Radio France International, and France 24.