Mr Jamie McDiarmid

I am a SGSSS funded PhD researcher specializing in the field of international politics. My academic journey so far has included the successful completion of an undergraduate degree in International Politics (2022), as well as an MSc in International Conflict and Cooperation (2023) both at the University of Stirling. My research interests encompass a broad spectrum of critical areas, including refugee studies, human rights, international security, and the the European Union/European Politics.

My scholarly pursuits have involved a comprehensive examination of various topics. Notably, I have conducted extensive research on the ramifications of Hungary's populist policies and their impact on human rights, particularly within the context of the European Union and using the governments treatment of refugees and asylum seekers as a case study. Furthermore, I recently completed my MSc dissertation, which focused on the pressing issue of Environmental Refugees. In this work, I argued for the development of a new research agenda that would bring much-needed attention to this (re)emerging field of study. I am keen on continuing this peice of research on climate/environmentally induced displacement and the link between enviromental justice and the rights of displaced people.

At present, my primary academic endeavour revolves around my PhD thesis, which is an interdisciplinary project spanning the realms of international relations, law, and sociology. My research delves deeply into the European Union's responses to two significant refugee crises, namely the Syrian Refugee Crisis of 2015 and the Ukraine Refugee Crisis of 2022. The central objective of this project is to scrutinize the stark contrasts in the approaches adopted by the European Union and its member states toward these crises. To achieve this, my thesis closely examines the interpretation of the UN Refugee Convention as applied by the European Union and its constituent member states. Additionally, my research will explore sociological factors, such as the influence of race and religion, to discern whether these variables played a pivotal role in shaping the responses to both crises. This multifaceted analysis aims to contribute valuable insights to the ongoing discourse surrounding international politics and refugee-related issues.

My primary research interests are (but not limited to):

• Refugee and Migration Studies,
• Human Rights
• International Security
• International Organisations (EU, UN) and Global Governance
• Conflict and Cooperation
• Populism

Alongside my PhD Research I am interested in continuing further research from my MSc thesis on environmental refugees. This research focuses on bridging the gap between literature on climate change, refugee studies, resource conflict and international security (especially food security).

I do not currently teach on any politics modules