About

I am currently an ERC Fellow in Politics at University College Dublin, working on the Moral Agency in Election Campaigns (ELECT) project. I previously completed my PhD in Trinity College Dublin. My PhD thesis focused on how the EU influences the different forms of nationalism utilised by political parties. Contrary to the common understanding of the EU's role, my thesis suggested that, rather than a backlash to EU integration resulting in forms of nationalism related to the central state (e.g., anti-immigration or anti-ethnic minority rhetoric, or kin-state appeals focused on ethnic kin or territory in neighbouring countries) becoming more salient in party discourse, the EU instead discourages these forms of nationalism and incentivises parties to focus on other forms of identity, especially at the sub-national level.

 

I also research and publish on party politics and election campaigns more broadly, and Irish politics. In particular, I have published on the competition between radical right and green parties, and various elections in Ireland. Currently, in conjunction with Jesper Lindqvist at the University of Gothenburg, I am also examining whether there really is a transnational cleavage emerging in Europe, or if EU integration is instead a cause of shifts in existing cleavage structures. 

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Methodologically, I am comfortable using a wide variety of approaches, depending on the precise question to be answered and theory to be tested. I have published research using statistical models, quantitative text analysis, and qualitative process tracing. As part of qualitative process tracing, I have developed a strong expertise in the use of elite interviews, and have managed to interview high-level Irish politicians (including government ministers) as part of my research. Through my role in the ELECT project, I have also gained considerable experience in designing survey experiments, with a particular focus on conjoint experiments. 

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My research has been published in a variety of academic journals, including West European Politics, Party Politics, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, and Irish Political Studies. In addition, my PhD research was funded by the Irish Research Council. 

 

My teaching experience strongly reflects this research agenda, as I have taught both undergraduate and Masters modules on the EU, Irish and Northern Irish politics, and party politics.