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Russell Foster

Dr Russell Foster

Senior Lecturer in British and International Politics

Research interests

  • Education
  • Politics

Biography

Russell has a background in multiple disciplines. From 2003-2006 he read history at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, specialising in modern European political history and imperial history. From 2008-2010 he took MA degrees in international politics and human geography at Newcastle University. From 2015-2016 Russell was a Marie Skłodowska-Curie International Fellow in the Department of European Studies, University of Amsterdam, researching the relationship between the EU’s symbols and European identity. From 2016-2019 he was a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow at the Department of European and International Studies, King’s College London, researching the relationship between nationalism, European identity, and Brexit. He commenced as a lecturer in British and European Politics in May 2019.

Russell is currently researching cultural and fictional portrayals of Europe in pre- and post-Brexit British pop culture; the legacy of the Empire in contemporary British politics; and the changing relationship between identity and politics in the UK, the EU, and the world.

Research

  • European and national identities
  • Brexit, Euroscepticism, and Europhilia
  • The EU and Brexit in culture
  • The far right and new right
  • Empire and imperialism
  • Games and gameplay in education

Selected publications

Teaching

Russell has experience teaching modules in politics, political theory, European studies, human geography, political sociology, and political history. He is available to supervise BA, MA, and PhD dissertations on themes linked to his research interests. Russell is module convener for:

Engagement

Russell is a Senior Fellow of the Atlantic Council of the United Kingdom; convener of the EIS research group Europe's Borderlands; and co-convener of the IHR Rethinking Modern Europe seminar series. He co-convenes the UACES network The Limits of EU-rope and is co-host of the KCL podcast series Breaking Britain. He regularly provides political analysis for international media such as BBC, Sky, CNN, MSNBC, Euronews, The Economist, Financial Times, CBC, France24.

Research

critical european
The Critical European Studies Research Group

This interdisciplinary research group in the Department of European and International Studies re-examines key concepts in Europe through a shared lens of critical theory. 

News

Is the European Union in a state of crisis?

A new book co-edited by a King’s College London academic asks whether the European Union is in a state of crisis.

books-1204029_1920

Board game created by King's alumnus could offer insight into future of learning

A new board game developed by a King’s College London alumnus could pave the way for a change in how subjects like politics are taught.

Hegemony

School's inaugural awards sees staff and students honoured

Students and staff from across the School of Politics and Economics were honoured at an annual awards ceremony.

AwardsSPEWinners

Radical right groups are endorsing liberal values in attempt to attract young LGB people to political extremism, research finds

Some radical right groups are positioning themselves as protectors of liberalism in a bid to appeal to young gay, lesbian and bisexual people, new research...

News_finger on tablet

Academic chairs event at leading policy institute

King’s academic, Dr Russell Foster acted as chair at a special Chatham House event on independence movements in Europe.

SPENewsStock

Radical right 'attempting to appeal to LGB community', research finds

Some radical right groups are positioning themselves as protectors of liberalism in a bid to appeal to young gay, lesbian and bisexual people, new research...

Rainbow flag

Breaking Britain returns for a new series

The third series of the Breaking Britain podcast has officially launched.

AH-podcase

Book edited by academic will offer fresh perspectives

The upcoming edition of a bestselling book features a chapter penned by a King’s College London academic.

PoliticsUK

Academic is guest editor for special journal edition

A new special edition of the Journal of Contemporary European Research was guest-edited by a King’s College London academic.

Writing & Publishing Image

Roundtable examines impact of UK breakup on security

The impact of Scottish independence on security and stability were discussed by an expert panel at a roundtable event hosted by King’s College London.

IndependenceRound

Events

10NovEISwar

War, Crisis and a Changing Europe

Part of the thirtieth anniversary series for the Department of European and International Studies at King's College London

Please note: this event has passed.

10Octeduard-delputte-soldier-unsplash

War, crisis and a changing Europe

Part of the thirtieth anniversary series for the Department of European and International Studies at King's College London

Please note: this event has passed.

Features

What should the policy priorities for the new UK government be once elected?

Whoever takes up residence in 10 Downing Street after the general election, their in-tray is sure to be full-to-bursting.

election header image

Research

critical european
The Critical European Studies Research Group

This interdisciplinary research group in the Department of European and International Studies re-examines key concepts in Europe through a shared lens of critical theory. 

News

Is the European Union in a state of crisis?

A new book co-edited by a King’s College London academic asks whether the European Union is in a state of crisis.

books-1204029_1920

Board game created by King's alumnus could offer insight into future of learning

A new board game developed by a King’s College London alumnus could pave the way for a change in how subjects like politics are taught.

Hegemony

School's inaugural awards sees staff and students honoured

Students and staff from across the School of Politics and Economics were honoured at an annual awards ceremony.

AwardsSPEWinners

Radical right groups are endorsing liberal values in attempt to attract young LGB people to political extremism, research finds

Some radical right groups are positioning themselves as protectors of liberalism in a bid to appeal to young gay, lesbian and bisexual people, new research...

News_finger on tablet

Academic chairs event at leading policy institute

King’s academic, Dr Russell Foster acted as chair at a special Chatham House event on independence movements in Europe.

SPENewsStock

Radical right 'attempting to appeal to LGB community', research finds

Some radical right groups are positioning themselves as protectors of liberalism in a bid to appeal to young gay, lesbian and bisexual people, new research...

Rainbow flag

Breaking Britain returns for a new series

The third series of the Breaking Britain podcast has officially launched.

AH-podcase

Book edited by academic will offer fresh perspectives

The upcoming edition of a bestselling book features a chapter penned by a King’s College London academic.

PoliticsUK

Academic is guest editor for special journal edition

A new special edition of the Journal of Contemporary European Research was guest-edited by a King’s College London academic.

Writing & Publishing Image

Roundtable examines impact of UK breakup on security

The impact of Scottish independence on security and stability were discussed by an expert panel at a roundtable event hosted by King’s College London.

IndependenceRound

Events

10NovEISwar

War, Crisis and a Changing Europe

Part of the thirtieth anniversary series for the Department of European and International Studies at King's College London

Please note: this event has passed.

10Octeduard-delputte-soldier-unsplash

War, crisis and a changing Europe

Part of the thirtieth anniversary series for the Department of European and International Studies at King's College London

Please note: this event has passed.

Features

What should the policy priorities for the new UK government be once elected?

Whoever takes up residence in 10 Downing Street after the general election, their in-tray is sure to be full-to-bursting.

election header image