International Studies Research Unit

The International Studies Research Unit addresses contemporary questions concerning international and global issues.

The International Studies Research Unit (ISRU) is an interdisciplinary research centre based in the School of Law and Politics at Cardiff University.

ISRU addresses contemporary questions concerning international and global issues. The unit provides an intellectual meeting place for scholars, practitioners, policy makers and civil society groups. It offers the opportunity to transcend disciplinary boundaries.

ISRU has developed particular expertise in International Political Theory, International Relations, International Security, International Law, International Law and Global Justice. The Unit provides a stimulating and supportive research environment for the PGR, PhD and postdoctoral community working in this area. It creates a vibrant environment of research excellence in an array of sub-fields.

ISRU is one of the core research units within the School of Law and Politics. International Relations research in Cardiff dates back to early the 20th century and was significantly expanded in 2015. By 2016, 20 new full-time International Relations scholars had joined the Department from world-leading institutions.

ISRU activities are organised by a steering group which reflects the diversity of our research. Dr Hannes Hansen-Magusson, Dr Anne Harrington, Dr Alena Drieschova and Rosa Maryon are the current members of the ISRU steering group. Dr Anne Harrington is the ISRU convener.

Research

ISRU is linked to a range of affiliated centres and research units across the university that have an interest in international studies.

Cardiff Centre for Crime, Law and Justice
Centre for European Law and Governance
Centre for Law and Global Justice
European Governance, Identity and Public Policy
Political Theory
Wales Governance Centre

Researchers at the Unit are actively involved in a range of journals and book series:

*European Journal of International Security (Cambridge University Press)
*Journal of Critical Military Studies (Taylor and Francis)
*Law, Social Justice and Global Development
*New Perspectives: Interdisciplinary Journal of Central & East Euro-pean Politics & International Relations,
*Anglo-American relations research series (EUP)
*Digital Technologies and Global Politics Book Series (Row-man&Littlefield)
*Private Security Studies Book Series (Routledge)

The Unit maintains active relations with a range of universities across the globe.

In the UK the Unit has partnerships with researchers at the universities of Bath, Bristol, and Exeter through the several networks of the Great West-ern Four (GW4) university alliance. We also work closely with Edinburgh University.

In Europe we work with researchers from the Center of Advanced Security Theory and the Centre for Military Studies, Copenhagen University (Den-mark), the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (Germany), the University of Mainz (Germany), the Centre for Global Cooperation Research, University of Duisburg-Essen (Germany), Goethe University Frankfurt (Germany), the European University Institute (Florence, Italy), the University of Warsaw (Poland), the University of Thessaloniki (Greece), and the European Jour-nalism Centre.

Globally we work together on projects with the University of Johannesburg (South Africa), the University of Adelaide (Australia), Xiamen University (China), Strathmore University Law School (Nairobi, Kenya), the Medical Faculty of Aga Khan University Hospital (Nairobi, Kenya), the Centre for African Studies (Cape Town, South Africa), the University of Dar es Sa-laam (Tanzania), and The American University in Cairo (Egypt).
We regular host international visiting fellows.

ISRU also works in close collaboration with
*BISA Poststructuralist Working Group
*European International Studies Association
*UNA Wales
*Welsh Centre for International Affairs