The University of Sheffield
Department of Politics

Academic Staff: Owen Parker

Dr Owen Parker, BSc (Bath), MSc (LSE), MA, PhD (Warwick) Owen Parker

Lecturer in European Politics

Telephone: 07950 507735
Fax: +44 (0)114 222 1717

Email: o.parker@sheffield.ac.uk

Profile

Owen Parker joined the Department in April 2012 from the University of Warwick, where he was a Research Fellow in the Centre for the Study of Globalisation and Regionalisation and the Department of Politics and International Studies. Owen was awarded a PhD in Politics and International Studies from Warwick in September 2010 (ESRC funded) and holds Masters degrees from Warwick (Politics, International Political Economy track, 2007) and the London School of Economics and Political Science (International Relations, 2002).

Dr Parker’s research sits at the intersection of international theory (IR and IPE) and European studies and he has published in academic journals in both sub-disciplines. In particular his work examines via a range of historical and contemporary cases the relationship between Europe as a security/peace project and Europe as a market project, as it pertains to both internal and external EU policies.

His current project addresses questions of European citizenship, security and identity via an analysis of the government and predicament of Europe's 'Roma' and 'traveller' populations and is entitled 'Roma Resistance in the EU: Beyond Cosmopolitan Government?'. Dr Parker will be on research leave until the start of 2013, working on this Leverhulme Trust funded project.

Dr Parker’s academic interests dovetail with his prior professional experience. From 2003-6 he was 'International Relations Officer' at the European Commission (Directorate General for Enlargement, Turkey Unit) working on the assessment of Turkey's fulfillment of the EU's Copenhagen political criteria (relating to human rights, democracy, rule of law, minority rights). This role involved working closely with the Council of Europe, the UN, Turkish and international NGOs, the Commission delegation in Ankara and the Turkish Foreign Ministry. Owen has acted as a consultant to various civil society organisations, including the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Minority Rights Group.

Teaching

I will teach modules on European studies. Such modules relate directly to my research interests and prior professional experience. My overriding aim in developing modules in this area is to render the EU an interesting, relevant and even exciting (!), object of study for students. Thus, while the EU itself is often regarded and portrayed as a highly technocratic and bureaucratic entity, I seek to emphasise the political and normative importance of the EU – its significance for the lives of European citizens and those beyond Europe’s borders. In so doing I draw on a mainstream European studies, but also materials from beyond these literatures and, indeed, beyond academic scholarship (relevant media etc.).

My teaching philosophy is geared towards, to use the current jargon, the activation of independent learners and thinkers. This essentially means trying to nurture an intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm in students; a desire and ability to explore linkages between different domains of scholarship and between theory and practice. I believe that such curiosity and enthusiasm will stand students in good stead whatever their chosen direction after University. Practically, this approach means treating students as well-informed participants in a collective discussion and creating a friendly learning environment in which all feel free to participate. In seminars this could mean deploying such tools as group work, presentations, case-studies, debates and role plays. In lectures it means involving students as participants whenever practically possible.

Recent Invited Papers and Keynote Lectures

Key Projects/Grants

Awarding Body: Leverhulme Trust (Early Career Fellowship)
Title of Research: Roma Resistance in the EU: Beyond Cosmopolitan Government?
Duration: October 2011-2013
Total Award: approx. £55 000

Current Research

My current funded project examines EU and national policies (France, Spain and UK) towards Roma and traveller populations, particularly migrant Roma. This empirical case will be used to explore the possibilities and limits of EU citizenship in particular and of a post-national or ‘cosmopolitan’ EU in general. This research will build upon previous work on Europe and cosmopolitan theory and practice, notably the book Cosmopolitan Government in Europe: Citizens and Entrepreneurs in Post-national Politics (Routledge, Interventions, forthcoming 2012).

I am also involved in smaller projects on: ‘social Europe’; contemporary economic governance in the EU; and the idea of Europe as a ‘normative power’ in international relations.

Key Publications

Books

Journal Articles

Book Chapters

View Dr Parker's full list of publications.

PhD Supervision

I would be interested in supervising students working on any aspect of European politics. I am particularly keen to supervise students interested in deploying critical social and political theory/ theorists (post-structural, post-Marxist, cosmopolitan, constructivist, Critical Theory etc.).