Dr Nick Robinson
Lecturer in Public Policy (European Union); Lecturer in public policy (videogames)
The EU and videogames are bedevilled by increasing controversy and my work reflects this. My work on the EU covers issues such as the equitable distribution of EU resources, the nature of EU environmental and transport policy, the role of direct action and issues centred on the exercise of power.
My work on videogames takes quite a different track, being focused on the political role of videogames.
I pride myself on a desire to make academia relevant and am actively engaged in a number of research networks, outreach to local schools and consultancy work.
Research Interests
My interests are wide-ranging but have recently focused on two key areas.
In terms of research on the EU, my work encapsulates three inter-related issues: redistribution in the EU; concepts of power and agenda setting; and politics and activism within the transport and environmental field. My recent publications and ongoing work both reflect this, making a major contribution to the study of the European Union.
In terms of research on videogaming, my work also encapsulates three inter-related themes: the role of games in the militarization of society, theorising gaming and the role of games as facilitators of learning.
Teaching
Teaching is very important to me and complements my research interests very well. I teach two MA modules ('EU public policy' and 'The Politics of the EU') and two undergraduate modules ('Making of the EU' and 'Videogames: Politics, Society and Culture').
PhD Supervision
I would be delighted to supervise suitable students in a range of areas, including the following topics.
- EU public policy
- Politics of videogames
- Redistributive Policy and Politics in the EU
- Agenda Setting (theory and application)
- Politics of the Environment - EU, Britain and European Countries
- Politics of Transport - EU, Britain and European Countries
- Politics of Direct Action
Key Publications
Books
- Robinson, N. (2000) The Politics of Agenda Setting: The Car and the Shaping of Public Policy (Aldershot: Ashgate). 300pp. ISBN: 0 7456 1142 6
Journals
- Robinson, N. (2009) 'The European Investment Bank: The EU's Neglected Institution', Journal of Common Market Studies, vol. 47, no. 3, pp. 651-673.
- Robinson, N. (2009) 'Informal Power in Regional Organisations: The Case of the EU', Journal of Power, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 111-135.
- Robinson, N. (2007) 'More than a Regulatory State: Bringing Expenditure (Back) into EU Research', Comparative European Politics, vol. 5, no. 2, pp.179-204.
- Robinson, N (2003) 'Fuel Protests: Governing the Ungovernable?', Parliamentary Affairs, vol. 56, no.3 , pp. 423-440.
Media Contact Areas
- Videogames: Political, Societal and Culture aspects
- European Union – politics and general policy issues
- European Union parliamentary elections
- EU budgetary policy
- EU enlargement
- EU Treaty changes
- Direct action and popular protest in Britain and Europe
- Transport politics and policy
Contact Details
- Room: SSB 14.26
- Tel: 0113 343 4790
- Fax:0113 343 4400
- Email: n.robinson@leeds.ac.uk
- Office hours: Term time: Monday 9am - 10am, Wednesday 9am - 10am and 12pm - 1pm.
External Links
Forthcoming New Regionalism and the European Union: Dialogues, Comparisons and New Research Directions Edited by Nick Robinson, Ben Rosamond, Alex Warleigh-Lack (Published by Routledge in 2010)
The use of podcasts in providing student feedback [MP3 2.2MB]
ESRC/DfT/Scottish Government Postgraduate Studentship Competition (deadline 18th December 2009)