Dibyesh Anand

Dibyesh Anand is Professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of Westminster, where he previously served as Head of the School of Social Sciences until 2023. Currently Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement and Employability, he co-chairs the university's Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee and the BME Network. Anand holds visiting positions at Northeastern University and New College of the Humanities, and leads London Higher's EDI Network.

Education includes a PhD from University of Bristol (2002), MA in International Law and Politics from University of Hull (Chevening Scholar), and BA in History from St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi (National Talent Scholar).

Research interests concentrate on:

• Colonial practices of postcolonial states (China in Tibet/Xinjiang, India in Kashmir)
• Stateless Tibetan politics and diaspora identities
• Majoritarian nationalisms and religious extremism
• Security politics and representational violence

Publication analysis reveals consistent focus on South Asian geopolitics, with recent work expanding to Kurdish studies and democratic backsliding. Article clusters examine colonial legacies (35%), identity politics (30%), security frameworks (20%), and methodological innovation in ethnography (15%).

Scientific awards include:

• Research England EDI Expert Advisory Group appointment (2023-2026)
• Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship (2022)
• Multiple British Academy research grants (2006-2018)
• GDSU Emerging Scholar Prize (2003)

Advising portfolio includes 28 PhD completions and 4 ongoing students, with projects spanning federalism in Balochistan to Afro-diasporic identities. Grant leadership includes UKRI projects on Tibetan human rights documentation (£450k) and anti-racism frameworks in higher education (£320k).

Leads the Centre for the Study of Democracy research group, coordinating international collaborations on Himalayan border studies and organizing high-profile events with Arundhati Roy and the Dalai Lama.