Donatella Bonansinga

Dr Donatella Bonansinga is an Associate Lecturer in the Department of Political Science at University College London (UCL), specializing in populism, migration, and globalization. She holds a PhD in Political Science and International Studies from the University of Birmingham (2023), alongside MAs in Social Research Methods (2018), European Politics (2014), and Global Politics (2013). Prior to UCL, she worked as a Senior Researcher at YouGov and contributed to research at the University of Surrey and Birmingham. Her research explores populist communication and emotional mechanisms, with a focus on anger, fear, pride, and hope in political discourse. She is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Her teaching includes modules on Globalisation and Populism (POLS0055) and The Politics of Immigration (PUBL0093). Recent publications examine TikTok strategies of populist parties, insecurity narratives in left-wing populism, and the securitisation of migration in populist discourse. Her work bridges political science, international relations, and political psychology.

• Education: PhD (U. Birmingham, 2023), MA Social Research Methods (2018), MA European Politics (2014), MA Global Politics (2013)
• Key Research Themes: Populist communication, emotional politics, crisis narratives, right/left populism dynamics

Publications span journals like Contemporary European Studies, British Journal of Politics and IR, and Innovation, alongside book chapters on populism and political competition. Awards include the Higher Education Academy Fellowship.