About
Dr Rahul Rao is a Professor of Political Theory at the Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) at SOAS University of London. He is also a member of the SOAS South Asia Institute and the Radical Philosophy collective. His research focuses on international relations theory, postcolonial and queer theory, comparative political thought, and gender/sexuality studies with a regional emphasis on South Asia. He has authored two books: Out of Time: The Queer Politics of Postcoloniality (2020) and Third World Protest: Between Home and the World (2010), both published by Oxford University Press. He is currently writing a book on the politics of controversial statues and blogs occasionally at The Disorder of Things.
Education:
- BA and LLB (India)
- DPhil (Oxford University)
Research Interests:
- Queer Theory and its intersections with postcolonial thought
- Critical approaches to international relations and global politics
- Comparative political thought across non-Western traditions
- Gender and sexuality in South Asian contexts
Advising & Collaborations:
- Supervises seven PhD students focusing on queer politics, Gulf state dynamics, deliberative democracy in East Asia, and South Asian gender studies.
- Active contributor to the Radical Philosophy collective and SOAS academic initiatives.
Public Engagement:
- Featured on SOAS Radio's Research Forum discussing Out of Time.
- Teaching accessible via Google Calendar for SOAS students.
