Samuel Brazys

Samuel Brazys is Associate Professor in the School of Politics and International Relations (SPIRe) at University College Dublin (UCD), where he also serves as Vice Principal for Research, Impact & Innovation in the College of Social Science & Law. He is the Editor of the Journal of International Development and has a strong research profile in international political economy and development.

• BA in Political Science/Economics, Marquette University
• MA in Economics, Indiana University
• MSc in Politics of the World Economy, London School of Economics
• PhD in Political Science, Indiana University
• Professional Certificate in University Teaching & Learning, UCD

His research focuses on the political economy of development, with emphasis on foreign aid, foreign direct investment, Chinese development finance, and governance. He employs sub-national and spatial analysis methods, often using geo-referenced data to assess local-level impacts of development interventions in Africa, South Asia, and the Pacific. His work bridges comparative and international political economy, international organizations, and development studies.

Recent publications reveal a consistent trend in analyzing the spatial and political dimensions of development finance, particularly Chinese aid and FDI, and their effects on conflict, governance, and public perceptions. His work increasingly engages with public diplomacy, as seen in studies on mask diplomacy and wolf warrior rhetoric, using large-scale text analysis of media and social media.

• Irish Research Council Grant: Trade Related Assistance for Development. Evidence from Micro-Level Evaluations (2018)
• UCD College of Human Sciences Research Funding Scheme (2015–2016)

His research has had significant policy impact, notably cited by the U.S. State Department in decisions regarding Confucius Institutes. He is a member of major professional associations including the American Political Science Association and the International Studies Association. He teaches core modules in International Political Economy, Research Methods, and Governance and Development, and has coordinated thesis and internship programs.

He leads a research agenda that critically examines donor behavior, recipient agency, and the political economy of global development, contributing to both academic discourse and policy debates.