Simona Rentea

Simona Rentea, Ph.D., is a faculty member in the Department of Political Science at Saint Louis University-Madrid. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Manchester and specializes in International Relations, political theology, and biopolitics. Her work critically examines the Westphalian order, the politics of imagination, and liberal biopolitics.

Research Interests: Dr. Rentea's research explores the intersections of political theory, theology, and global governance. Her work investigates how imagination shapes political and economic alternatives, particularly in anti-austerity movements in Spain. She engages with critical theories of sovereignty, biopower, and the limits of liberal democracy.

The recent publications and works in progress reflect a strong trend toward rethinking global political order, the role of theology in politics, and the transformative potential of social movements. Her scholarship spans biopolitics, political theology, and the reimagining of international relations beyond traditional frameworks.

Scientific Contributions:

• Co-edited The Ashgate Research Companion to Biopolitics (2015)
• Guest editor for special issues in Theory & Event and Law & Critique
• Multiple invited talks at international conferences including WISC, BISA, and University of Ljubljana

Advising and Grants: While no formal advisees or grant funding are listed, Dr. Rentea actively mentors academic discourse through organizing roundtables and workshops, such as 'The IR Scholar as Public Intellectual' and 'Europe’s Common: Spaces of Action, Battles for Knowledge'. Her role as a public intellectual is evident in her engagement with contemporary political movements.

Labs and Research Teams: Dr. Rentea collaborates internationally, notably with scholars like Sergei Prozorov, Andreja Zevnik, and Erzsebet Strausz. Though no formal lab is mentioned, her work is deeply collaborative and part of a broader network in critical international theory.