Stephen Taylor

Stephen Taylor is Professor of International Development and Sociology within the Centre for Global Development at Northumbria University and holds a Visiting Professor position at the South Asia Institute, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. He has previously held academic positions at Durham, Nottingham Trent, Teesside and Salford universities before joining Northumbria in 2009, where he has served in multiple leadership roles including Head of Department, Associate Dean, and Research Director.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Sociology and Social Policy from Durham University (1992-1996)
• MA in Sociology from University of Warwick (1990-1991)
• BA (Hons) in Communication Studies (1986-1989)

Taylor's research expertise spans South Asian migration, transnationalism, and diasporas; caste inequalities; agrarian change and Dalit social movements in India; and climate action and adaptation in South Asia. His work demonstrates consistent focus on India, particularly the states of Punjab and Kerala, examining how social structures like caste operate across transnational contexts and how diaspora communities engage with development and climate challenges in their countries of origin.

His recent publications show a clear trend toward examining climate adaptation through a diaspora lens, particularly in Kerala, while maintaining his longstanding focus on caste dynamics within Punjabi communities. The research demonstrates interdisciplinary approaches combining sociology, development studies, and environmental studies to address complex social challenges in South Asia.

Taylor has served on editorial boards of prominent journals including Sociology, Sociological Research Online, Migration and Development, and Contemporary Voice of Dalit, reflecting his standing in the academic community. He has also held significant professional roles, notably as Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee of the British Sociological Association.

As an active researcher and supervisor, Taylor was recently Principal Investigator on a British Academy funded project titled 'International Migration and Inclusive Development in India' and is currently working on research examining South Asian diasporic engagement in climate action across India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. His academic leadership extends to serving as REF 2021 UOA Lead for Social Policy.

Taylor maintains active research collaborations across South Asia, having served as Visiting Professor at Panjab University, Chandigarh and at both the Centre for Development Studies and the International Institute for Migration and Development in Kerala, demonstrating strong institutional connections to the region he studies.