Faiz Sheikh

Dr. Faiz Sheikh is an Assistant Professor in International Relations at the School of Global Studies, University of Sussex, where he joined in 2020. Holding ORCID identifier 0000-0003-2559-5170, he maintains office hours Wednesdays 1100-1200 in room 304, Arts C, and Thursdays 0900-1000 via Zoom, with contact email f.a.sheikh@sussex.ac.uk.

His research critically interrogates Eurocentric foundations of International Relations through political theory, political Islam, and global governance. Specializing in non-Western perspectives, he examines historical ideas in international politics, pluralism/universalism in political thought, and Islamic political philosophy. His work explores how concepts travel across cultural contexts and challenges the limits of community in global politics, with particular focus on the Muslim umma and Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Sheikh's publication trends reveal a sustained decolonial project in IR scholarship, moving from early analyses of the Muslim umma (2013-2017) to contemporary engagements with race theory and liberal order crises (2025). His interdisciplinary approach spans historical scholarship (Ibn Khaldun), institutional analysis (OIC), post-secular boundaries, and innovative uses of popular culture (zombie narratives) as theoretical resources.

• Welcomes doctoral proposals in IR theory, non-Western political thought, Islamic political thought, and religion-IR intersections
• Teaches Classical Political Thought, International Relations Theory (MA), and Islamic Political Thought
• Explicitly supports BIPOC/BME/LGBTQI+ students with gender identity/pronoun respect