Helen Hawthorne

Dr Helen Hawthorne is a Senior Lecturer in Politics at Middlesex University, serving as Programme Leader for International Politics undergraduate programmes. Her academic career spans over a decade, with roles including Senior Lecturer (since 2020), Lecturer (2014–2020), and hourly-paid lecturer at City University London (2004–2013). She holds a PhD in International Relations from City University London, an MA in International Relations from the University of Kent, and a PGC in Higher Education from Middlesex University, alongside being a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Her research focuses on international trade policy, particularly the role of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in global institutions like the WTO, and issues of global political economy, sustainability, and gender resilience. She teaches modules such as Global Political Economy, The Politics of Globalisation, and World Trade Organisation Law and Policy.

Her work examines the normative frameworks governing LDCs' participation in global trade systems, including special treatment mechanisms and institutional dynamics. Recent research also addresses gender dimensions in sustainability and disaster resilience. She has supervised two PhD candidates, including Adeelah Kodabux (2020) and Oscar Barrero-Leal (ongoing).

Dr Hawthorne's scholarly contributions include analyses of WTO norms, LDC accession processes, and the interplay between trade policies and global inequality. Her 2022 article on trade negotiations highlights pedagogical approaches to consensus-building in global governance, while earlier works explore LDCs' challenges in navigating international trade frameworks.