Irene Fernandez-Molina

Irene Fernandez-Molina is a Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Exeter, joining in 2015. She holds a PhD in Political Science/International Relations from Complutense University of Madrid, with fieldwork in Morocco and France. Her research focuses on the international relations of the Global South, frozen conflicts (e.g., Western Sahara and Libya), recognition practices, and EU-Mediterranean relations. She has held roles including Director of Education and Student Experience (DESE) for Politics and International Relations, and previously lectured at the College of Europe (Bruges and Natolin campuses).

• Education: PhD in Political Science from Complutense University of Madrid (thesis on Moroccan foreign policy)
• Affiliations: Centre of Advanced International Studies (CAIS), Centre for Elections, Media & Participation (CEMP)
• Grants: British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grant (2019–2020) for research on Libya's international politics of recognition

Her work explores subalternity, southern agency, and the political economy of dependency. Recent projects include studies on contested states, migration diplomacy, and the EU's engagement with non-state actors in conflict zones. She has also contributed to debates on frozen conflicts and the Maghreb's role in global politics.