James Hughes

James Hughes is a Professor of Comparative Politics at the London School of Economics (LSE), serving as Director of the Conflict Research Group since 2007. He joined LSE in 1994 as a Lecturer, advancing through Senior Lecturer (1998), Reader (2002), and ultimately Professor (2007). He previously taught at the Universities of Surrey, Keele, and Trinity College Dublin. His research focuses on political violence, terrorism, and post-conflict reconciliation, with expertise in the Former Soviet Union, the Balkans, and Northern Ireland.

• Education:
  • BSc (First Class) in Political Science and Ancient History, Queen's University Belfast (1982)
  • PhD in Political Science at LSE (1982–1987), including a year at Moscow State University as a British Council Scholar

His research interests span violent political conflict, post-conflict reconciliation, EU conflict management, and democratization. He has authored nine books, including Rethinking Reconciliation and Transitional Justice After Conflict (2018) and Chechnya from Nationalism to Jihad (2007). Key areas of study include radicalization, state responses to political violence, and the EU's role in conflict resolution.

His awards include Nuffield Social Science Fellowship (1994–1995) and a Jean Monnet Fellowship (2001–2002). He has advised governments, NGOs, and international organizations such as UNDP and the Open Society Institute. His work emphasizes empirical fieldwork, including extensive research in Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and Siberia.

• Grants & Projects:
  • Major research funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the European Union
  • Consultancy roles with UNDP in Eastern Europe and the Open Society Institute’s Academic Fellowship Program in Kosovo and Macedonia
• Professional Roles:
  • Member of the International Advisory Board of the European Centre for Minority Issues
  • Past member of the UK Political Studies Association Executive Committee
• Labs/Teams:
  • Directs the Conflict Research Group at LSE, focusing on interdisciplinary analysis of political violence and conflict resolution