معرفی
Professor Kate Bedford is a Professor of Law and Political Economy at Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham, where she has been since 2018. Her interdisciplinary work bridges law, political economy, development studies, and gender/sexuality studies. She holds a PhD in Political Science (Rutgers, 2005), an MA in Women’s Studies (Ohio State, 2000), and a BA in History and Sociology from the University of Leeds (1997).
Research Interests: Bedford’s work explores how law shapes economies and social structures, particularly through her studies of international development institutions like the World Bank and the political economy of gambling regulation. Her landmark book Bingo Capitalism (Oxford UP, 2019) won two major awards for its analysis of global gambling regulation through a gendered lens. Current projects include the role of law in gender/development debates and the World Bank’s engagement with ride-hailing companies.
Grants & Projects: Lead researcher on an ESRC-funded £1.4M project (A Full House) examining global bingo regulation, resulting in policy impacts and academic outputs. Collaborations include UNRISD, Ford Foundation, and the Bretton Woods Project.
Awards:
- 2020 Hart-SLSA Book Prize
- 2020 British International Studies Association International Political Economy Book Prize
Teaching & Supervision: Leads modules in Global Law, International Law, and Legal Systems. Supervises PhDs on law and development (Latin America focus), law and political economy, gender/sexuality law, and gambling regulation.
Public Engagement: Advised UK policymakers on gambling reform and contributed to The Lancet and Times Higher Education. Her research on bingo’s socio-economic role has informed public debates and regulatory frameworks.
