Kathryn Starnes

Dr. Kathryn Starnes is a Senior Lecturer in International Relations at Manchester Metropolitan University. Her work focuses on narrative and literary approaches to IR theory, emphasizing how disciplinary storytelling shapes knowledge production and exclusionary practices. She holds a PhD from the University of Manchester, an MSc(Econ) from Aberystwyth University, and a BA from the University of Southern California. Her research explores canon formation in IR, epistemic violence, and community-based folklore projects. She teaches courses on decolonial approaches, feminist IR, and disciplinary history, emphasizing radical pedagogy.

Education:

• PhD Politics and International Relations, University of Manchester
• MSc(Econ) International Relations, University of Wales, Aberystwyth
• BA International Relations, University of Southern California

Research Interests: Dr. Starnes investigates how IR’s disciplinary narratives marginalize non-Western perspectives through canon formation. She employs folklore and fairy tales to critique epistemic hierarchies and promote inclusive knowledge communities. Her work bridges theory and practice, including community-based folklore projects that address social and political issues through collaborative storytelling.

Teaching and Pedagogy: She prioritizes student-centered learning, using narrative methods to make IR theory accessible. Her approach challenges traditional disciplinary boundaries through autoethnography and autoethnographic storytelling. She supervises research on narrative approaches to international politics, critical IR canon critiques, and pedagogical innovations rooted in folklore.

Advising and Community Work: Her community initiatives recover and reimagine local folklore to address contemporary political challenges. These projects emphasize participatory knowledge creation and cultural preservation.