Martin Bayly

Dr. Martin Bayly is an Assistant Professor in International Relations Theory at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), affiliated with the Department of International Relations. His research focuses on historical international relations, historical sociology, and constructivism, with a particular emphasis on colonial knowledge systems in South Asia and Afghanistan. He holds a PhD from King’s College London, an MPhil from Oxford University, and a BA from the University of Newcastle Upon-Tyne.

His key expertise includes the study of empire and colonialism, particularly through the lens of knowledge production and frontier governance. His award-winning book, Taming the Imperial Imagination (2016), examines Anglo-Afghan relations and the role of colonial knowledge in shaping British policy. Current projects explore South Asian international thought and the intellectual history of global IR through colonial institutions like the Asiatic Society of Bengal.

Bayly has been funded by the British Academy and has held positions at LSE’s Centre for International Studies. His work bridges historical analysis and contemporary IR theory, challenging Eurocentric narratives through non-Western perspectives. He has contributed to debates on empire, decolonization, and pandemic governance, with articles published in leading journals and edited volumes.

• Grants: British Academy-funded research project (2016–2019)
• Labs/Teams: Affiliated with LSE’s Centre for International Studies