Michelle Small

Michelle Small is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of International Relations at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. She is an active researcher and academic with a focus on security, conflict, forced migration, and decolonial approaches to International Relations. She serves as a Special Procedures Independent Expert on the United Nations Working Group on Mercenaries and previously held leadership in research ethics at her institution.

Research Interests: Her work centers on (in)security dynamics in Africa, including private military and security companies, mercenaries, election violence, forced migration, and ethics in higher education. She is deeply engaged in decolonizing curricula and research methodologies in International Relations, advocating for pluralistic and Global South epistemologies.

The recent publications (2024–2025) reflect a strong thematic continuity in African security, peacebuilding, climate policy, and electoral integrity. Her work spans academic journals, policy reports, and book chapters, often addressing both theoretical and practical dimensions of global and regional governance. Key trends include a focus on regional autonomy, epistemological diversity, and human rights-based approaches to security and migration.

Scientific Awards:

• No specific awards or honors are mentioned in the provided text.

Advising and Grants: While no formal list of students or grants is provided, her senior academic role, PhD supervision capacity, and active research portfolio suggest involvement in mentoring graduate students and securing research funding. Her leadership on multi-year thematic projects and policy engagement with bodies like the UN and SAIIA indicates likely grant-supported research initiatives.

Labs and Research Teams: Michelle Small is involved in collaborative research on private military and security companies in Africa, foreign military presence, apartheid-era front companies, and decolonial pedagogy. While no formal lab is named, her affiliations with the UN Working Group on Mercenaries and her former role in the university’s ethics committee point to active participation in interdisciplinary and policy-oriented research networks.