Rebecca Tapscott

Dr. Rebecca Tapscott is a Lecturer in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of York. Her research focuses on authoritarian power dynamics, state authority, and ethical research methodologies, with a regional specialization in Uganda and the Global South. She holds a PhD from Tufts University’s Fletcher School and has held prestigious fellowships including the Swiss National Science Foundation-funded 'Governing Research Ethics' project and the Albert Hirschman Centre’s Ambizione Fellowship.

Tapscott’s key projects include the Ugandan Resistance Councils (URC) study, examining local governance structures, and the Ethics Governance Network (EGN), addressing transnational research ethics regulations. She serves as Risk and Ethics Officer at York and Deputy Director of the White Rose Security, Conflict, and Justice Pathway. Her work has been recognized with awards such as the Carl Beck Award and the Alfred Rubin Prize.

• Educations: PhD in International Relations (Fletcher School, Tufts University), Post-Doctoral Fellowships at Geneva Graduate Institute and London School of Economics.
• Research Interests: Authoritarianism, gender and citizenship, state violence, and ethical research practices.
• Editorial Roles: Board member of International Studies Review, Associate Editor of Research Ethics, and Reviews Editor of Civil Wars.

Her publications include the acclaimed book *Arbitrary States: Social Control and Modern Authoritarianism in Museveni’s Uganda* (Oxford UP, 2021), which explores Uganda’s security and governance structures. Tapscott is actively involved in mentoring PhD students in comparative politics and international relations.