Samuel A. T. Johnston

Samuel A. T. Johnston is an ERC Fellow in Politics at University College Dublin, working on the ELECT project. He completed his PhD at Trinity College Dublin in 2022. His academic background includes a Masters of Science in International Politics (Distinction) and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Philosophy, Political Science, Economics, and Sociology (First Class) from Trinity College Dublin.

Dr Johnston's research focuses on two primary areas: the dynamics of election campaigns and the European Union's influence on political parties. His work challenges conventional assumptions about the EU's role in shaping nationalism, suggesting that rather than provoking a backlash centered on central state nationalism (e.g., anti-immigration rhetoric), the EU discourages these forms and incentivizes a focus on sub-national identities.

• Political Parties
• European Union
• Election Campaigns
• UK Politics
• Irish Politics
• Nationalism

His research has been published in esteemed academic journals such as West European Politics, Party Politics, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, and Irish Political Studies. Dr Johnston employs diverse methodological approaches including statistical models, quantitative text analysis, and qualitative process tracing with elite interviews.

• Irish Research Council's Postdoctoral Fellowship (2023, declined)
• Irish Research Council Postgraduate Scholarship (2019)
• Ussher Award from Trinity College Dublin (2018)
• Patrick Keatinge Prize from Trinity College Dublin (2017)
• Foundation Scholarship from Trinity College Dublin (2015)

Dr Johnston has teaching experience at both undergraduate and Master's levels, with modules focused on the EU, Irish and Northern Irish politics, and party politics. His research is supported by the ELECT project at University College Dublin, where he continues to investigate the intersection of European integration, political parties, and electoral dynamics.