Image of Dr Matthew Hill

Dr Matthew Hill

Humanities and Social Science

Faculty of Arts Professional and Social Studies

Matthew joined Liverpool John Moores University as a Senior Lecturer in US History and International Relations in April 2014. He currently runs the International Relations and Politics discipline in the School of Humanities and Social Science. As of August 2022, he is a residential fellow at the Rothermere American Institute, University of Oxford.

Prior to Liverpool John Moores, Matthew was a Senior Lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University working as the Course Convenor for the MA in International Relations. Prior to that, he worked as a Lecturer in US Politics at the School of Advanced Study, University of London where he taught on the MA in Understanding and Securing Human Rights at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies. He was also the principal investigator for two US-based research projects on UK-US Relations In An Age Of Global War 1939-1945, which examined official UK perspectives towards the US, and examined Women and US Foreign Policy, where he interviewed predominantly women involved, and affected by US foreign policy. Matthew was also a lecturer in politics at De Montfort University, Oxford Brookes University and Cardiff University. He completed his Ph.D. on US democracy promotion in Bosnia and Afghanistan under Presidents Clinton and Bush, and his MA was in Near and Middle Eastern Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies.

Matthew received a distinction in his Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching and is now a Fellow at the Higher Education Academy (HEA). He is also an active member of the British International Studies Association’s (BISA) US Foreign Policy working group.

Matthew is interested in taking on Ph.D. candidates in the broad topics of statebuilding and liberal peacebuilding and the history and politics of US foreign policy. If interested, please contact him for a chat.

Matthew is currently working on three research projects: 1) examining contemporary US democracy efforts in the Arab Spring, 2) looking at the effects of climate change on democracy at the theoretical and practical levels and, 3) examining sovereignty disputes between the US and the US over certain Pacific Islands during and after WWII.

He is currently the external examiner for the School of Politics and International Studies at the University of Leeds, is a supervisor to two doctoral students looking at retro-active application of diplomatic immunity and the effects of race and colourism on UK attitudes and approaches to dealing with refugees. He has successfully supported one doctoral candidate that examined the territorial 'remnants' of the British Empire at the political, economic and cultural levels, and has been an external examiner for doctoral students. He is also an active member of the British International Studies Association US Foreign Policy working group.

Languages

Spanish; Castilian

Degrees

2008, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, PhD
2002, School of Oriental and African Studies, United Kingdom, MA in Near and Middle Eastern Studies

Certifications

2013, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom, Post Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching

Academic appointments

Fellow, Rothermere American Institute, Oxford University, 2022 - 2022
Leader for International Relations and Politics, Humanities and Social Science, John Moores University, 2019 - present
Senior Lecturer in US History and International Relations, History, Liverpool John Moores University, 2014 - present

Books (edited)

2022. The Trump Presidency Continuity and Change in US Foreign Policy Hill M, Hurst S. Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/The-Trump-Presidency-Continuity-and-Change-in-US-Foreign-Policy/Hill-Hurst/p/book/9781032314631 9781032314631

Books (authored)

Hill M. 2022. The Rise and Fall of Democracy Promotion in US Foreign Policy: From Carter to Biden Routledge. New York 9781003254799 DOI Publisher Url

Hill MA. 2014. American Politics For Dummies John Wiley & Sons 9781118921128

Hill MA. 2012. Democracy promotion and conflict-based reconstruction: The United States and democratic consolidation in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq :1-248 DOI Publisher Url

Hill MA. 2011. Democracy Promotion and Conflict-based Reconstruction The United States and Democratic Consolidation in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq Routledge 9780415588928

Journal article

Hill M, Hurst S. 2020. The Trump presidency: continuity and change in US foreign policy Introduction Global Affairs, DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Hill M, Hurst S. 2020. The Trump administration: continuity and change in US foreign policy Global Affairs, 6 DOI Publisher Url Public Url

Hill MA. 2010. International actors and democratisation: can USAID deliver a democratic culture to Afghanistan? International Relations Journal, 2 :155-174 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Hill MA. 2010. Erratum to Exploring USAID's democracy promotion in Bosnia and Afghanistan: A 'cookie-cutter approach'? (Democratization, 17, 1 (103)) Democratization, 17 :597 DOI Publisher Url

Hill MA. 2010. Exploring USAID’s democracy promotion in Bosnia and Afghanistan: A ‘cookie-cutter approach’? Democratization, 1 :98-124 DOI Author Url Publisher Url

Book review

Hill MA. 2013. Over There: Living with the U.S. Military Empire from World War Two to the Present Cold War History, 1 :567-568 DOI Publisher Url

Hill MA. 2013. The right kind of revolution: Modernization, development, and U.S. foreign policy from the Cold War to the present Cold War History, 1 :136-137 DOI Publisher Url

Hill MA. 2012. State power and democracy: before and during the Presidency of George W. Bush Journal of Transatlantic Studies, 3 :297-298 DOI Publisher Url

Research Grants Awarded:

Political Studies Association, US foreign policy, Grant value (£): 2,000, Duration of research project: no limitations. 2024

Other invited event:

American and a Global Empire of Knowledge, Online, Invited speaker to webinar talking about contemporary US statebuilding and relationship to empire building.. 2022

The reform of higher education in the Arab world in a comparative perspective: the case of the faculties of law, Online, Presented a paper at an international conference on higher education reform in the UK. 2021

The reform of Higher Education in the Arab world, Online, I was invited to speak to an international conference on the status of higher education and current proposed reforms so that we could have a global comparative discussion on reforms to be implemented in the Arab world.. 2021

Inside US Politics: former Members of the US Congress talk America, Trump and Elections, Waterstones, Liverpool, All 120 tickets have been taken by members of the public that attended. Matthew Hill organised and will participate in this event. Two former members of the US Congress will be hosted by The International Relations and Politics Programme at LJMU, to discuss the state of US politics today. It promises to be an engaging and wide-ranging conversation, and comes at an important time in US domestic and international politics. Issues we are all asking include, what impact will the impeachment trial and possible eviction from the Office have on President Trump and US politics? After the assassination of the Iranian General Suleimani how is the US engaging with Iran? Will Donald Trump win the 2020 presidential election? Congresspeople Elizabeth Esty, a Democrat from Connecticut (2013-19) and Jeff Miller, a Republican from Florida (2001-17) will be part of our panel, and Dr Matthew Alan Hill, the Programme Leader for International Relations and Politics at LJMU, will chair the event.. 2020

Rethinking Neoclassical Realism – Paradigms and Power Shifts, LSE, London, 20 years after Gideon Rose’s famous review article, and with neoclassical realism firmly established in International Relations and Foreign Policy Analysis, this workshop aims at critically re-appraising and refining the approach. The workshop seeks to make three contributions: firstly, it investigates neoclassical realism’s roots, theoretical scope and domain as well as its core assumptions. Secondly, it assesses neoclassical realism’s potential to bridge disciplinary divides between realism, liberalism, and constructivism in the study of foreign policy and international politics, including through the integration of or fruitful juxtaposition with classical realist, liberal, constructivist and critical scholarship. Thirdly, it assesses a thusly reformulated neoclassical realism’s potential to provide answers to core disciplinary questions in a changing world, including on globalization, global power shifts, technology, and populism.. 2018

What the ‘World’ Thinks of the US?, Waterstones, Liverpool, There were 100+ members of the public that attended. Matthew Hill organised and participated in this event. Whether by design or accident, the Trump administration has often torn up the rule book on how to behave at the international level. Trump's unusual approach has attracted most of our attention but what does the rest of the ‘world’ think about the US and how do these states act in the international arena? This panel brings in a number of experts to shed light on what the rest of the world is doing and thinking. Each panellist will have 5 minutes and then the discussion will be open to you, the public. It promises to be a rich and engaging conversation, and is open to everyone interested in world affairs. This discussion is organised by the British International Studies Association (BISA) US Foreign Policy Working group in association with Waterstones bookstore and Liverpool John Moores University. The panellists include Dr Matthew Alan Hill, (USFP expert) LJMU, Steven Erlanger, Diplomatic Correspondent for the New York Times, Dr Xin (Calvin) Liu (Chinese expert) LJMU, Dr Ruth Deyermond, Kings College London (Russian Expert) Dr Dimitrios Anagnokstasis University of Aberdeen (European expert) Dr Geraldo Zahran, Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paolo (Latin & South American expert) & Dr Maria Ryan, University of Nottingham (US expert) .. 2018

100 Years of Wilsoniainism: Global Historical Perspectives, SOAS, University of London, UK, I have been invited to a symposium at the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy at the School of Oriental and African Studies to discuss US foreign policy.. 2017

Out with the old?, The Great Hall, Ullet Road Unitarian church, L17 2AA (York Street entrance), Sefton Park, Liverpool L17 2AA, I was an invited speaker at this event (http://www.liverpoolsalon.org.uk/outwiththeold/) From constitutional battles and economic uncertainty at home to political turbulence across Europe and a new president heading into the White House, the winds of change will continue to blow in the year ahead, but in what direction are they blowing? Are you apprehensive, in despair or exhilarated at the prospect of another year of change? Or have you simply given up making predictions? Whatever your hopes, fears, excitement or uncertainties the Liverpool Salon invites you to join a conversation on the tumulteous year that’s gone and the future that awaits. Join three local authors and academics who will share their knowledge of US and European politics and the economy and give their take on 2016 to start the evening off.. 2017

Donald Trump, the next US President: How did we get it so wrong?, Waterstones L1 Liverpool, Matthew Hill organised and participated in this event. Cheryl Hudson from the History Department at the University of Liverpool was on the panel as well. 20 people attended. On November 8, the US electorate voted for Donald Trump to be the next President of the United States. Whilst he did not win the popular vote he did secure 290 Electoral College votes, enough to secure him the White House. And with the Republican Party keeping control of the Senate and the House of Representatives, there is an opportunity for a Republican agenda both in domestic and foreign policy to be consecrated. In the last event Matthew and Malcolm were pretty convinced that Clinton would win; what went wrong? Was it liberal bias, a blind faith in the rationality of humans that led them astray? What does Trump’s victory say about the battle for America’s identity? Is it too simple to say that there were enough angry voters to tip the polls? All these questions and more were discussed at this event.. 2016

US Presidential Election event, University of Liverpool, I was invited by the University of Liverpool Politics Department to co-host its US Presidential Election night event at the Guildhall. There were 1,500 to 2,000 people that attended the event.. 2016

Can Trump Defy The Odds?, Waterstones L1 Liverpool, Matthew Hill organised and participated in this event that attracted 90+ members of the public. Since Donald Trump announced his candidacy in the summer of 2015 few political experts, commentators or the general population considered him a serious contender for the Republican Party’s nomination for President. He defied the odds then, can he defy the odds in the upcoming general election against the establishment’s Hilary Clinton? Join Matthew Hill along with Malcolm Craig from Liverpool John Moores University discussed whether Trump can win, and what his candidacy means for the future of democracy.. 2016

US 2016 Presidential election, University of Southern Denmark, Odense Denmark, I was part of a panel with a leading Danish expert on US politics discussing the 2016 presidential election to 100 students at the University of Southern Denmark.. 2015

Can the US promote democracy in a place like Afghanistan?, University of Southern Denmark, Odense Denmark, Invited to present a paper on US foreign policy as part of their research seminar series. 80+ invited guests attended.. 2015

School of Advanced Study Dean’s Seminar Series, School of Advanced Study, University of London, Presented a paper discussing the role of democracy promotion in the Obama administration titled: ‘Obama’s Foreign Policy: Who Needs Democracy Promotion When You’ve Got Democracy Assistance?. 2013

Critical and Inclusive? Report and Recommendations on Gender Teaching at SOAS, SOAS, London UK, Panel member discussing gender and US foreign policy alongside the launch of a new report on gender in teaching https://soasgenderreport.wordpress.com/. 2012

University of Westminster research seminar series, University of Westminster, Presented a paper at the Centre for the Study of Democracy seminar series: ‘Can US democracy promotion drive democratic consolidation?’. 2012

Manchester Metropolitan University research seminar series, Manchester Metropolitan University, Presented a paper at the Department of History, Politics and Philosophy seminar series: ‘Contemporary US democracy assistance: can it drive democratic consolidation?’. 2012

Media Coverage:

I spoke on BBC Radio Merseyside about the recent withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan. I explained how it could have been prevented and how the Taliban were possibly going to return to a very strict social control of the people. 2021

I spoke on BBC Radio Merseyside about the recent withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan. I explained how it could have been prevented and how the Taliban were possibly going to return to a very strict social control of the people. 2021

Appeared on the BBC Breakfast show talking about the 2012 US Presidential Election

Conference organisation:

13th Annual BISA US Foreign Policy Working Group conference, LJMU Liverpool, Organiser of the international conference that had 60+ delegates come to LJMU to discuss their research on US foreign policy., https://usfpgroup.org/conferences/. 2018

Brexit in a Changing Geopolitical Context, Co-organiser of the international symposium discussing the geopolitical context and implications of Brexit, and potential scenarios for the EU, the UK and the global order. It examines a number of important questions. These include the new relationship between the UK and the EU, how Europe and the UK will deal with common concerns such as Russia’s resurgence in world affairs and the impact of a Trump presidency on UK-US relations and UK-Europe relations., https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/about-us/events/symposium-brexit. 2017

US Foreign Policy BISA working group and BAAS Postgraduate Conference, Organised a conference on US politics, and workshops on how to present at a conference and get research published in a journal. 2015

International Studies Association Annual Convention, Toronto Canada, Co-organised a panel Setting Geopolitical Trends in US Foreign Relations: Reviewing Reactions to the End of the Cold War After 25 Years. 2014

BISA US Foreign Policy Working Group conference, Warwick UK, Organised a panel on the relationship between women and foreign policy for the Globalisation and American Grand Strategy in a Time of Austerity conference.. 2013

ISA and LSE IDEAS JFK Foreign Policy conference, Organised a conference with LSE IDEAS: Fifty Years without JFK: Rethinking Global Diplomacy, http://www.lse.ac.uk/IDEAS/events/events/2013/130313-JFK.aspx. 2013

Democracy Promotion: Hegemony, Resistance and the Shifting Discourses of Democracy in International Relations, Organised a conference with David Chandler from DPIR, University of Westminster on democracy promotion, http://events.sas.ac.uk/isa/events/view/12034/Democracy+Promotion:+Hegemony,+Resistance+and+the+Shifting+Discourses+of+Democracy+in+International+Relations. 2013

Debate on the decline of the United States of America, Co-organised and chaired debate at the Institute for the Study of the Americas, University of London that included Prof. Mick Cox (LSE), Prof. Iwan Morgan (ISA), Dr. Adam Quinn (Birmingham) and Dr. Nick Kitchen (LSE)., http://www.sas.ac.uk/videos-and-podcasts/politics-development-human-rights/debate-united-states-america-decline. 2012

Seminar on the death penalty in the United States of America, Organised at the Insitute for the Study of the Americas, University of London. 2012

Old wine in a new bottle? Democratisation lessons from Afghanistan and Iraq in the Arab Spring's Libya, Organised panel at the Institute for the Study of the Americas, UK, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnisyc5vRZ8. 2012

Global Political Challenges: Women Advancing Democracy lecture by former US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, Co-organiser, http://www.lse.ac.uk/IDEAS/events/events/2011/111202Albright.aspx. 2011

External PGR examinations performed:

Cardiff University, PhD, Theory-synergetic approach in IR: case-study of BTC and SGC pipelines. 2017

Conference presentation:

Understanding Obama’s application of democracy promotion in the Arab Spring’s Libya, BISA US Foreign Policy Working Group conference, City University, London UK, Oral presentation. 2015

What would Iraq look like if the US-led coalition had invaded? US plans for post-war reconstruction in 1991, BISA US Foreign Policy Working Group conference, London School of Economics, London UK, Oral presentation. 2014

Obama’s Foreign Policy: Who Needs Democracy Promotion When You’ve Got Democracy Assistance?, International Studies Association Annual Convention, San Francisco, USA, Oral presentation. 2013

Contesting sovereignty over Pacific Islands during WWII: The UK versus the US, Circulación De Ideas Y Modelos Sociales En Perspectiva Transatlántica conference, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos Madrid, Spain, Oral presentation. 2012

Learning lessons from the past: Is past US democracy promotion influencing its engagement in Libya?, Transatlantic Studies Association Annual Conference, Cork, Éire, Oral presentation. 2012

The US national interest in promoting democracy: Valuing democratisation but not consolidation?, ECPR General Conference, Reykjavik, Iceland, Oral presentation. 2011

Comparative analysis of democracy promotion by USAID in Bosnia and Afghanistan: How important are contexts in designing a strategy?, American Politics Group annual conference, Oxford University, UK, Oral presentation. 2009

Owning the democratic development of one's culture: The failure of US democracy promotion in Bosnia and Afghanistan to support, not direct, the transition to democracy, Interrogating Democracy in International Relations, MJIA Conference London School of Economics, UK, Oral presentation. 2008

Fellowships:

Fellow, Higher Education Academy (HEA). 2013

Teaching qualification:

Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching (PGCILT). 2013

Membership of professional bodies:

Member, International Studies Association (ISA), http://www.isanet.org/. 2012

Member, Historians of the Twentieth Century United States society (HOTCUS), http://www.hotcus.org.uk/Welcome.html. 2012

Member, British Association for American Studies (BAAS), http://www.baas.ac.uk/. 2010

Member, British International Studies Association (BISA), and its US Foreign Policy working group, http://www.us-foreign-policy.com/. 2009

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