Dr Paul Anderson
Humanities and Social Science
Paul Anderson is Senior Lecturer in Politics.
Paul's research largely focuses on comparative territorial politics. He is interested in autonomy and secessionist movements, regional political parties, majority and minority nationalisms, intergovernmental relations, and the use of autonomy as a tool of conflict resolution.
Paul is co-lead of the UACES-JMCT RN 'Reimagining Territorial Politics in Times of Crisis (2020-2024) and co-director of the 50 Shades of Federalism project. He is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Since 2017, Paul has been involved in an ongoing project with the Hanns Seidel Foundation on democracy and federalism in Myanmar, working with various stakeholders, such as activists, civil servants, parliamentarians and political parties. Paul has given evidence to, and been cited by, committees in both the House of Lords and Scottish Parliament and is a regular media commentator on British politics.
Currently, Paul is leading a research project on metro mayors in England and the experience of relations between the combined authorities and central government. He is also in the process of finishing his first research monograph comparing territorial politics in Catalonia and Scotland, to be published by Manchester University Press.
Paul would be interested in supervising PhD topics on aspects of British or Scottish politics or territorial politics more broadly. Feel free to contact him directly.
In 2022-23 Paul will lead the following modules:
L4: Comparative Politics (S1)
L5: British Politics: Continuity, Change and Crisis (S1)
L6: Comparative Nationalism, Secession and the Politics of Territory (S2)
Languages
Catalan; Valencian
Spanish; Castilian
Degrees
2019, Canterbury Christ Church University, United Kingdom, PhD
2014, Pompeu Fabra University, Spain, Masters in Current Democracies: Nationalism, Federalism and Multiculturalism
2011, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom, MA(Hons) Politics and Spanish
Academic appointments
Senior Lecturer in International Relations and Politics, International Relations and Politics, Liverpool John Moores University, 2021 - present
Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, Canterbury Christ Church University, 2019 - 2021
Sessional Lecturer, Politics and International Relations, Canterbury Christ Church University, 2016 - 2019
Journal article
Anderson P, Swan CB, Ferreira C, Sijstermans J. 2023. State making or state breaking?’ Crisis, COVID‐19 and the constitution in Belgium, Spain and the United Kingdom Nations and Nationalism, DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Schnabel J, Anderson P, De Francesco F. 2023. Multilevel Governance and Political Leadership: Crisis Communication in Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 Pandemic Journal of European Public Policy, DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Anderson P. 2020. Decentralisation at a Crossroads: Spain, Catalonia and the Territorial Crisis Ethnopolitics, 19 :342-355 DOI Publisher Url
Anderson P. 2019. Independence 2.0: Digital activism, social media and the Catalan independence movement Catalan Journal of Communication and Cultural Studies, 11 :191-207 DOI Publisher Url
Anderson P. 2018. Canada at 150: The view from Quebec Round Table, 107 :539-542 DOI Publisher Url
Anderson P. 2016. The 2016 Scottish Parliament election: a nationalist minority, a Conservative comeback and a Labour collapse Regional and Federal Studies, 26 :555-568 DOI Publisher Url
Anderson P, Keil S. 2016. Minority Nationalism and the European Union L'Europe en Formation, 379 :40-40 DOI Publisher Url
Internet publication
Anderson P, Schnabel J. 2023. The UK’s intergovernmental relations remain a work in progress Publisher Url
Anderson P, Schnabel J. 2022. Review of intergovernmental relations: the new interministerial structures are a step in the right direction Publisher Url Public Url
Anderson P, Keil S. 2017. FEDERALISM: A TOOL FOR CONFLICT RESOLUTION? Publisher Url Public Url
Chapters
Anderson P. 2022. Spain and the United Kingdom: Between Unitary State Tradition and Federalization Keil S, Kropp S. Emerging Federal Structures in the Post-Cold War Era :49-72 Palgrave Macmillan 978-3-030-93669-3 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Anderson P. 2022. Plurinationalism, Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations in the United Kingdom Fessha Y, Kossler K, Palermo F. Intergovernmental Relations in Divided Societies :91-112 Palgrave Macmillan 978-3-030-88787-2 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Anderson P, Keil S. 2021. Scotland, the UK and Brexit – At a Constitutional Crossroads Eppler A, Jeffery C, Lutgenau S. Qualified Autonomy ad Federalism versus Secession in EU Member States Studien Verlag Publisher Url Public Url
Anderson P, Keil S. 2021. Territorial autonomy, ethnic conflict, and secession: between a rock and a hard place? Lago I. Handbook on Decentralization, Devolution and the State Edward Elgar 978 1 83910 327 8 Publisher Url Public Url
Anderson P. 2021. The Covid-19 Pandemic in the United Kingdom: A Tale of Convergence and Divergence Steytler N. Comparative Federalism and Covid-19 Routledge 9781003166771 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Anderson P, Keil S. 2021. Bosnia and Herzegovina: Constitutional Politics in a ‘State of Minorities Lecours A, Brassard-Dion N, Laforest G. Constitutional Politics in Multinational Democracies :162-187 McGill-Queens University Press 9780228006602 DOI Publisher Url
Anderson P. 2021. A Consociational Compromise? Constitutional Evolution in Spain and Catalonia Keil S, McCulloch A. Power-Sharing in Europe: Past Practice, Present Cases, and Future Directions :201-225 Palgrave MacMillan 978-3-030-53590-2 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Anderson P. 2021. THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN THE UNITED KINGDOM: A tale of convergence and divergence Comparative Federalism and Covid-19: Combating the Pandemic :142-159 9780367763978 DOI Publisher Url
Keil S, Anderson P. 2018. Decentralization as a tool for conflict resolution Handbook of Territorial Politics :89-104 9781784718763
Report
Anderson P, Keil S. 2020. Scotland, the UK and Brexit – At a Constitutional Crossroads: What Next for Scotland? Publisher Url Public Url
Media Coverage:
BBC Radio Merseyside Interview on Boris Johnson (19 June 2023) 2023
BBC Radio Merseyside Interview on the Privileges Committee and Boris Johnson (15 June 2023) 2023
BBC Radio Merseyside Interview (25 April 2023) 2023
Who is Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s new first minister? Interview with Deutsche Welle (28 March 2023) 2023
BBC Radio Merseyside Interview on The Windsor Agreement (28 February 2023) 2023
BBC Radio Merseyside Interview on the Sunak Reshuffle (7 February 2023) 2023
BBC Radio Merseyside Interview (11 January 2023) on Industrial Action 2023
BBC Radio Merseyside Interview - Starmer V Sunak 2023
BBC Radio Merseyside Interview on the Autumn Budget (17 Nov 2022) 2022
BBC Radio Merseyside Interview on Thursday's budget (14 November 2022) 2022
BBC Merseyside Interview on Rishi Sunak’s cabinet and challenges (26 October 2022) 2022
BBC Merseyside Interview on Rishi Sunak as PM (25 October 2022) 2022
BBC Radio Merseyside Interview on Rishi Sunak as PM (24 October 2022) 2022
BBC Radio Merseyside Interview on Liz Truss Resignation (21 October 2022) 2022
BBC Radio Merseyside Interview on Liz Truss as Conservative Leader (18 October 2022) 2022
BBC Radio Merseyside Interview on the Conservative's new economic strategy (17 October 2022) 2022
BBC Merseyside Interview on Conservative Conference (3 October 2022) 2022
BBC Radio Merseyside - Interview on the Mini-Budget (23 September 2022) 2022
BBC Merseyside Interview on expectations of a Liz Truss premiership (5 September 2022) 2022
BBC Merseyside Interview on the Conservative Leadership race 2022 (13 July 2022) 2022
Comment to Newspaper. 'Are we approaching conflict in Catalonia?’, Pravda, 2017
Research Grants Awarded:
James Maddison Charitable Trust, Intergovernmental Relations and Metro Mayors in England, Grant value (£): 5000, Duration of research project: 12 Months. 2023
UACES-JMCT, 'Reimagining Territorial Politics in Times of Crisis', Dr Karlo Basta (University of Edinburgh); Dr Anwen Elias (Aberystwyth University), Grant value (£): 5000, Duration of research project: 4 years. 2020
Other invited event:
Book Launch ‘I want to Break Free: A Practical Guide to Making a New Country’ (Matt Qvortrup)., Manchester, Discussant. 2022
Managing the Pandemic under a Federal Structure: Lessons Learned and Good Practices (Invited Talk), Online Event, Discussion on UK. 2022
Federalism, proportionality and subsidiarity in Covid-19 times: Are there any advantages compared to unitary states? (Invited Talk) (30 June 2022), Online Event, Cases from Local Government: Barcelona and Manchester. 2022
Covid nationalism and bordering: contestation in practice, Virtual event, Webinar organised by SSAHE. Title of presentation: ‘ Coronationalism in the United Kingdom – Between and Beyond Borders’. 2021
The United Kingdom and Switzerland After Brexit: Challenges and Ongoing Issues in Relations to the EU, Fribourg, Switzerland, Invited talk and panel discussion on what Brexit means for the UK and the prospects of a border poll in Northern Ireland and a second Scottish independence referendum.. 2021
'Covid-19 and Centralism in British Government', Online, Discussion on the territorial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and how the UK and devolved governments have handled the crisis.. 2021
External collaboration:
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-constitution-europe-external-affairs-and-culture-committee/meetings/2022/ceeacs62215/agenda, Scottish Parliament, Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee. 2022
https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/25987/pdf/, House of Lords, Constitution Committee. 2021
Hanns Seidel Foundation Myanmar, Hanns Seidel Foundation Myanmar. 2018
Conference presentation:
The Federation That Never Was – Emergence and Failure of Federalism in Myanmar/Burma, The Making and Breaking of Federal States, Innsbruck, Austria, Oral presentation. 2021
‘The Coronavirus Pandemic in the United Kingdom: A Tale of Divergence and convergence’, IACFS Conference: ‘Confronting Covid-19: Federalism a Boon or Bane’, Virtual, Oral presentation. 2020
Federalism and Conflict Resolution: Some Empirical Insights, IPSA Joint Conference: ‘Diversity and Democratic Governance’, Sarajevo, Bosnia, Oral presentation. 2019
‘Locating the Federal Trajectory: Brexit, the UK and Ireland’, ‘Federalism and Conflict Resolution’: Multidisciplinary Authors’ Workshop, Fribourg, Switzerland, Oral presentation. 2019
Gambling with the Future? Balancing Brexit, Scottish Secessionism and Unionism, PSA Annual Conference, Cardiff, Wales, Oral presentation. 2018
Federalism and Conflict Resolution in the Western world: Secession and Conflict Resolution in Spain and the UK, EURAC Research Multi-disciplinary Authors Workshop, Bolzano, Italy, Oral presentation. 2018
Teaching qualification:
Fellowship of Advance HE. 2020