Join us for a book launch: Jamie Hagen, Samuel Ritholtz, and Andrew Delatolla recently published an edited volume Queer Conflict Research: New Approaches to the Study of Political Violence. The volume provides a guide to the use of methodologies drawn from queer studies in the study of political violence and conflict.

At this event, the authors will discuss their recently published co-edited book. Bringing together a team of international scholars, their book provides a foundational guide to queer methodologies in the study of political violence and conflict. The book provides illuminating discussions on why queer approaches are important, what they entail and how to utilise a queer approach to political violence and conflict. The book explores a variety of methodological approaches, including fieldwork, interviews, cultural analysis and archival research. The book also engages with broader academic debates, such as how to work with research partners in an ethical manner. 

Including valuable case studies from around the world, the book demonstrates how these methods can be used in practice. It is the first critical, in-depth discussion on queer methods and methodologies for research on political violence and conflict.

Meet our speakers and chair:

Andrew Delatolla is a lecturer in Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Leeds. His research interests centre on the intersections of race and sexuality in relation to statehood and state formation with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa. Andrew has previously held posts at the American University in Cairo, the Middle East Centre, and was the Caucus Chair of the LGBTQA+ Caucus at the ISA. He is currently a board member at the Centre for Turkey Studies.

Jamie J Hagen is a lecturer in Global Politics at the University of Manchester. Her work sits at the intersection of gender, security studies, and queer theory. She brings a feminist, anti-racist approach to her work, bridging gaps between academics, policy, and activist spaces. She was the lead researcher on a British Academy Innovation Fellowship (2022-2023) focusing on improving engagement with lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer women in Women, Peace, and Security Programming. Hagen's research in this field is published in the Journal of Gender Studies, International Affairs, Critical Studies in Security, the International Feminist Journal of Politics, and the European Journal of Gender and Politics as well as in the Washington Post, London School of Economics’ Women Peace and Security Blog, the International Peace Institute’s Global Observatory, and other outlets. Hagen is co-editor of the edited volume Queer Conflict Research: New Approaches to Study of Political Violence (BUP) and co-developed the Queering Women, Peace and Security: A Practice-Based toolkit (English/Spanish).

Samuel Ritholtz is Departmental Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Oxford, in association with St Hilda’s College. Their research explores LGBTIQ+ experiences of conflict, crisis, and displacement in the Americas with a particular focus on Colombia. They are co-editor of the volume Queer Conflict Research (Bristol University Press, 2024) and co-author of the forthcoming monograph The Way Out: Justice in the Queer Search for Refuge (University of California Press, January 2026).

Chair:

Milli Lake is Associate Professor of International Security in thr Department of International Relations at LSE. Her research and expertise lies in political violence, institutions, law, poverty, and gender.

More about this event

The Department of International Relations (@LSEIRDept) at LSE is now in its 97th year, and is one of the oldest as well as largest IR departments in the world, with a truly international reputation. The Department is ranked 2nd in the UK and 5th in the world in the QS World University Ranking by Subject 2024 tables for Politics and International Studies.