Tom O'Brien

Research Database

Tom is a lecturer in political sociology in the Department of Sociology. Before joining York in August 2018 he was based at Cranfield University at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. In this role, he was involved in contributing modules to Masters courses in Ethiopia on environmental security and in Indonesia on governance and human security.

Tom’s research interests span the fields of political science and sociology. Within this range his research has centred on the themes of democratisation, political leadership, environmental sociology and contentious politics. Current work with colleagues in the UK and abroad considers issues such as protest and activism in Bulgaria and Romania, governance and leadership in Southeast Asia, and distrust in peace negotiations.

As an antipodean, Tom has maintained a tie with home through his research on environmental activism in Australia and New Zealand.