School of Social and Political Science

Dr Ben Coulson

Lecturer in International Relations

Head Shot of Ben Coulson
Ben.Coulson@ed.ac.uk
3.12
Chrystal Macmillan Building
15a George Square
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
EH8 9LD

Research interests

International Relations Research Group

As a researcher and teacher I sit at an intersection between International Relations, History, and Geopolitics. 

My research focuses on the historical development of US-China relations from the mid 19th century to the present. I work more broadly on contemporary US foreign policy in East Asia, East Asian Security, and popular culture and politics. I am also now interested in the relationship between Sport and Politics and work on pedagogy and International Relations. 

Background

I joined the University of Edinburgh and PIR in September 2022 as Lecturer in International Relations. I am the course organiser for the first year course 'Politics and International Relations 1B' and the the second year course 'International Relations Theory'. I also now organise two honours courses: 'Geopolitics' and 'Sport and Politics'. 

Prior to my appointment here, I was a Teaching Fellow in East Asian IR at Durham University and a Lecturer in International Politics at Newcastle University. 

I received my PhD from Newcastle University in International Relations focusing on US foreign policy and China. It was titled 'Identity, Capital, Geopolitics: US Presidential Discourses of China from 1844-2016'.

Works within

Semester 1

Wednesdays 10-12, or by email appointment. Please contact me to arrange a time to meet. 

Semester 2