Dr Joanna Szostek
- Lecturer in Political Communication (Politics)
telephone:
01413304682
email:
Joanna.Szostek@glasgow.ac.uk
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7230-894XBiography
I joined the University of Glasgow as lecturer in Political Communication in September 2018.
My research interests centre on the role of mass media in relations between states, particularly in the post-Soviet region. Before moving to Glasgow I completed a three-year research project to investigate and explain the reception of competing political narratives among audiences in Ukraine. The project was funded by a Marie Skłodowska-Curie postdoctoral fellowship from the European Commission. It included an 18-month secondment to Kyiv Mohyla Academy in Ukraine and a five-month secondment to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Results from that project are published in leading international journals, including Perspectives on Politics and The International Journal of Press/Politics.
From 2019 I am starting to work on a new research project investigating why levels of engagement with local, national and foreign/transnational media vary within and across ‘peripheral’ regions of Ukraine. The project, which is funded by the British Academy, is intended to shed light on how media use among ‘peripheral’ audiences can undermine and/or benefit state security, broadly defined.
I hold a doctorate in Politics from the University of Oxford. My professional experience includes several years at the BBC and many years of living and working in Russia and Ukraine. I am currently an associate fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House, The Royal Institute of International Affairs.
Research interests
- Political communication
- Strategic narratives
- Media as a (re)source of international influence
- Media and civil society in unconsolidated democracies
- Politics of Russia, Ukraine and the post-Soviet region
- Russian foreign policy
Grants
- Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (2015-2018, £186,585)
"STRATNARRA. Russia's strategic narrative of the West: A study of influence in Ukraine". - British Academy "The Humanities and Social Sciences Tackling the UK’s International Challenges Programme" (2019-2021, £48,688)
"Peripheral audiences and state security: A study of risks and benefits associated with media use among border populations in Ukraine"
Supervision
I will gladly consider supervising PhD research projects that relate to the following topics:
- Media and communication in international politics (including strategic narratives, public diplomacy)
- Media and civil society in authoritarian regimes and unconsolidated democracies
- Politics of Russia, Ukraine and the post-Soviet region
- Russian foreign policy
If you wish to apply to study for a PhD at Glasgow, with me as a supervisor, please send me the following information by email:
- Your PhD research proposal, prepared in line with UofG requirements (it should not exceed 1,500 words, excluding references)
- Your curriculum vitae (CV)
- Your transcript of records (showing the grades you achieved for your university courses)
- A brief statement explaining why you wish to study for a PhD and how you envisage funding your doctoral studies.
Please make sure that you carefully consider all the challenges of pursuing a PhD (and perhaps an academic career) before applying!
I am currently supervising the following PhD project:
Qingyue Zhang: The impact of Mekong transboundary water disputes on the bilateral relationship between China and Vietnam: A strategic narrative analysis (co-supervised with Dr Neil Munro).
Teaching
Undergraduate
POLITIC4119: Politics and Social Media (convener, 2018-2019)
POLITIC4103: International Political Communication (convener, 2019-present)
POLITIC2002: Introduction to Comparative Politics (contributor, 2019-present)
Postgraduate
POLITIC5017: Internet and Civil Society (convener, 2018-present)
