School of Social and Political Science

Foreign Policy Research Group

Welcome to the Foreign Policy Research Group, a student-led research network based within the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh. Bringing together both junior and senior scholars, the group explores the wide range of factors that shape the making of foreign policy - from foreign policy analysis to political psychology and role theory.

We foster an inclusive and collaborative environment, welcoming research students and staff from Politics and International Relations at Edinburgh as well as from other institutions. At the heart of the group is a commitment to peer support: members are encouraged to share their work, engage in constructive discussion, and receive in-depth feedback in a friendly and supportive setting.

Whether you are beginning your research journey or are an experienced scholar, the Foreign Policy Research Group offers a space to connect, exchange ideas, and deepen understanding of foreign policy in all its complexity.

Research themes
  • Foreign policy decision-making
  • Foreign policy narratives
  • Political psychology
  • Leader personality and beliefs
  • Foreign policy roles
  • Parliamentary influence on foreign policies
  • Bureaucratic influence on foreign policies
  • Coalition politics
  • Comparative foreign policy analysis
  • State-society relationship in foreign policymaking
  • The role of emotions
Research group convenors

Alexander Schotthoefer

Alexander is doing his PhD in Politics and International Relations at the University of Edinburgh. He received a bachelor’s degree in Korean and Scandinavian studies from the University of Tübingen and a master’s degree in International Cooperation from Seoul National University. Alexander’s current research focuses on the role of leaders’ beliefs in securitization. General areas of interest include foreign policy analysis, security studies, political psychology and the Korean Peninsula.

Camille Schmitz

Camille is a PhD candidate at the University of Edinburgh. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Liège. Her research focuses on the UK’s foreign policy after Brexit and the narrative of ‘Global Britain’, using role theory and narrative analysis. Her general areas of interest include foreign policy analysis, narratives, British politics, and the European Union.

Ruolan Gan

Ruolan is a PhD candidate in Politics and International Relations at University of Edinburgh. Her work focuses on the Chinese foreign policy toward international humanitarian norms (particularly the Responsibility to Protect, R2P) by comparing the cases in Southeast Asia, Middle East and Africa. Her research interests also include norm theory, as well as the linguistic and translation used in Chinese foreign policy.

Research group activities

The Foreign Policy Research Group hosts a range of activities designed to foster collaboration, dialogue, and professional development among researchers. We hold regular monthly meetings throughout the academic year, where members present their research in a supportive and engaging setting. Each session typically features two paper presentations followed by detailed feedback from designated discussants, before opening the floor to broader discussion, questions, and comments from the group members.

To ensure accessibility for participants joining from across the UK and beyond, our meetings are held both in person and online via Microsoft Teams. Alongside these regular sessions, we organise an annual conference, bringing together speakers and participants from a wide range of institutions and countries.

The group also supports opportunities for wider engagement, including conference participation and representation, with members regularly attending major events such as ISA conferences. Through these activities, we aim to create a vibrant platform for intellectual exchange and ongoing collaboration.

If you are interested in joining or would like to learn more about our work, we warmly encourage you to get in touch with one of the conveners.