School of Social and Political Science

Dr Ben Coulson

Lecturer in International Relations

Ben Coulson sat on a train in Thailand
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 the critical strands of International Relations, History, and Critical 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 interested in work on pedagogy and International Relations. 

Background

I joined Edinburgh University and PIR in September 2022 as Lecturer in International Relations. I am the course organiser for the first year course 'Politics in a Changing World' and the PIR MA Dissertation courses. I also now organise two honours courses: 'Geopolitics' and beginning in 24/25, 'Sport and Politics'. 

Prior to this 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

Ben Coulson's Research Explorer profile