Staff Profile
Dr Katharine A. M. Wright
Senior Lecturer in International Politics
- Telephone: (+44) 191 208 0283
- Personal Website: https://kamwright.com/
- Address: School of Geography, Politics and Sociology
Henry Daysh Building
Newcastle University
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU
Dr Katharine A. M. Wright is Senior Lecturer in International Politics at Newcastle University. She has extensive experience of engaging with policy making and civil society communities globally to inform evidence based decision making.
Her primary expertise concerns:
- NATO
- Women, Peace and Security
- Digital diplomacy
- Feminist Security Studies
- Strategic narratives
Her monograph NATO, Gender and the Military: Women Organising from Within (co-authored with M Hurley and JI Gil-Ruiz) received an Honourable Mention in the 2020 BISA Susan Strange Book Prize. In addition, her research has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals including: International Affairs, The British Journal of Politics and International Relations and Review of International Studies. She has also contributed to other outlets including the LSE Impact Blog, Open Democracy and E-International Relations.
At Newcastle, Dr Wright is a co-convener of the Military, War and Security Research Group and leads the Gender Politics Research Group.
Media and external engagement
Dr Wright's has experience as a media commentator both nationally and internationally, in print and broadcast, including interviews for BBC News Channel, ABC News, Radio Free Europe, Al Jazeera and Global Magazine amongst others. Her research has informed workshops, training and briefings for various NATO bodies, governments and non-governmental organisations. She has also co-authored a guide to Gender and Inclusivity in Peace and Security with the Quaker Council for European Affairs.
Externally, Dr Wright is a member of the Northumbrian Universities Military Education Committee (2018-24) and the Academic Freedom Committee of the International Studies Association (ISA) (2022-24).
She tweets @KAMWright
Professional Memberships
International Studies Association (ISA)
British International Studies Association (BISA)
Google scholar: Click here.
Orcid ID: 0000-0003-0911-5122
Pronouns: She/Her
Dr Wright current research focuses on gender and security at NATO, including the alliance's engagement with UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. She is broadly interested in WPS and Defence, including how militarised understandings of WPS influence its transformative potential; and how NATO's engagement with WPS is projected through strategic narratives and received in popular culture.
In addition, she is working on questions surrounding the visual projection of security, including through celebrity (with Annika Bergman Rosamond). Along with a project examining the impact of Brexit on women in Northern Ireland funded by the Equalities Commission Northern Ireland (with Ruth McAreavey). Both build on her concern with the work Women, Peace and Security does in different spaces.
She is the author of NATO, Gender and the Military: Women organising from within (with Matthew Hurley and Jesus Ignacio Gil Ruiz). The mongraph is published by Routledge and was officially launched at NATO Headquarters in June 2019. It received an Honourable Mention in the 2020 BISA Susan Strange Book Prize, with the judges commenting:
“This is a highly original book based on detailed archival research and extensive interviews, thanks to unprecedented insider access to NATO. The book’s originality lies in the detailed historical account of gender in NATO, drawing on critical feminist theory and methods”
Drawing on recently declassified NATO documents, the book argues that NATO has always been concerned with gender issues. It draws attention to the work of NATO women and 'gendermen' who have organised within NATO to advocate on women's rights and gender issues and provides examples of best practice. The authors make the case for feminist theorising of NATO, arguing that NATO's engagement with Women, Peace and Security cannot be understood without an understanding of how NATO functions as an institution of international hegemonic masculinity.
Her recent article (with Annika Bergman Rosamond) was included in the editors' picks of the best articles published in Review of International Studies in 2020-2021. It examines the significance of Angelina Jolie's high-profile visit to NATO in 2018 for the alliance's strategic narratives, their reception in popular and celebrity culture and the implications for the global Women, Peace and Security agenda. You can watch a short video discussion of its significance on the British International Studies Association's website.
Previously, Dr Wright was Principal Investigator on an ESRC funded project in collaboration with the Quaker Council for European Affairs on Gender and Inclusivity in Peace and Security shortlisted for a Newcastle University Engagement Award (Engaging Globally). The best practice guide and accompanying short films are available here: www.qcea.org/gender. You can watch the project launch and panel discussion supported by the Irish Embassy to Belgium on YouTube.
Selected research funding:
2022-2023: Equalities Commission Northern Ireland (Principle Investigator)
2022-2023: Faculty Research Fund, Newcastle University (Principle Investigator)
2021-2022: Returner Support Programme, Newcastle University (Principle Investigator)
2020-2021: The Worldwide Universities Network - Research Development Fund (Co-Investigator)
2019-2020: Faculty Research Fund, Newcastle University (Principle Investigator)
2019-2020: Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Impact Acceleration Account (PI)
2018-2022: UACES 'Gendering European Studies' Research Network (Principle Investigator)
2018-2019: British International Studies Association Early Career Small Research Grant (PI)
2017-2018: Faculty Bid-Preparation Fund, Newcastle University (Principle Investigator)
2014: Universities Global Partnership Network (UGPN) Mobility Award (Principle Investigator)
Awards:
2021: Newcastle University Engagement Award (Engaging Globally) [Shortlisted]
2020: BISA Susan Strange Book Prize [Honourable Mention]
2015: Vice-Chancellor's Award for Postgraduate Research, University of Surrey [Finalist]
2015: Faculty Postgraduate Researcher of the Year, University of Surrey [Awarded]
PhD supervision
I am interested in supervising students working on Women, Peace and Security, or Feminist Security Studies.
If you are interested in supervision by Katharine A. M. Wright, then you can find more information about the PhD programme at Newcastle here.
Dr Katharine A. M. Wright is passionate about learning and teaching. She has taught on a broad range of Politics and International Relations modules at both undergraduate and postgraduate level across three different institutions. Her approach to teaching is grounded in the idea that students should be actively involved in their own learning. She draws extensively on the problem based approach, for example simulations, to enable students to connect theoretical concepts with empirical reality. She has reflected on the value of her teaching philosophy in a piece for Active Learning in Political Science.
She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and has a PgCert in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (PGCAP) with distinction.
For 2023/24 she will be teaching:
- POL2110 Security Studies (Module Leader)
- POL8041 Think about Politics
Dr Wright is an External Examiner at the London School of Economics and Politics Science: BSc (Hons) International Relations and Leeds Beckett University: BA (Hons) International Relations, MA International Relations, MA Peace and Development, MA International Human Rights Practice.
PhD Viva examinations: Dr Wright has acted as an internal examiner at Newcastle, and has externally examined PhDs at Coventry University (2021) and Monash University (2022).
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Articles
- David M, Guerrina R, Wright KAM. Nakedly Normative: A feminist (re)imagination of planetary politics. JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies 2023, epub ahead of print.
- Rosamond AB, Wright KAM. Digital Celebrity Diplomacy in the UN Security Council Elections: Canada, Ireland and Kenya. The Hague Journal of Diplomacy 2023, epub ahead of print.
- Guerrina R, Haastrup T, Wright KAM. Contesting ‘Feminist’ Power Europe: Is Feminist Foreign Policy possible?. European Security 2023. In Press.
- Wright KAM. Challenging Civil Society Perceptions of NATO: Engaging the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. Cooperation and Conflict 2023, 58(1), 61-80.
- Wright KAM. Where is Women, Peace and Security? NATO's Response to the Russia-Ukraine War. European Journal of Politics and Gender 2022, 5(2), 275-277.
- Morais D, Turner S, Wright KAM. The Future of Women, Peace and Security at NATO. Transatlantic Policy Quarterly 2022, 21(2), 103-111.
- Wright KAM. Gendered silences in Western responses to the Russia–Ukraine war. Place Branding and Public Diplomacy 2022, epub ahead of print.
- Wright KAM, Haastrup T, Guerrina R. Ontological (in)security and Covid-19: Reimagining Crisis Leadership in UK Higher Education. Critical Studies on Security 2021, 9(2), 174-178.
- Wright KAM, Bergman-Rosamond A. NATO’s Strategic Narratives: Angelina Jolie and the alliance’s celebrity and visual turn. Review of International Studies 2021, 47(4), 443-466.
- Wright KAM, Guerrina R. Imagining the European Union: Gender and Digital Diplomacy in European External Relations. Political Studies Review 2020, 18(3), 393-409.
- Wright KAM, Haastrup T, Guerrina R. Equalities in freefall? Ontological insecurity and the long‐term impact of COVID‐19 in the academy. Gender, Work & Organization 2020, 28(S1), 163-167.
- Wright KAM. Telling NATO’s story of Afghanistan: Gender and the alliance’s digital diplomacy. Media, War and Conflict 2019, 12(1), 87-101.
- Holmes G, Wright KAM, Basu S, Hurley M, Martin de Almagro M, Guerrina R, Chinkin C. Feminist Experiences of ‘Studying up’: Encounters with International Institutions. Millennium: Journal of International Studies 2019, 47(2), 210-230.
- Haastrup T, Wright KAM, Guerrina R. Bringing Gender In? EU Foreign and Security Policy after Brexit. Politics & Governance 2019, 7(3), 62-71.
- Haastrup T, Wright KAM, Guerrina R. Brexit: Gendered implications for equality in the UK. European Journal of Politics and Gender 2019, 2(2), 311-312.
- Guerrina R, Chappell L, Wright KAM. Transforming CSDP? Feminist Triangles and Gender Regimes. Journal of Common Market Studies 2018, 56(5), 1036-1052.
- Guerrina R, Haastrup T, Wright KAM, Macrae H, Masselot A, Cavaghan R. Does European Union Studies have a gender problem? Experiences from researching Brexit. International Feminist Journal of Politics 2018, 20(2), 252-257.
- Holland J, Wright KAM. The Double Delegitimisation of Julia Gillard: Gender, the Media and Australian Political Culture. Australian Journal of Politics and History 2017, 63(4), 588-602.
- Usherwood S, Wright KAM. Sticks and stones: Comparing Twitter campaigning strategies in the European Union referendum. British Journal of Politics and International Relations 2017, 19(2), 371-388.
- Wright KAM, Hurley M. Navigating Gender, Power and Perceptions when Researching NATO: A Conversation. International Feminist Journal of Politics 2017, 19(3), 390-392.
- Wright KAM. NATO’s Adoption of UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security: Making the Agenda a Reality. International Political Science Review 2016, 37(3), 350-361.
- Guerrina R, Wright KAM. Gendering normative power Europe: lessons of the Women, Peace and Security agenda. International Affairs 2016, 92(2), 293-312.
- Wright KAM, Holland J. Leadership and the media: Gendered framings of Julia Gillard's ‘sexism and misogyny’ speech. Australian Journal of Political Science 2014, 49(3), 455-468.
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Authored Book
- Wright KAM, Hurley M, Gil Ruiz JI. NATO, Gender and the Military: Women Organising from Within. London, UK: Routledge, 2019.
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Book Chapters
- Wright KAM. NATO's Digital Diplomacy. In: Bjola, C; Manor, I, ed. Oxford Handbook of Digital Diplomacy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2023, pp.680. In Press.
- Wright KAM. Gender. In: Sperling, J; Webber, M, ed. Oxford Handbook on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2022. In Press.
- Ansorg N, Haastrup T, Wright KAM. Foreign Policy and Diplomacy: Feminist Interventions. In: Väyrynen, T; Parashar, S; Féron, E; Confortini, C, ed. Routledge Handbook of Feminist Peace Research. London, UK: Routledge, 2021.
- Routley L, Wright KAM. Being Indiana Jones in IR: The Pressure to Do ‘Real’ Fieldwork. In: Mac Ginty R; Vogel B; Brett R, ed. The Companion to Peace and Conflict Fieldwork. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2021, pp.85-100.
- Wright KAM. Promoting the Women, Peace and Security agenda. In: Lindstrom G; Tardy T, ed. NATO and the EU: The essential partners. Rome: NATO Defence College, 2019, pp.91-100.
- Wright KAM. Gendering European Security. In: Mawdsley, J; Chappell, L; Galbreath, D, ed. Contemporary European Security. Routledge, 2019.
- Usherwood S, Wright KAM. Talking past each other: The Twitter Campaigns. Bournemouth, UK: Bournemouth University, 2016.
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Online Publications
- David M, Guerrina R, Wright KAM. Nakedly Normative Politics - Exposing EU Studies. The JCMS Blog, 2023. In Preparation.
- Wright KAM. Post-Madrid: Challenges and Contradictions in NATO’s Women, Peace and Security Strategy. Australian Institute for International Affairs, 2022. Available at: https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/post-madrid-challenges-and-contradictions-in-natos-women-peace-and-security-strategy/?trk=feed_main-feed-card_feed-article-content.
- Wright KAM. A feminist perspective on the Russian-Ukraine war: implications for NATO. London, United Kingdom, 2022. Available at: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/wps/2022/03/08/a-feminist-perspective-on-the-russian-ukraine-war-implications-for-nato/.
- Guerrina R, Wright KAM, Haastrup T. Living up to the Women, Peace and Security agenda? Gender must be a core element of Brexit negotiations. London, United Kingdom: London School of Economics, 2020. Available at: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/brexit/2020/02/19/living-up-to-the-women-peace-and-security-agenda-gender-must-be-a-core-element-of-brexit-negotiations/.
- Wright KAM, Guerrina R, Haastrup T, Masselot A. Building 'Feminist Power Europe'? On the possibilities and missed opportunities of feminist foreign policy. The Loop, 2020. Available at: https://theloop.ecpr.eu/building-feminist-power-europe-on-the-possibilities-and-missed-opportunities-of-feminist-foreign-policy/.
- Agnihotri D, Wright KAM. Afghan Women in Geopolitical Imaginaries: Between NATO and India . E-International Relations, 2020. Available at: https://www.e-ir.info/2020/05/11/afghan-women-in-geopolitical-imaginaries-between-nato-and-india/.
- Wright KAM. Gender Matters: Mainstreaming Women, Peace and Security at NATO. E-IR Publications Ltd, 2017. Available at: http://www.e-ir.info/2017/11/17/gender-matters-mainstreaming-women-peace-and-security-at-nato/.
- Haastrup T, Wright KAM, Guerrina R. Women in the Brexit Debate: still largely confined to “low politics”. London: London School of Economics, 2016. Available at: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/brexit/2016/06/17/women-in-the-brexit-debate-still-largely-confined-to-low-politics/.
- Guerrina R, Haastrup T, Wright KAM. Is it really that difficult to find women to talk about the EU Referendum?. LSE Impact Blog, 2016. Available at: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2016/05/19/is-it-really-that-difficult-to-find-women-to-talk-about-the-eu/.
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Reports
- Wright KAM, Haastrup T, Guerrina R. Domestication: A Critical Analysis of the 5th UK National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. Newlines Institute, 2023.
- Wright KAM. Women, Peace and Security and Defence. WPS Helpdesk, 2022.
- Wright KAM, Caeymaex O, Bouchet-Couzey C. Gender & Inclusivity in Peace and Security. Brussels: Quaker Council for European Affairs, 2020.
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Review
- Wright KAM. Book review: Gender integration in NATO military forces: cross-national analysis. European Security 2015, 24(4), 617-620.