Staff Profile

Research Interests

Peace and conflict studies, arts-based approaches to peacebuilding, critical International Relations, identity and cultural politics in South Asia, “civic heroism” and rescuers, visual politics

Qualifications

PhD, University of Queensland, Political Science and International Studies

MA, University of Queensland, International Studies/Peace and Conflict Resolution

BA, University of Colombo, Major in English, Minor in International Relations and Journalism

Previous Positions

Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Political Science, Umeå University

Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Geography, University of Zurich

Visiting Lecturer, Department of International Relations, University of Colombo

My research takes place within peace and conflict studies, with a particular focus on arts and peacebuilding. My book Theatre for Peacebuilding: The Role of Arts in Conflict Transformation in South Asia (Palgrave, 2018) examines the peacebuilding approach and practices of three theatre groups from Sri Lanka, Nepal, and India.

I am currently working on my second book project, where I examine how different art forms – specifically film, theatre, music, and literature – contend with past violence, present conceptualisations of peace, and imagined futures in Sri Lanka. The project makes methodological, empirical and conceptual advances. I address a persistent call for methodological pluralism by using an array of methods, including audio-visual elicitation and life diagrams. I address an empirical gap in how multiple art forms have addressed peacebuilding over time, in relation to Sri Lanka. Finally, I propose a conceptualisation around the arts as counterpublics through the book.

Awards

Dean’s Award for Outstanding Research Higher Degree Theses, The University of Queensland, 2015

Undergraduate: 

POL1032: Key Concepts in International Politics

POL2110: Security Studies 

POL3046: Dissertation in Politics

Postgraduate: 

POL8060: Gender, War and Military 

POL8099: MA Dissertation

• Premaratna N. Theatre for Peacebuilding: The Role of Arts in Conflict Transformation in South Asia. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, 2018.
• Premaratna N. Dealing With Sri Lanka’s Demons: Using Documentary Film for Peacebuilding. Journal of Peacebuilding and Development 2021, 16(1), 39-54.
• Premaratna N, Rajkobal P. The arts as a peacebuilding approach: Feminist contributions and directions. In: Tarja Väyrynen, Swati Parashar, Élise Féron, Catia Cecilia Confortini, ed. Routledge Handbook of Feminist Peace Research. London: Taylor and Francis, 2021, pp.260-269.
• Premaratna N. Building peaceful communities: Collaboration and co-creation through theatre. In: Rosie Meade and Mae Shaw, ed. Arts, Culture and Community Development. Bristol: Policy Press, 2021, pp.231-239.
• Premaratna N. Theatre for peacebuilding: transforming narratives of structural violence. Peacebuilding 2020, 8(1), 16-31.
• Premaratna N. Envision and Embody a People's Peace through Theater. Peace Review 2019, 31(3), 424-431.
• Premaratna N, Bleiker R. Arts and Theatre for Peacebuilding. In: Oliver P. Richmond, Sandra Pogodda, Jasmin Ramović, ed. The Palgrave Handbook of Disciplinary and Regional Approaches to Peace. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2016, pp.82-94.
• Chou M, Bleiker R, Premaratna N. Elections as Theater. PS: Political Science & Politics 2016, 49(1), 43-47.
• Premaratna N, Bleiker R. Art and Peacebuilding: How Theatre Transforms Conflict in Sri Lanka. In: Oliver P. Richmond, ed. Palgrave Advances in Peacebuilding: Critical Developments and Approaches. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010, pp.376-391.