Francesco Belcastro
Lecturer
Criminology
University of Derby
United Kingdom
Biography
I am a Lecturer in International Relations at the College of Business, Law and Social Sciences here at the University of Derby. I am currently the admissions tutor for International Relations and Diplomacy. I am also a Fellow of the Centre for Syrian Studies, University of St Andrews.
Research Interest
My research interests lie, broadly speaking, in the fields of International Relations and Middle East Studies. My PhD dissertation developed a theoretical framework of alliances formation and analysed the foreign policy of Syria during the 1970-1989 years. I am particularly interested in the application of traditional international relations theories and concepts to the regional level. My current research focuses on regional involvement in civil wars both at theoretical level and in reference to the Syrian case.
Publications
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June 2012: BISA conference, Edinburgh, paper entitled “Defeated by the domestic dimension? Realism and the challenge of the uprising in the Middle Eastâ€
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February 2015: ISA New Orleans, paper entitled "An useful framework of analysis? Classical Realism, the regional dimension and alliances"
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"Conflict in the Middle East" chapter in R. Hinnebusch (ed.) Ashgate Research Companion for Middle East, 2016 (forthcoming).
