Dr Preslava Stoeva

Assistant Professor of International Relations

Dr Preslava Stoeva is an Assistant Professor of International Relations at Richmond University’s Department of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Communications. Her current research focuses on questions relating to the theories of international relations, the role of international law in international relations and questions regarding health governance and international security. Dr Stoeva received her PhD in International Relations from the Department of Politics at the University of Exeter in 2007. She holds a MA (first class) and BA (Magna Cum Laude) degree in international relations with a concentration in European studies from Huron University, London.

Dr Stoeva’s research interests encompass the politics of international law, the role of international governmental and non-governmental organisations in global policy-making, the role of scientific knowledge in the development of international norms, and the changing sources of international insecurity. Her research incorporates a strong theoretical component, with a focus on constructivism, institutionalism, and the social construction of scientific knowledge. She uses qualitative and interpretative research methods. Empirically, Dr Stoeva’s research has examined the development of human rights norms, norms protecting intellectual property in the pharmaceutical industry, norms aimed at the prevention of catastrophic climate change, as well as the role of social perceptions and identity constructions in the process of European integration.

Dr Stoeva has taught courses on the political history of the Cold War, security studies, foreign policy analysis and the foreign policy of the European Union, international law, international organisations, international relations theories, human rights, environmental politics, the politics of European integration, the role of non-state actors in the international system. She is enthusiastic about exploring methods of teaching and learning in a multicultural environment, at the graduate and undergraduate level of higher education. Dr Stoeva has taught at both British and American institutions of higher education in the UK.

Dr Stoeva has been involved with consultancy projects on the reform of higher education in Bulgaria, as well as with governmental and non-governmental projects in the realm of the politics of climate change and European integration. She is a member of the Royal Institute for International Affairs, Chatham House; the British International Studies Association and the BISA Global Health Working Group; and the United Nations Association’s Youth Professional Network.

Publications

Books

New Norms and Knowledge in World Politics – Protecting People, Intellectual Property and the Environment, Routledge, Milton Park: 2010

http://www.routledge.com/9780415547376

Short Articles and Book Reviews

‘Powerlessness to address global climate change’, Foreign Policy Bulgaria, Jun/Jul 2008, 58-61. Translated by FP editors, online: http://www.foreignpolicy.bg/show.php?storyid=523071

Book Review “The Helsinki Effect: International Norms, Human Rights, and the Demise of Communism” by Daniel Thomas (2001) – published in International Affairs, vol. 78, no. 3, July 2002, 608-9

Conference Papers

Forthcoming: Millennium Annual Conference ‘Out Of The Ivory Tower: Weaving the Theories and Practice of International Relations’, LSE – 22-23 Oct 2011, presenting with Professor Vassilios Fouskas, ‘The Constructivist Moment in US Grand Strategy – Dean Acheson, Paul Nitze and the Militarisation of Containment’ 

British International Studies Association, Annual Conference, Manchester, 2011 – presented ‘Governance of Health or Strategic Management of Disease? – Constructing a Framework of Analysis for the Health-Security Nexus’, online: http://bisa.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_bisa&task=view_public_papers&Itemid=126

5th Pan-European International Relations Conference ‘Constructing World Orders’ – The Hague, June 2004 - presented ‘Norm Development: The Case of the Convention Against Torture’

British International Studies Association, Annual Conference, Warwick University, Dec 2004 - presented ‘Constructing a Theoretical Model of the Evolution of International Norms’ 

Presentations

‘Should international issues be left to governments alone? The role of civil society in international relations’ – talk delivered to UNA Warwick Branch meeting, July 2010 

‘Taking Stock of the Failures of the Political Process to avoid Catastrophic Climate Change’ – paper presented to the RAIUL Green Society’s Climate Change Panel, 9 April 2010

‘European integration – history, institutions, policies and lobbying’, short professional course delivered for PR Media, Sofia, Feb 2008 

‘Constructing climate change’, presentation and facilitation for Network Rail Managers’ two-day workshop delivered through ECOYA, Jul 2007 

‘European Economic Environment’, lecture delivered on behalf of International Enrichment – a programme for American Visiting Students, Oct 2006 and Oct 2007

Courses Taught 

Postgraduate Courses

• INR 608 Global Order and Justice (Postgraduate) The course will examine traditional instruments for the maintenance of global order – balance of power, diplomacy, power politics and war along with the role of legal norms in that process. Students will consider questions about the relevance of the concept of Just War, the strength and relevance of international laws, the importance of protecting human rights and democracy. The work of a variety of authors will be addressed, (which may include Bull, Hurrell, Higgins, Koskeniemmi, Kratochwil, Reus-Smit, Byers, Posner and Barnette) to address the extent to which order and justice influence state behaviour. 

Undergraduate Courses

• INR 203 Introduction to International Relations: Examines the fundamental history and concepts that aid understanding of international relations. The course surveys the emergence of the modern states system and studies main features of the international system since 1945. It covers relations between rich and poor countries, factors that influence foreign policy making and the impact of non-state actors on world politics. Theories about international relations and the increasing globalization of world affairs are explored.
• INR 328 Security Studies: Presents the contemporary relevance of strategic studies and their particular application to current questions of international security. The course begins with an historical review of international relations and strategic studies. It illustrates how the field of strategic studies has been superseded by security analysis in terms of providing a broad framework for the analysis of international relations. This provides various levels of analysis (individual, national, regional, global) and sectors (military, political, social, economic, environmental) which constitute an appropriate framework for analyzing post-cold war security issues.
• INR 358 Public International Law: This course examines the nature, domain and development of Public International Law and its significance in the context of the international political system. It provides a distinctive, legal approach to international politics and focuses on key issues in international law including: the nature of international laws, the significance of treaties, the sources and jurisdiction of law, the role of law in fighting the war on terror, preventing torture, underpinning human rights and reducing war and shaping its conduct. Questions of statehood are examined and case studies discussed to shed light on the controversies that characterise legal debates, including discussion relating to: Iraq, Kosovo, Guantanamo, Sudan and war crimes.
• INR 390 Foreign Policy Analysis: By considering the economic, political, psychological or systemic determinates of foreign policy, theories and practical examples are examined for reasons states make certain foreign policy choices. An underlying assumption examined is that there is a pattern in foreign policy behavior and decision-makers in similar circumstances tend to make similar choices.
• INR 420 International Relations Theory: A capstone course for the international relations major based on a critical comparison and analysis of schools of thought in international political theory. Both classical and modern texts will be studied to highlight continuities and breaks in the evolution of international relations as an intellectual and practical discipline.