Dr Thomas Martin

Professional biography

I joined the Open University in July 2020. Prior to this appointment, I held posts at the University of York and the University of Sussex, where I completed my PhD in International Relations (2017).

Research interests

​My research interests lie in the security politics of the Global North. My doctoral research analysed the UK's counter-radicalisation policy, Prevent, leading to a book with Manchester University Press, which argues the policy has had important and problematic consequences for political expression in the UK. I continue to be interested in debates concerning terrorism and counterterrorism. I am currently developing a research project that critically assesses the discipline of terrorism studies and its failure to conceptualise and adequately respond to far-right terrorism. 

I am also interested in UK national security politics. I am a co-founder and co-convenor of the BISA 'Security Policy and Practice' working group, a group which promotes dialogue and facilitates collaboration between academic, policymaking and practitioner communities. I have also attained funding (Open Societal Challenges; BA./Leverhulme) to undertake research into UK public opinion on national security. This research uses focus groups and a national opinion survey to understand the diverse ways in which British publics experience and understand security by and for the UK, asking to what extent the public supports existing policy approaches, and to what extent public debates on security capture the diversity of perspectives held by UK citizens.

Doctoral Supervision

I enjoy doctoral supervision and would very much welcome inquiries from students working on critical engagements with terrorism, security and conflict. 

Teaching interests

At the OU, I contributed to the production of the new MA in International Relations, helping develop teaching materials for Part 1 (D818), and co-chairing the production of Part 2 (D828). I now co-chair the presentation of D828. I also am on the presentation team for International Relations: Continuity and Change in Global Politics (DD313).