Ben Willis
  • University of Plymouth,
    Drake Circus,
    Plymouth,
    PL4 8AA

    United Kingdom

Overview

Profile summary

I am an Associate Lecturer in Politics and International Relations and teach across a range of modules within the School of Society and Culture. My research interests, broadly defined, lie at the intersection of international security and human rights, and include a particular concern with the range of political, legal, and ethical issues surrounding the prevention of mass atrocities (genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity).

There are three main strands to my current research. The first is a book project and related articles that build on previous doctoral work at the European Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, assessing how the principle of RtoP has been used to address peacetime atrocity crimes in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) since 2005.

The second strand of research involves a series of articles building on previous work in the NGO sector, examining how UK atrocity prevention policy and related protection commitments are integrated across the government's various early warning, development, defence, and diplomatic activities.

The third strand is a longer-term book project that offers a revisionist account of the negotiating history around the Responsibility to Protect and its ultimate adoption at the UN World Summit in 2005. This draws on newly released archival material and interviews with key individuals involved in the debates around RtoP and humanitarian intervention between 1999 and 2005.

 

Teaching interests

For academic year 2024-2025, I am teaching on the following modules:
  • PIR4001: Democracy and Democratisation (module leader)
  • PIR4002: Discovering World Politics (module leader)
  • PIR5002: Global Governance and the United Nations (module leader)

Professional memberships

  • British International Studies Association (BISA)
  • International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS)
  • International Network of Genocide Scholars (INoGS)
  • Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS)

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
  • SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

Academic qualifications

PhD International Relations, University of Leeds

MA International Relations, University of Plymouth

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