A.R.Sriskanda Rajah

Biography

I am an International Relations scholar of Tamil origin. I was born in Sri Lanka but had to leave my country of birth with my family in 1992 after the armed conflict intensified. Since then I have been living in the UK.

After graduating with my first degree in 2004, I began my career as a desk journalist, covering the politics in Sri Lanka and India.

I began my doctoral research in 2009 at Brunel University London. My thesis developed a Foucauldian biopolitical perspective on Western policy in the Tamil - Sinhala conflict in Sri Lanka.

After receiving my PhD in 2014, I worked as an associate lecturer, also at Brunel University, convening the International Relations module, India and the World: the International Relations of a Rising Power. I have also written scholarly articles on reconceptualising the term 'war' and the biopolitics of securing the liberal way of living.

My recent book, Government and Politics in Sri Lanka: Biopolitics and Security, develops a Foucauldian biopolitical perspective on the post-colonial policies of Sri Lanka and the system of government that it has in place. My book launch took place on 19 July 2017 at the Houses of Parliament. Rt Hon John McDonnell, the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Rt Hon Sir Ed Davey, the International Trade Minister in the former Prime Minister David Cameron's coalition government, delivered the key notes.

My current research focuses on the failed Indian peacekeeping intervention in Sri Lanka.

Education

PhD, Brunel University, UK, 2014
MA, Staffordshire University, UK, 2008
BA (Hons) Open University, UK, 2004

Areas of Research / Professional Expertise

South Asian politics
Indian foreign and security policy
US foreign policy
Politics in Sri Lanka
Tamil nationalism
Sinhala Buddhist nationalism
Biopolitics
Counter-terrorism
Emergency
Liberal internationalism

Personal Interests

Poetry, martial arts

Books

Articles

Photos