Karen Smith
University Lecturer
- Name
- Dr. K. Smith
- Telephone
- +31 71 527 1737
- k.smith@hum.leidenuniv.nl
- ORCID iD
- 0000-0003-2379-8513
I am a South African IR scholar whose research interest is questioning Western-centric narratives and making sense of international relations from the perspectives of the global South, particularly Africa. Before joining Leiden University in 2017, I was based at the University of Cape Town, where I remain an honorary research associate. From 2019 to 2021, I served in a part-time capacity as special adviser to the UN secretary-general on the responsibility to protect.
More information about Karen Smith
News
Online articles
Fields of interest
- International relations
- theory
- Global South
- foreign policy
- culture and IR
- (South) Africa
Research
My research interests cut across the following broad topics:
1) Global South understandings of international relations;
2) foreign policy analysis (particularly of emerging powers and regional powers in the Global South);
3) changes in global order and implications for global governance.
I am particularly interested in innovative research that explores how non-Western and non-traditional (e.g. cultural) sources can provide us with new insights into existing challenges, as well as raise new questions. I am currently working on a co-authored book that explores how to ‘globalise’ IR in practice, and on a project that draws on the work of African scholars to think about questions of (cultural) difference and universality in relation to IR.
Teaching activities and supervision
Supervision
I supervise mostly in the MAIR Politics and Culture track (with a preference for topics that challenge Western-centric approaches and explore IR from the perspectives of the global South, and/or investigate the connection between culture and IR). For the BAIS, I supervise students focusing on Africa’s international relations, specifically African agency. I have also supervised or am supervising PhDs in the following areas:
• Queer IR and South Africa’s position on SOGI rights
• The role of the Global South in outer space
• The application of psychoanalytic theory in foreign policy analysis
• South Africa's developmental foreign policy
• The US policy of ‘constructive engagement’ towards South Africa
• The relationship between US energy and climate change policy
• A Coxian analysis of India’s role in the global climate change negotiations
Teaching
My teaching specialisation is in International Relations, specifically global South approaches to IR, foreign policy, IR theory, and international organization/global governance. Besides teaching in the MAIR, BAIS and LUC programmes at Leiden, I have been a visiting professor at Sciences Po Paris and the University of Vienna, and teach in the Dubrovnik Atrocity Crimes Prevention and Human Rights School (see https://iuc.hr/programme/1755)
I have also regularly taught the following short courses:
• Africa and Global Transformation: The Rise of Emerging Powers and New International Order (London School of Economics/University of Cape Town July School)
• Introduction to South Africa’s Political History (University of Stellenbosch Winter School)
Key publications
(2022) “Challenging the illusion of theoretical ‘internationalness’ in Allan Layug and John Hobson (eds) Globalizing International Theory: The Problem with Western IR Theory and How to Overcome It. London and New York: Routledge.
(2021) with Vineet Thakur, “Introduction to the Special Issue: The multiple births of International Relations”, Review of International Studies, 47: 5, 571–579.
(2020) with Arlene Tickner (eds) International Relations from the Global South: Worlds of Difference. London and New York: Routledge.
(2018) “Reshaping International Relations: Innovations from Africa” in All Azimuth: A Journal of Foreign Policy and Peace, vol.7, no.2: 81-92.
(2018) “South Africa: still an ambivalent (sub)regional leader?” in Daniel Flemes and Hannes Ebert (eds) Regional Powers and Contested Leadership. London and New York: Routledge.
(2016) “South Africa in Africa and the world: the foreign policy strategies of a global regional power” in Jacqueline Braveboy-Wagner (ed.) Diplomatic Strategies of Leading Nations in the Global South. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp.125-151.
(2009) “Has Africa Got Anything to Say? African Contributions to the Theoretical Development of International Relations” in The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs, vol. 98, issue 402: 269-284.
University Lecturer
- Faculty of Humanities
- Institute for History
- History and International Studies
- Smith K., Why the United Nations keeps failing victims of atrocity crimes. Just security. New York: Reiss Center on Law and Security (New York University School of Law). [web article].
- Smith K. (2023) Africa. Review of: Táíwò O. | Savoy B. | Prunier G. | Plessis C. du & Plaut M.| Chan S., Against decolonisation: taking African agency seriously | Africa’s struggle for its art: history of a postcolonial defeat | The Country that does not exist: a history of Somaliland | Understanding South Africa | African political thought: an intellectual history of the quest for freedom 65(1): 162-168.
- Smith K. (2022), R2P at the UN: the problem of selective history and incomplete narratives, Global Responsibility to Protect 14(3): 273–276.
- Smith K. (2022), Challenging the illusion of theoretical ‘internationalness'. In: Hobson J. & Layug A. (Eds.), Globalizing international theory: the problem with Western IR theory and how to overcome it. London and New York: Routledge.
- Smith K. (2022), Globalising IR in Practice. International Studies Association Annual Convention 29 March 2022 - 29 March 2022. Nashville: International Studies Association Annual Convention.
- Smith K. (2022), Globalising foreign policy analysis: lessons for and from a relational approach to South Africa’s foreign policy. 15th Pan-European conference on International Relations 1 September 2022 - 4 September 2022. Athens, 01/09/2022-04/09/2022: 15th Pan-European conference on International Relations.
- Moshirzadeh H. & Smith K. (2022), IR in Iran and South Africa: a comparative study, Journal of World Sociopolitical Studies 6(2): 197-238.
- Smith K. (2022), Decentering international relations. In: Hellman G. (Ed.), Teaching IR globally. Rio de Janeiro: PUC-Rio. 83-92.
- Smith K. (2021), Closing remarks, “Strengthening women’s role front and center of atrocity prevention”, 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women side event, United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect and UN Women. [other].
- Thakur V. & Smith K. (2021), Introduction to the Special Issue: the multiple births of International Relations, Review of International Studies 47(5): 571-579.
- Tickner A. & Smith K. (Eds.) (2020), International Relations from the Global South: Worlds of Difference. Routledge Worlding Beyond the West. London: Routledge.
- Smith K. (2020), Order, Ordering and Disorder. In: Tickner A. & Smith K. (Eds.), International Relations from the Global South: Worlds of Difference. London and New York: Routledge. 77-96.
- Smith K. (2020), The Responsibility to Protect at 15: Lessons learned and ways forward, Politorbis: Zeitschrift fur Aussenpolitik 68(1): 35-39.
- Smith K., Coping with the pandemic: let us not forget about atrocity prevention. Delhi, India (Observer Research Foundation). [web article].
- Smith K., A reflection on the responsibility to protect in 2020 (Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect). [web article].
- Smith K. (2020), Speaker in panel discussion, ‘The double Responsibility and Women, Peace and Security anniversary: A conversation on R2P at 15 and WPS at 20’, European Centre for Responsibility to Protect. [other].
- Smith K. (2020), Speaker, “Europe’s Responsibility to Protect” seminar, hosted by Protection Approaches and the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (webinar). [other].
- Smith K. (2020), Speaker, “Preventing Atrocities with a Women, Peace and Security Perspective: A Myanmar Case Study, Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, New York (webinar) . [other].
- Smith K. (2020), Keynote speaker "Atrocity Prevention in the MENA region”, International Coalition on the Responsibility to Protect, New York (webinar). [other].
- Smith K. (2020), Speech on "The responsibility to protect" to a meeting of the Lima Group of the Organization of American States, Washington DC (online). [other].
- Smith K. (2020), • Discussant, "A question of leadership, governance and trust", State of Europe, Friends of Europe conference (online). [other].
- Smith K. (2020), Moderator, high-level panel on "The Responsibility to Protect at 15", United Nations Office for Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, New York (online). [other].
- Smith K. (2020), Invited participant in “Strategy Consultation on Mass Violence and Atrocity Prevention” event, Stanley Center for Peace and Security (online). [other].
- Smith K. (2020), Keynote speaker, United Nations Group of Friends of the Responsibility to Protect, New York (online). [other].
- Smith K. (2020), Speaker, “The Future of Humanitarianism”, webinar hosted by the Canadian Center for the Responsibility to Protect. [other].
- Smith K. (2020), Speaker, panel discussion on “Advocacy and Memory: the role for NGOs in R2P”, webinar hosted by the Centre for Geopolitics, Cambridge University. [other].
- Smith K. (2020), Keynote speaker, Meeting of the Latin American Network on Atrocity Prevention (online). [other].
- Smith K. (2020), Speech on "The Responsibility to Protect and Human Rights" to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (online). [other].
- Smith K. (2020), Speaker, “The 15 year anniversary of the Responsibility to Protec: a discussion with the special advisers” Global Centre on the responsibility to Protect (online). [other].
- Smith K. (2020), Speaker, “Strengthening the Prevention Mandate of the Human Rights Council: The role of human rights mechanisms and a cross-pillar approach to atrocity prevention”, side event, Human Rights Council, Geneva. [other].
- Smith K. (2020), Keynote speaker, “Challenging the Illusion of Theoretical ‘internationalness’ in IR”, webinar series, Department of Politics & Governance Central University of Kashmir (online). [other].
- Smith K. (2020), Participant in panel discussion on “Status and recognition”, International seminar: Foreign Policy Analysis: new provocations; new directions?, Institute for International Relations, Pontifical Catholic university of Rio (online). [other].
- Smith K. (2020), Lecture on “The Responsibility to Protect” as part of the European Union’s External Action Service training to EU diplomats. [other].
- Bhambra G.K, Bouka Y., Persaud R.B., Rutazibwa O.U., Thakur V., Bell D., Smith K., Haastrup T. & Adem S. (2020), Why Is Mainstream International Relations Blind to Racism?, Foreign Policy : .
- Smith K. (2019), Rethinking the International. CEEISA-ISA conference 16 June 2019 - 19 June 2019.
- Smith K. (2019), Speaker, panel on “Changes to the Global Legal Order,” Doha Forum on Reimagining Governance in a Multipolar World, Doha. [other].
- Smith K. (2019), Keynote speaker, “The Responsibility to Protect in 2019: Progress, Challenges and Opportunities”, European Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, University of Leeds. [other].
- Smith K. (2019), Keynote speaker, “Responsibility to Protect: the Way Forward”, University of Southern Denmark. [other].
- Smith K. (2019), Speaker (on behalf of the United Nations Secretary-General), “The UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech”, Meeting on the Istanbul Process, hosted by the Ministry to Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, The Hague. [other].
- Smith K. (2019), Keynote speaker, European Union United Nations Working Party (CONUN), Brussels. [other].
- Smith K. (2019), Keynote speaker, “The Human Rights Crisis in Xinjiang”, UN General Assembly side event, New York. [other].
- Smith K. (2019), Keynote speaker, Asia-Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect Regional Youth Forum, Jakarta. [other].
- Smith K. (2019), Keynote speaker, Asia Pacific Human Rights Defenders training, Jakarta. [other].
- Smith K. (2019), Speaker, “Hate speech and the responsibility to protect”, European Union mission to the United Nations, New York. [other].
- Smith K. (2019), Speech on “The Responsibility to Protect: Prioritizing Prevention” to the African Group at the UN, New York. [other].
- Smith K. (2019), Speaker, panel on “Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies: SDG 16 implementation, and the path towards leaving no one behind” conference, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Rome. [other].
- Smith K. (2019), Keynote speaker, Global Responsibility to Protect Focal Points meetings, European External Action Service, Brussels. [other].
- Smith K. (2019), Keynote speaker, Fourth Responsibility to Protect in Theory and Practice Conference, Ljubljana. [other].
- Smith K. (2019), Attended conference (on invitation) on “National, regional and international mechanisms to combat impunity and ensure accountability under international law, Doha, 13-15 April 2019. [other].
- Smith K. (2019), Keynote speaker, Group of Friends of the Responsibility to Protect, United Nations, Geneva. [other].
- Smith K. (2019), Invited participant in closed workshop on “Intervention in other states: do we still believe we can intervene for good?”, The Ditchley Foundation, Ditchley, 13-15 June 2019. [other].
- Smith K. (2019), Participated in workshop “Where are the women after resolution 1325?”, Leiden University, The Hague, 18-19 December 2019. [other].
- Smith K. (2019), Participant in a European International Studies Association (EISA) workshop on “Rethinking the International,”, Rapallo, 23-26 October 2019. [other].
- Smith K. (2019), “Rethinking the International”, paper presented at the ISA/Central European International Studies Association conference, Belgrade, 16-19 June 2019. ISA/Central European International Studies Association conference 16 June 2019 - 19 June 2019.
- Smith K. (2019), Co-organised international workshop on ‘The Multiple Births of International Relations”, Leiden University, 16-17 May 2019. [other].
- Smith K. (2018), South Africa: still an ambivalent (sub)regional leader?. In: Flemes D. & Ebert H. (Eds.), Regional powers and contested leadership. Houndsmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. 113-136.
- Smith K. (2017), Reshaping International Relations: Theoretical Innovations from Africa, All Azimuth: a journal of foreign policy and peace 2017: 1-12.
- Smith K. (2017), Reflections on Africa’s position in the changing global order. International Studies Association Annual convention 22 February 2017 - 25 February 2017.
- Smith K. (2017), South Africa: (still) a regional power?. 58th Annual Convention of the International Studies Association, Baltimore, Maryland, 22-25 February 2017..
- Smith K. (2017), BRICS: club of spoilers or an alternative model for the future world order?. 58th Annual Convention of the International Studies Association, Baltimore, Maryland, 22-25 February 2017..
- Smith K. (2017), The Profession of IR in a Global Perspective. World International Studies Conference 1 April 2017 - 3 April 2017.