Professor Gordon Cumming

(he/him)

BA, MA, PhD (Wales)

Publication

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Research

My research is interdisciplinary, empirically grounded and conceptually rich. It aims to reinvigorate language-based Area Studies (scholarship which concentrates on the society, politics, economics and culture of a specific country), by tackling head-on the criticisms (above all the lack of theory-building capacity) that have beset research in this field. I now head up my School's research group Global Language-Based Area Studies which studies the politics, society, languages and cultures of areas (including Europe, Africa, China, and Latin America) and aims to rethink and 'decolonise' area studies, break down disciplinary barriers, and incorporate innovative and creative research methods.

My research covers the following disciplines and thematic priorities.

Public Policy: Covid-19 and Global Health

Thanks to a fellowship at the Paris Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS), I am currently working on donor responses to the Covid pandemic, with a particular focus on sub-Saharan Africa. I am particular interested in the interplay between leading donors and the so-called ‘aid regime’, the system of norms agreed by donors over recent decades with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of their development programmes.

Contemporary/ Colonial History: The Spanish Flu

With the support of the Paris IAS, I have begun work on a monograph which traces, over the longue durée, French and British responses to pandemics in Africa. Drawing on historical institutionalism, I gave a paper on this topic to the Association Scientifique d’Outre Mer.

International Relations: Partnerships

Following up on a 2011 British Academy large grant to study Anglo-French relations in Africa, I have revisited my earlier research in this field of IR in order to take account of the impact of the re-election of American President Donald Trump. I have published an article in the AOC Revue and in the PPIAS as well as briefing French and British diplomats on this topic.

International Development: Foreign Aid

A core focus of my research has been on French, British and wider European foreign aid policies and practices. I have used a range of theorical perspectives (blame theory, political entrepreneurship, historical institutionalism, neoclassical realism, leadership) to enhance our understanding of the workings of the foreign aid policy-making process.

For the current REF, I am presently working on the UK’s decline as an aid power and have recently completed a chapter on the specifities of the French model of international development as well as a theoretically underpinned article on France’s approach to debt cancellation.

Security Studies: Military Missions and Coalitions

As Principal Investigator on a large Leverhulme grant, with colleagues from Cardiff/ Portsmouth Universities and Chatham House, I delivered co-authored articles on France's military intervention in the Western Sahel and on African ad hoc military coalitions (the GSJFS and MNJTF, set up to combat Al Qaeda and Boko Haram respectively). This research, which is eligible for the current REF, used conceptual frameworks including strategic narratives and organised hypocrisy to tease out the complexity of military operations south of the Sahara. The work led to an article in The Conversation, two colloquia at Chatham House, and a report entitled 'Mobilizing Multinational Military Operations in Africa: Quick Fixes or Sustainable Solutions?'

Teaching

I am now the coordinator of, and a major contributor, to the research methods module in our School’s Global Cultures modules.

I have developed and am the sole turot on the following courses:

• France and Africa: Power, Scandal and Genocide (BA)
• The World and Language of Business French (BA)

I also contribute to, and teach on, the following team-taught courses:

• National and Global Perspectives on France
• France: Cultures in Context
• The Dissertaion Module
• The MA in Global Cultures
• French language year 2

I have, in addition, developed and delivered courses on:

·      Comparative Politics: the UK and France in Africa (MA in International Relations)

·      France and Africa (MA in Euopean Studies)

·      Franco-German tandem (MA in Euopean Studies)

·      French Politics (Cardiff-Bordeaux joint Master’s scheme)

·       French and British African policies for 'Sciences Po' (Bordeaux, Jan-Feb 2003)

·       British foreign policy ('Sciences Po' Bordeaux, Jan-Feb 2005)

·       European and American policies towards Africa (Sciences Po Lyon, 2016, 2026).

·       International Development and Security (various)

·       Research methods (University of Picardie, University of Namibia)

I also developed/ overseen the development of Master's schemes: The MA in European Studies and the LLM: a Master’s degree in Law and French.

I was awarded the most Inspiring Teacher award (2017-2018) and have been nominated in several other years.

Biography

Career Profile

Having graduated from Glasgow University in 1988 with a First in French Language and Literature (with Politics & Economics), I joined the Foreign Office and worked in Africa Research Department, Southern African Department, the Gulf Emergency Unit. I also served asa negotiator and rapporteur on the Economic and Financial Committee at the United Nations in New York.

I then worked for Barclays Bank as a special entrant on the Management Development Programme. I was trained primarily in risk assessment and was responsible for evaluating large corporate loans.

In 1992, I joined Cardiff University and am now Professor of Language-Based Area Studies (French & African Studies).  I have held a number of positions of responsibility, including:

• Director of Research/ Deputy Head of School (twice)
• Director of Postgraduate Research (twice)
• Director of Postgraduate teaching
• Convenor of the ESRC Doctoral Training Programme Pathway entitled Politics, International Relations and Global Language-Based Area Studues
• Director of the two research groups: European Governance, Identity and Public Policy, Global Language-Based Area Studies
• School Director of Admissions (responsible for Politics, French, Spanish)
• Head of French department
• Year abroad coordinator, exams officer, alumni liaisons, open days coordinator, and Chair of the Library, IT and Equipment Committee.  
• I have also served on UDORN (University Research Directors network), the University Accreditations Sub-Committee and the University Programme Approval Panel.

 Research Publications (see ‘Publications' tab)

I have published four books, an edited journal, executive reports for leading think-tanks, and almost 100 peer-reviewed outputs including over 50 internationally peer-reviewed journal articles and chapters. 18 articles referenced in Web of Science. My co-authored book with Professor  Gérard Bossuat, France, Europe and Development Aid: From The Treaties of Rome to the Present, secured the Luc Durand-Reville prize for political science.

External Research Funding

September 2024-June 2025: 10-month fellowship (135000 euros grant, Horizon funded) at the Paris Institute of Advanced Studies.

April 2024: Fellowship (4000 euros grant) at the Fondation Maison des Sciences de l’Homme, Paris

2013-2024: as Wales Doctoral Training Partnership pathway convenor, I oversaw successful bids for 20 ESRC studentships. Matched funding value of almost £1.6 million.

2017-2020: PI on a Leverhulme grant (£90,000) on French miitary-coalition building in Africa.

2016-2017: AHSS College Impact Fund, £1679, University Research Leave (£15,000)

Oct 2014: ESRC Initiator Impact Grant worth £3,000 to embed a culture of evaluation in Welsh and international NonGovernmental Development Organisatons

Jan. 2008– July 2012: British Academy– £78,000 (£97536 at Full Economic Cost) on anglo-French cooperation in Africa

Sept. 2003 to Sept. 2004: Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship of £16,109 to write a monograph on French and Northern NGOs.

Jan. to July 2002: Home Office - £13,000 for a research management role in the Home Office

Research impact

My British Academy research with the University of Portsmouth on Anglo-French cooperation in Africa generated a major impact case study for REF 2014. As part of this project, I helped provide oral and written briefings to Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Africa Strategy Group (2009); the UK Minister for Africa (2010); and Chair of the Africa All Party Parliamentary Groupca.

I am currently developing a impact case study to encourage smaller Welsh, UK-wide, European and African Non-governmental organisations to embrace monitoring and evaluation (M&E). It uses a toolkit and method that simplify the process of M&E, enbaling NGOs to ‘professionalise’ and bid for more grant monies.

I have been working closely with the Wales for Africa unit, the WCVA, Hub Cymru Africa on these issues. I recently provided briefings on the Welsh government’s International Learning Opportunities programme.

Back in 2002, I offered my research expertise directly to the UK Home Office. I oversaw a £1 million research budget, focused on crime prevention, security and economic development issues.

Other Esteem Indicators (selection only)

2024-25 Fellowship at the Paris Institute of Advanced Studies (now alumnus)

Editorial Boards: Revue du Tiers Monde,  Alternatives Francophones

Honorary Posts: Professeur invité, Sciences-Po Lyon (2018, 2026), ICS (2013), Bordeaux IEP (2003 & 2005).

2018 Fellowship at the Collegium, the Institute of Advanced Studies in the Humanities & Social Science, in Lyons (now alumnus)

Recent Public Intellectual Role/ Expertise in Demand:

·       2025 (February) Advising UK government on future direction of Africa policy (UK embassy, Paris)

·       2024 (November) Training UK and French diplomats at a major two-day event in the French Foreign Ministry/ Diplomatic Academy and on the Agence Française de Développement local campus in Marseilles

·       2024 (March) Oral presentation to India’s EXIM Bank as part of a UK Foreign Ministry training programme

·       2023 Oral and written briefings to the UK Labour party in opposition

·       2021 Briefing to the UK Labour Party on the Strategic Review of Defence, Diplomacy and Development

·       2018 Chatham House briefing to Foreign, Commonwealth [and Development] Office (FCDO) on the possible consequences of Brexit for UK Africa policy

·       2018-2020 Training volunteers and officials going on the Welsh government’s International Learning Opportunities scheme

Honours and awards

2024-2025: Fellowship at the Paris Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS)

2018: Fellowship at the Collegium, the Institute of Advanced Studies in the Humanities & Social Science, in Lyons

2017: Most Inspiring Teacher Award

2013: Luc Durand-Reville prize for political science

Professional memberships

• ·       Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, Learned Society of Wales, and Institute of Commonwealth Studies.

  • Member of prize awarding panel for the Learned Society of Wales
  • Member of Association of Modern and Contemporary France
  • Member West Africa Africa Peace and Security Network
  • Regularly invited to closed sessions at Chatham House and RUSI

Speaking engagements

2025

·       20 May 2025, Le point de l’observateur extérieur, paper presented as part of a conference organized by the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations

2019

• November, Keynote, ‘The Limits on Legitimation: French Military Interventions in the Sahel’, first ever guest speaker for a seminar series hosted by the Institute for Diplomacy and International Governance (IDIG)
• October, ‘The Limits to Legitimation Strategies’, Chatham House Conference (co-authored paper)
• October, ‘African Coalitions’, Chatham House Conference (co-authored paper)
• October, France’s Interventions in the Sahel, Chatham House Conference (co-authored paper)
• February, French Debt Cancellation towards Africa: A New Model of Partnership?, Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study, Amsterdam
• February, ‘Understanding Legitimation Strategies: France’s Evolving Approach to Military Intervention in Africa, Collegium (Lyons)

 2018

• 14 December (with Tony Chafer and Roel van der Velde) French Military Intervention in the Sahel: Towards a New Model?, Cambridge University
•  14 December (with Tony Chafer and Roel van der Velde) Legitimising French Interventions in Africa: A Just War Theory Perspective, Cambridge University

 2017

• March: Paper to Atlantic College on ‘Funding the SDGs’ as part of the conference ‘Stop the Apocalypse
• February: ‘Neocolonialism versus Empowerment’. This paper was the first in the International Development series of talks hosted by Cardiff's MLANG

 2016

• November, ‘Transforming the AFD and French Aid: The Severino Years’, November 2016, AFD, Paris. Keynote address. Platform shared with Head of AFD, President of Africa Development Bank and former French Development Minister
• January, ‘European African Policies: from Exploitation to Enlightened Engagement’, Sciences-Po, Lyon

 2015

•  November, ‘From the MDGs to the SDGs’, Keynote, University of Namibia (Keynote)
• January, ‘Regime Complexity and Europeanisation: the Case of French Aid’, paper given to EGIPP and MLANG, Cardiff

 2014

• November 2014: Europeanisation through a Complex Regimes Prism’, Roskilde/ Copenhagen University
• February, [Keynote] ’Entrepreneurship and the French Aid Programme’, Mittlander University, Sweden
•  January, ‘Political Entrepreneurship in a Hostile Climate’, Centre des Relations Internationale (Sciences Po) Paris. Relaunch of sociological approaches to ‘foreign policy analysis’.

Committees and reviewing

I regularly review for about thirty peer reviewed journals. I have also been a reviewer for  the ESRC, Global Challenges Research Fund and the Paris Institute of Advanced Studies.

I am chair of my School's REF Reading Group.  

Supervisions

I am available to supervise theses on French, UK and EU foreign, development and security policies as well as on Covid-19, Northern Non-Governmental Organisations and their African partners.

Current supervision

Morgane Dirion

Research Student/Graduate Tutor

Past projects

I have recently co-supervised to completion four PhD students: Odile Bomba Nkolo (French aid to Cameroon), Jamie Lemon (the French Military Intervention and the Arab Spring) and Chris Hayes (Stereotypes in UK press reporting on Japan) and, in her final year, Elin Arfon (Plurilingualism). I am currently co-supervising one PhD student, Morgane Dirion, working on green nationalism.

I have internally or externally examined 6 PhDs.

I co-supervised one MPhil student, Madeleine Phillips and have supervised around 35 MA and undergraduate dissertaions.