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Stephen Thornton

Dr Stephen Thornton

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Available for postgraduate supervision

Teams and roles for Stephen Thornton

Overview

My interests, which inform both my research and teaching, focus on less familar aspects of twentieth century British political history. Current projects include an exploration of the constitutionally hazy position of deputy to the British prime minister and a study into the complex relationship between architecture and politics. I also teach an innovative module that uses biography to help explore features of post-war British political history. 

I'm also involved in pedagogic research, with a particular focus on information literacy. 

I hold Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy and Fellowship of the Royal Historical Society. 

 

Publication

2026

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2017

2016

2015

2013

2012

2011

  • Thornton, S. L. 2011. We are stuck with technology when what we really want is just stuff that works. In: Curtis, S. and Simon Rofe, J. eds. Does the medium matter? IT-assisted learning and teaching in international relations and politics. Why Social Science Matters Vol. 5. Birmingham, UK: Higher Education Academy Subject Network for Sociology, Anthropology, Politics (C-SAP), pp. 7-11.

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

Articles

Book sections

Books

Conferences

Websites

Research

Current projects include:

  • A study that explores links between public policy and architectural design (with Professor Adam Sharr, Newcastle University)
  • An investigation into the role of information literacy in the Political Science classrom (with Dr Doug Atkinson, Brigham Young University)
  • An exploration of the role played by the deputy to the British prime minister (with Dr Jonathan Kirkup, Cardiff University)

Teaching

I currently convene the module Personality and Power (3rd yr undergraduate), a course that uses biography to help uncover aspects of British political history from 1955 to 2015. I am also involved with the teaching of Sex, Drugs and Public Policy (3rd yr). 

In addition, I supervise students at all levels engaged in the writing of their dissertation or thesis.

Biography

Education and qualifications

2003: PhD, (University of Wales, Cardiff)

1997: MScEcon in the European Policy Process (with distinction), (University of Wales, Cardiff)

1992: Postgraduate Certificate in Education, (Charlotte Mason College, University of Lancaster)

1991: BA Hons, (University of Nottingham)

Career overview

2020 to present: Reader in Politics

2012 – 2020:     Senior Lecturer in Politics, initially in the School of European Studies, now the School of Law and Politics

2006 – 2012:     Lecturer in Comparative Politics 

 

Honours and awards

Commendation: RIBA President’s Award for Outstanding University Located Research for Demolishing Whitehall: Leslie Martin, Harold Wilson and the Architecture of White Heat (2014)

Professional memberships

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (since 2023)

Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (since 2016)

 

Speaking engagements

Keynote: 'The Information Literacy Conference on the topic of ‘Light at the end of the tunnel? Twenty Years of Information Literacy in the Politics Classroom’, LILAC Conference, Cardiff, 14-16 April 2025. 

‘Supporting Pedagogical Innovation and Scholarship’ at the Cardiff University Learning and Teaching Conference, 12-13 September 2024 (with Nicola Harris).

‘What Does a Good Politics/International Relations Degree Look Like?’, as part of the Pedagogy of Politics Seminar Series, University College London, 26 February 2024.

‘Information Literacy in the Politics classroom’, as part of the Pedagogy of Politics Seminar Series, University College London, 18 November 2022.

‘Cedric Price’s Pop-Up Parliament’ at the North American Conference on British Studies Sheraton Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, 10-13 November 2022.

‘Then and Now, Now and Then: Re-reading Prince Charles’ A Vision of Britain’, Society of Architectural Historians, Annual International Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 27 April 27-1 May 2022 (with Adam Sharr).

Committees and reviewing

Editorial Board: Teaching and Learning: The International Journal of Higher Education in the Social Sciences

Journal reviewer: Political Studies; Journal of Political Science Education; Teaching and Learning; PS: Political Science and Politics

Book reviewer: Oxford University Press; Macmillan/Red Box Press; Routledge; Bloomsbury

Supervisions

I would welcome enquires from prospective doctoral applicants in my fields of interest.

Contact Details

Email ThorntonSL@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone +44 29208 76095
Campuses Law Building, Room 2.39, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX

Specialisms

  • British history
  • Comparative government and politics
  • Information retrieval and web search