Clare Cummings

Currently, my research examines how power relations and institutions function across political boundaries, with the aim of developing a cultural political economy approach to understanding how transnational institutions influence environmental justice in the global South.

My PhD research studied the politics of institutional change. This involved developing an alternative approach to political settlements analysis and demonstrating its value through application to cases of institutional change in the governance of mining in El Salvador and the protection of minority group rights in Nepal.

Previously, my research centred on understanding service delivery challenges from a political economy perspective in a number of countries in East and West Africa. My work also contributed to developing the 'Thinking and Working Politically' and 'Politically Smart, Locally-led' agenda within development programming. Together, this research informed NGO and donor interventions in numerous countries, including Nigeria, Niger, Tanzania and Nepal.