James Pattison

I am a Professor of Politics at the University of Manchester.

My research expertise lies in ethical issues in global peace and security. 

I am co-Lead Editor, with Prof Ulrich Petersohn, of the Journal of Global Security Studies and will be on the 2029 REF subpanel for Politics and International Studies.

I am working on a project on the ethics of responses to rising authoritarianism and the challenges posed by the shifting global order to ethical norms. My early work on this project considers changes to the responsibility to protect posed by moves towards a post-liberal order and the ethics of tackling democratic backsliding. From March 2026, I will be working on an AHRC-funded project on the ethics of responding to rising global authoritarianism with Fredrik Hjorthen (Oslo).

I also have research expertise on humanitarian intervention and the responsibility to protect (R2P), just war theory, private security, and the alternatives to war (e.g. sanctions).

I have published four books (all with Oxford University Press) and numerous journal articles, including in American Journal of Political Science, British Journal of Political Science, European Journal of International Relations, International Studies Quarterly, and Journal of Political Philosophy.

My 2024 book (with Luke Glanville) examines how states should prioritise ethically between their various responsibilities beyond their borders (Prioritizing Global Responsibilities). Although states have global responsibilities across several issue areas, they also have significant budgetary and resource limitations in what they can do to tackle all the various ongoing and potential crises worldwide. Tackling one crisis, and fulfilling one set of responsibilities, typically raises opportunity costs for other crises and for fulfilling global responsibilities elsewhere. In the face of budgetary and resource limitations, states have to decide which global responsibilities they will focus on. If states cannot fulfill all their global responsibilities, such as to tackle mass atrocities, global poverty, disease, and climate change, which should they prioritise? 

My 2018 book examines the ethics of the alternatives to war  (The Alternatives to War: From Sanctions to Nonviolence, Oxford University Press). 

My 2014 book considers the ethical challenges posed by the rise of private military and security companies (The Morality of Private War: The Challenges of Private Military and Security Companies, Oxford University Press).

My 2010 book explores the ethics of humanitarian intervention and the responsibility to protect, focusing on the question of who should intervene (Humanitarian Intervention and the Responsibility to Protect: Who Should Intervene?, Oxford University Press)

I also currently co-edit (with Michael Gross) a book series on War, Conflict, and Ethics for Routledge. Please feel free to contact me with book ideas.

I have served as the Director of Research and the Politics REF coordinator for the 2021 REF, where we climbed to 8th (from 19th). I currently serve on the University Senate. I have served on the Governing Council of the ISA and currently Chair the International Political Theory section of the ECPR.

I am willing and keen to supervise PhD students in my areas of interest.

Current teaching

POLI 32071: Between War and Peace

POLI 70492: Human Rights in World Politics

Arguing about Politics

PhD supervision

Teaching Ethos

I have taught for over ten years on a wide variety of courses, covering from Chinese foreign policy to the political philosophies of Kant and Hegel. I aim to deliver innovative, effective, and popular teaching. Most of my teaching links to my research interests in human rights, International Relations, and political theory. Indeed, my courses often draw directly on my research. For instance, previous modules that I have run have had sessions on Syria, the NATO intervention in Libya in 2011, and the ethical problems raised by the privatisation of military force. One of my central aims is to encourage a lively and fruitful debate, so that students are clear that they have learned from and enjoyed the session.

Areas of specialisation: the ethics of war, private military and security companies, the responsibility to protect, humanitarian intervention, the alternatives to war

Areas of competence: political philosophy, International Relations