Iain Ferguson

Assistant Professor: Faculty of Social Sciences / School of Politics and Governance

Iain Ferguson has been at HSE University since 2018.

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Iain’s research is all about the politics of global governance.

The primary focus of his research is the political thought of practices of international relationships between Russia and Western polities in the context of changes in global governance. The aim of this research is to disclose and explain the character of ideas in Russia-centric practices of contemporary world politics and support original, evidence-based contributions to international theory on events of peace and conflict, projects of United Nations reform, and conditions of orders and special relationships in a world of change. Iain’s work has appeared in the journals Russian Politics, Geopolitics, International Affairs and International Political Theory, in edited collections, and in media and think tank pieces in Russia and the West.

He is available for BA, MA and PhD thesis supervision (in English) on topics related to the politics of Russia’s international relationships of global governance.

Education and Degrees

2014

PhD in International Relations
University of St Andrews
Thesis Title: The EU-Russia relationship

2005

Master's
London School of Economics and Political Science

2001

Master's
University of Strathclyde

1998

Bachelor's
Newcastle University

Professional Interests

international relations international theory global governance The EU-Russia relationship Russian foreign and security policy foreign policy analysis strategic studies peace and conflict studies qualitative methods

Courses (2025/2026)

EU–Russia Strategic Studies: the Politics, Conflict and Theory of a 'Strategic Partnership' (Mago-Lego; Faculty of Social Sciences; 1, 2 module)Eng
EU–Russia Strategic Studies: the Politics, Conflict and Theory of a 'Strategic Partnership' (Master’s programme; Faculty of Social Sciences field of study Political Science; 2 year, 1, 2 module)Eng
EU–Russia Strategic Studies: the Politics, Conflict and Theory of a 'Strategic Partnership' (Master’s programme; Faculty of Social Sciences field of study Political Science; 2 year, 1, 2 module)Eng
Introduction to International Relations (Bachelor’s programme; Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs field of study International Relations, Public Policy and Social Sciences; 2 year, 3, 4 module)Eng
World Politics and International Relations (Bachelor’s programme; Saint-Petersburg School of Social Sciences field of study Political Science; 3 year, 3, 4 module)Eng
World Politics and International Relations (Bachelor’s programme; Saint-Petersburg School of Social Sciences field of study Political Science; 2 year, 3, 4 module)Eng
World Politics and International Relations (Bachelor’s programme; Saint-Petersburg School of Social Sciences field of study Applied Mathematics and Information Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Political Science; 3 year, 3, 4 module)Eng
World Politics and International Relations (Bachelor’s programme; Saint-Petersburg School of Social Sciences field of study Applied Mathematics and Information Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, Political Science; 3 year, 3, 4 module)Eng
Past Courses

Courses (2024/2025)

EU–Russia Strategic Studies: the Politics, Conflict and Theory of a 'Strategic Partnership' (Mago-Lego; 1, 2 module)Eng
Introduction to International Relations (Bachelor’s programme; Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs field of study International Relations, Public Policy and Social Sciences; 2 year, 3, 4 module)Eng
World Politics and International Relations (Bachelor’s programme; Faculty of Social Sciences field of study Political Science; 3 year, 3, 4 module)Eng
World Politics and International Relations (Bachelor’s programme; Saint-Petersburg School of Social Sciences field of study Political Science; 2 year, 3, 4 module)Eng

Courses (2023/2024)

Postgraduate seminar (Postgraduate course field of study Postgraduate Studies; 1 year, 1 semester)Eng
The International Politics of Security Strategies: the EU, Russia and Strategic Studies (Mago-Lego; 1, 2 module)Eng
The International Politics of Security Strategies: the EU, Russia and Strategic Studies (Master’s programme; Faculty of Social Sciences field of study Political Science, field of study Political Science; 2 year, 1, 2 module)Eng
Topical Problems of Modern Politics (Minor; Faculty of Social Sciences; 3, 4 module)Rus
World Politics and International Relations (Bachelor’s programme; Faculty of Social Sciences field of study Political Science; 3 year, 3, 4 module)Eng

Courses (2022/2023)

Interpretive research in political science: theory and methods (Postgraduate course; Faculty of Social Sciences field of study Political Science and Area Studies; 2 year, 1 semester)Eng
Research Methods in International Relations (Postgraduate course; Faculty of Social Sciences field of study Political Science and Area Studies; 2 year, 1 semester)Eng
The EU–Russia Politics of Global Strategy (Mago-Lego; 1, 2 module)Eng
The EU–Russia Politics of Global Strategy (Master’s programme; Faculty of Social Sciences field of study Political Science; 2 year, 1, 2 module)Eng
Topical Problems of Modern Politics (Minor; Faculty of Social Sciences; 3, 4 module)Rus
World Politics and International Relations (Bachelor’s programme; Faculty of Social Sciences field of study Political Science; 3 year, 3, 4 module)Eng

Courses (2021/2022)

Interpretive research in political science: theory and methods (Postgraduate course field of study Political Science and Area Studies; 2 year, 1 semester)Eng
Introduction to International Relations (Bachelor’s programme; Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs field of study Public Policy and Social Sciences, field of study International Relations; 2 year, 3, 4 module)Eng
Research Methods in International Relations (Postgraduate course field of study Political Science and Area Studies; 2 year, 1 semester)Eng
World Politics and International Relations (Bachelor’s programme; Faculty of Social Sciences field of study Political Science; 3 year, 3, 4 module)Eng

Timetable for today

Full timetable

Current Affiliation

2019 –	Assistant Professor (tenure track), Politics and Governance, HSE – Moscow

Previous Academic Positions

2018-9 2016-8	Research Fellow, International Relations, HSE – Moscow Assistant Professor, Political Science, HSE – St. Petersburg
2016-8	Assistant Professor, Comparative Political Studies & International Relations, RANEPA – St. P & Moscow
2015-7	Adjunct Lecturer, Politics & International Relations, University of Edinburgh
2014-5	Postdoctoral researcher, Centre for EU-Russia Studies, University of Tartu

Previous Non-Academic Positions

2005-6	Research Analyst and Consultant, international organisations (OSCE, DFID, World Bank) and aid agencies (ACTED, Welthungerhilfe), Central Asia
2002-5	Commissioning Editor & Partnership Manager, openDemocracy.net, London
2001-2	Senior Researcher, Infonic, communications consultancy, London

Apr

2025

Research with Rhetoric

IRGS professors and students break down barriers in research during a conference on rhetoric in world politics by embracing the power of conversation.

Jun

2024

The Long-awaited Meeting

Applicants Meet the Faculty at the Open Day

May

2024

“You Have to Arouse Enthusiasm and Intelligence”

Iain Ferguson on Teaching and His New Course “The Introduction to International Relations”

Mar

2023

'To Become a Sought-After Specialist, It Is Necessary to Study Political Science and International Relations Together'

'Political Science and World Politics' is an English-taught Bachelor's programme which offers subjects in both political science and international relations. Students gain knowledge and skills which will help them to develop in various career directions ranging from state service to business. Yury Kabanov, Academic Supervisor of the programme, explains how the learning process is structured.

Dec

2021

The 30th Session of Eurasian Online Seminar. International Panel

On Wednesday, 15 December 2021, The Department of International Relations and International Laboratory on World Order Studies and the New Regionalism of National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE University) heldthe thirtieth session of Eurasian Online Seminarin the form of discussion panel. The topic for discussion was the presentation of the Special Issue of the Russian Politics journal (Volume 6 (2021): Issue 4 (Oct 2021) on Russian Foreign Policy, edited by Iain Ferguson, Andrej Krickovic, Alexander Lukin and Richard Sakwa.

Mar

2019

Studying Foreign Policy Discourse

The HSE Look continues a series of interviews with international postdocs about their research. For the February issue we’ve talked with Iain Ferguson, Research Fellow at theInternational Laboratory on World Order Studies and the New Regionalism, Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, about his work and exploration of Moscow and other cities.