Prof Kevin McDonald

Biography

Before joining Middlesex in 2013 as Professor of Sociology I had worked at several universities, including the University of Melbourne in Australia and the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris, where I undertook my doctoral studies. For several years I was also a Marie Curie Fellow at Goldsmiths in London.  Most of my professional work has focused on social change and social movements, and I have undertaken field work in different European countries, North America, Asia and Australia. Central themes are embodiment, imaginaries, emerging forms of social polarisation, and the development of digital social worlds.  A central theme throughout this areas is engaging with the challenges and possibilities of contemporary democracy.  Over recent years my work, both in terms of research and policy engagement, has focused on radicalisation and extremism.  My most recent book is: Radicalization, published with Polity in 2018.

Teaching

I am Director of Doctoral Programmes in the Faculty of Business and Law, where I lead on the development of research degrees in the faculty.

My areas of teaching focus on the sociology of violence, radicalisation and terrorism, as well as digital social worlds.  I also teach in the criminology and policing programmes.