Dr Dawn Bolger

LECTURER IN POLITICS & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Politics, Philosophy and International Relations

+44 (0) 1792 295626

dawn.bolger@swansea.ac.uk

Office - 003
Ground Floor
James Callaghan
Singleton Campus

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

About

Dr Dawn Bolger is a Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at Swansea University. Her main areas of research focus on the studies of race, racism, and migration, with a particular focus on racial capitalism, border politics, and the politics of fear in discourses about refugees and asylum seekers.

As secondary research interests, she has written on equity and access in higher education—examining the enablers and constraints faced by refugee background students transitioning from secondary to tertiary education.

Born in Perth, Australia, Dr Bolger completed her PhD at Western Sydney University. She has taught in several countries around the world including Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

Areas Of Expertise

Race and Racism
Migration
Borders and security
Nationalism
Human rights and modern slavery
Forced displacement and refugee studies

Career Highlights

Teaching Interests

Dr Bolger teaches on a range of courses relating to politics, international relations, race and racism, globalisation, and genocide studies.

Research

Publications

Research Highlights

Bolger, D. (2022). Ausztralia (Australia). Egy világra szóló történet – Az 1956-os magyar menekültválság kézikönyve [A world-famous story. Handbook of the 1956 Hungarian refugee crisis] (pp. 569-580). Institute of History at Hungary’s Research Centre for the Humanities
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65936
Bolger, D. (2023). “Irregular” Migration, Intersectionality, and Race. Immigrant Lives (pp. 131-C7P87). Oxford University Press New York
https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197687307.003.0007, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64806
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197687307.003.0007

All Research

Book Chapters

Bolger, D. (2023). “Irregular” Migration, Intersectionality, and Race. Immigrant Lives (pp. 131-C7P87). Oxford University Press New York
https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197687307.003.0007, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa64806
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197687307.003.0007
Bolger, D. (2022). Ausztralia (Australia). Egy világra szóló történet – Az 1956-os magyar menekültválság kézikönyve [A world-famous story. Handbook of the 1956 Hungarian refugee crisis] (pp. 569-580). Institute of History at Hungary’s Research Centre for the Humanities
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65936

Taught Modules

PO-118A War and Peace in the Nuclear Age

In this module you will examine the history of the international system from the end of the Second World War to the present day. It will provide an examination of the origins of the Cold War, how the two superpowers managed their relationship during the Cold War and an analysis of some of the key features of the post-Cold War world. We begin by assessing the rise of the USA and USSR and the emergence of deterrence. The failure of the US policy of containment in Vietnam and the emergence of tripolarity and detente in the 1970s then follows. By the beginning of the 1980s the superpowers relations had worsened and it was the time of the Second Cold War. Yet within ten years the Cold War that had dominated international relations since 1945 would be over. Why did it end, and who won will be questions for you to answer. The module will then examine the challenges facing the international system in the aftermath of the Cold War. Challenges ranging from failed states and military intervention to the rise of China and the re-emergence of Russia, and we conclude by asking, in the post 9/11 era, are we facing a clash of civilisations?
PO-222 Globalisation

The term globalisation has become a central concept for all the social sciences in an astonishingly short period of time. This module is dedicated to making sense of this new addition to the lexicon. What are its various meaning and are they congruent? Whence did the concept arise and why has it gained ubiquity so quickly? And what should be made of the debates that the term has excited? These issues are explored directly, and also through a range of subordinate themes, including space, territoriality and the states-system; the world market, trade, and economic interdependence; governance, war and social movements. Globalisation is a complex and contentious concept, which is variously interpreted as: a form of `time space compression¿ which is `shrinking¿ our world; a series of opportunities for growth and modernisation; or the institutionalisation and internationalisation of inequalities and injustice. Its advocates argue that it has increased the depth and scope of the application of human rights and lifted millions of people out of poverty. Its detractors point to its connection with the recent global financial crisis and the willingness and ability of powerful elites to manipulate its mechanisms and consequences.
PO-222A Globalisation

The term globalisation has become a central concept for all the social sciences in an astonishingly short period of time. This module is dedicated to making sense of this new addition to the lexicon. What are its various meaning and are they congruent? Whence did the concept arise and why has it gained ubiquity so quickly? And what should be made of the debates that the term has excited? These issues are explored directly, and also through a range of subordinate themes, including space, territoriality and the states-system; the world market, trade, and economic interdependence; governance, war and social movements. Globalisation is a complex and contentious concept, which is variously interpreted as: a form of `time space compression¿ which is `shrinking¿ our world; a series of opportunities for growth and modernisation; or the institutionalisation and internationalisation of inequalities and injustice. Its advocates argue that it has increased the depth and scope of the application of human rights and lifted millions of people out of poverty. Its detractors point to its connection with the recent global financial crisis and the willingness and ability of powerful elites to manipulate its mechanisms and consequences.
PO-249 Global Summit Simulation

`A Global Summit is to be held bringing together leaders of governments and states to negotiate a new peace agreement, trade deal, or climate goals. Each leader has their own interests based on the situation in their country (military, economic, public opinion) but some have a stronger interest in coming out of the Summit with a new agreement than others. Against the backdrop of an active, mobilised global civil society campaigning for change in people¿s lives (e.g. peace, prosperity, sustainability), government leaders come together for a two day Summit behind closed doors to find common ground and negotiate an agreement.¿ This module is practice-oriented and provides an opportunity for students to investigate real-world actors and their interests on a selected global issue. Each year, one global issue will take centre stage for the simulated negotiation following the format of a Global Summit. Individually or in small groups, students will develop a strategy for the assigned actor argue, defend and try to find common ground during the 2-day negotiations at the Summit.
PO-253 The Colour Line: Race and Racism in World Politics

In 1903, W.E.B. Du Bois wrote that ¿the problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the colour line¿. In other words, `race¿ is the dominant ordering mechanism of world politics. But what is race? What is racism? How are they related? And what does it mean to be `racist¿? This module provides students with an introduction to the theoretical and practical importance of race and racism in the historical construction of the modern world order. Beginning with an exploration of some of the broader foundations of race, students will learn to discern and understand the relationship race has with, and the effect it has on, contemporary racism. Further, students will explore how racism is intertwined with contemporary global issues such as national identity, immigration and asylum, multiculturalism and social cohesion, Islamophobia, and terrorism. Utilising a global lens and a broad range of relevant theories, the module will invite students to explore a range of case studies from around the world, facilitating discussion about the enduring relevance of race and racism on politics and governance.
PO-3319 Researching Politics 1

Researching Politics (RP) provides students with the skills that underlie the process of conducting and communicating cutting-edge research in Politics and International Relations. RP works by creating topic groups, each comprised of 8-10 students. Each group will follow a bespoke course set out by their topic tutor, guiding them through the literature in a substantive research area. Students are invited to select a list of preferred options in the first teaching week of the term. This list is then used to assign students to topics and group sessions run from the second week of teaching onwards. Alongside the topic-specific teaching, there is a general lecture series focusing on discovering, analysing and presenting complex information. The lecture series also focuses on dealing with the ups and downs of working as part of a team.

Dr Dawn Bolger

Telephone number

Email address

About

Areas Of Expertise

Career Highlights

Publications

Research Highlights

All Research

Book Chapters

Taught Modules

PO-118A War and Peace in the Nuclear Age

PO-222 Globalisation

PO-222A Globalisation

PO-249 Global Summit Simulation

PO-253 The Colour Line: Race and Racism in World Politics

PO-3319 Researching Politics 1