Insecurity, Violence and Harm

Insecurity, Violence and Harm is an interdisciplinary research cluster based primarily within the Department of Social Sciences, aimed at creating a dynamic and research-led environment that will serve as the jump off point for collaborative publications and bidding activity. It is an umbrella group welcoming all colleagues interested in wide interpretations of the concepts of ‘security/ insecurity’, ‘violence’, and ‘harm’, including colleagues in International Relations and Politics, International Development, Sociology, Policing, and Criminology. The purposes of the research cluster are to: 

• serve as a forum for the promotion of research being conducted in the Social Sciences 
• act as a platform drawing together expertise from different subject groups for the purpose of developing research projects 
• support research activities through the exchange of best practices and the organisation of research activities
• support the research aspirations of early career scholars through peer-mentoring
• serve as a host for visiting research fellows wishing to work on topics related to insecurity, violence and harm 
• serve as a dynamic interface between academics and practitioners, promoting knowledge exchange 
• support the development of impact-related activities 
• promote excellence in teaching by fostering close ties between research and teaching 

Areas of research within the cluster include: 

• Green/environmental harm and violence 
• Aspects of the prison estate 
• Gender, violence and abuse 
• Honour crime  
• Terrorism 
• International conflict and security 
• Criminological theory 
• Transnational organised crime 

The cluster is led by Associate Professor Helena Farrand-Carrapico and currently welcomes Visiting Professor Maggie O’Neill (University College Cork). The cluster holds a regular, well attended seminar series.