Dr Ben Willis
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Lecturer in International Relations
- PIM103: War in Theory and Practice (module convenor)
- PO1WAR: War and Warfare (module convenor)
- PO2GLO: Global Order (module co-convenor)
- ASK Advisor
Areas of interest
My research interests, broadly defined, involve a particular concern with the problem of mass atrocity crimes (genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity).
There are three main strands to my current work. The first is a series of articles that examine how the principle of the Responsibility to Protect has been used to address peacetime atrocity crimes in North Korea over the last two decades. The second is a long-term book project that offers a revisionist account of the negotiating history around the adoption of RtoP, which draws on newly released archival material and interviews with key individuals. The third strand of work examines current UK government policy on the prevention of mass atrocities.
Research centres and groups
Centre for Global Security and Governance
Background
I joined the department as a Lecturer in International Relations in September 2025. Prior to this, I was an Associate Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at the University of Plymouth for five years. I completed my PhD at the University of Leeds in 2023, where I was part of the European Centre for the Responsibility to Protect. Among various other non-academic jobs, I've also previously worked in the human rights NGO sector on issues around identity-based mass violence.
Academic qualifications
- PhD International Politics – University of Leeds
- MA International Relations – University of Plymouth
- BSc (Hons) International Relations – University of Plymouth