Name:

Dr. Thomas Kwasi Tieku

Department:

Political Science

What courses will you be teaching?
  • Introduction to Politics
  • Developing Countries in Global Politics
  • International Law and Organization
Do you have any information to share with students about your courses?

I have a deal to make with students. If they teach me everything I need to know about London, I will travel with them to the “never a dull moment” world of politics. I often embed international experiential learning trips in my courses, so hopefully we will get the chance to travel to another country to interact with senior diplomats, politicians, and to learn about politics in a different context.

What are your areas of research?

My research focuses on conflict negotiation, international organizations, regional governance innovations, politics in the Global South, and foreign policy analysis but I am mostly known for my works on conflict mediation, and on the African Union.

Where did you work prior to King's and what was your position?

I am joining King’s from the University of Toronto (UofT) where I worked as an Assistant Professor cross appointed to the Munk School of Global Affairs and to the New College. I also directed UofT’s African Studies Program. In addition to UofT, I worked as a Lead Researcher at The Centre for International Governance Innovations (CIGI), served as a consultant for a number of international organizations including the World Bank Group, and I serve on a number of editorial boards, including Cornell University’s African Development Monograph Series.

My love for teaching and research was greatly deepened during the six wonderful years I spent at the University of Toronto. I had the good fortune to work with wonderful students, good colleagues and University administrators who valued and supported my work. I also had the honour to receive a number of UofT’s Teaching Excellence Awards, including the 2008-09 Ranjini Ghosh Award for Excellence in Teaching

How did your previous work prepare you for your role at King’s?

At UofT, I had the chance to teach courses at almost every level (undergraduate and graduate), hone in my teaching skills and learned how to develop rigorous experiential learning courses. I had the privilege to take students who enrolled in my courses on experiential learning tours to different international organizations, including visits to the African Union and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Ethiopia, European Union in Belgium, the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Belgium.  I hope to draw on these experiences to enhance learning and placement of King’s students.     

What are you most looking forward to in your new position at King’s?

I am looking forward to learning about the dreams of King’s students and to work with them to turn some of the dreams into reality.

What are your interests and hobbies outside of work?

Intellectual activism and football (soccer) are my other passions. I like to contribute to public debate and policies, especially as they relate to the poor. I regularly help raise funds to build schools for primary education in rural areas in Africa and I belong to Academics Stand Against Poverty (ASAP) which has been campaigning vigorously for effective anti-poverty international development pact to replace the expiring United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG). My anti-poverty works often take me to the murky African politics circles where Professor Robert Rotberg of Harvard University and I have been trying to nurture a critical mass of young African leaders who possess the leadership skills that political scientists think Africa needs and deserves.

Any other spare time is spent watching football and discussing football tactics.