About

Introduction

Dr. Alistair Clark is Reader in Politics at Newcastle University. His research interests revolve around political parties, party organisation, electoral integrity and administration, and urban/local politics. Related interests include: comparative party systems and small party challenges; devolved and British party politics; voting behaviour and electoral systems. Alistair Clark’s doctoral research, entitled ‘Local Parties, Participation and Campaigning in Post-Devolution Scotland’, won the 2007 Political Studies Association Arthur McDougall Prize for Elections, Electoral Systems and Representation. His research has been funded by the ESRC, the British Academy, the Nuffield Foundation and the Leverhulme Trust.

Dr Clark has given expert evidence to the Scottish parliament, House of Commons and House of Lords and regularly engages with practitioners and policymakers. He is also regularly invited to comment on political matters in the UK and international media. He has provided expert analysis on general election results for the BBC World Service for the 2015, 2017 and 2019 general elections.

Dr Clark is currently co-editor of the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR) / European Journal for Political Research Political Data Yearbook (PDY).  

Qualifications

PG Certificate in Higher Education Teaching (PGCHET) (2009) Queen’s University Belfast

PhD (2006) Political Studies, University of Aberdeen

MRes (2003) Political Research, University of Aberdeen

MA (Hons) (2001) Politics and International Relations (First Class), University of Aberdeen

Previous positions

2007-2011: Lecturer in Political Science and Research Methods, School of Politics, International Studies and Philosophy, Queen’s University Belfast.

2005-2007: Research Fellow, Institute of Local Government Studies, University of Birmingham.

2015: Visiting Professor, Dept. of Political Science, LUISS Guido Carli University, Rome, Italy

2017-2019: House of Commons/Political Studies Association Parliamentary Fellowship