Dr Amya Agarwal (she/her)
BA, MA, MPhil, PhD
School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations
Lecturer in International Relations
Deputy Director of PGR (Departmental)
Lifelong Learning Lead (Departmental)
Full contact details
School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations
D01, Elmfield
Elmfield Building
Northumberland Road
Sheffield
S10 2TU
- Profile
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Amya holds a PhD (2017) in Political Science from the 9 1Ãâ·Ñ°æÏ of Delhi. After completing her PhD, she taught at two universities in India (2017-2019) - 9 1Ãâ·Ñ°æÏ of Delhi and South Asian 9 1Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂ.
She moved to Germany in 2019, where she held two postdoctoral posts at the Centre for Global Cooperation Research, Duisburg (post doctoral fellow, 2019-2021) and Arnold Bergstraesser institute, Freiburg (senior researcher, 2021-2023). During her time in Freiburg, she also taught at the 9 1Ãâ·Ñ°æÏ of Freiburg and 9 1Ãâ·Ñ°æÏ College Freiburg (UCF).
In February 2024, she joined the department as Lecturer in International Relations. Amya's research explores gender in armed conflict, security and resistance, particularly in South Asia; while paying close attention to masculinities, motherhood and art. She has published on women's agency, gender's influence on men and masculinities; and effects of academic precarity on early career women researchers.
- Research interests
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My research draws inspiration from feminist perspectives in international relations and critical scholarship on men and masculinities. Currently, I am a part of a research project on 'sexual violence along the war and peace continuum' funded by the Swedish Research Council.
Along with teaching and parenting, I am also writing about intersections between motherhood and art in violence-affected contexts; and about narratives of belonging in academia.
- Publications
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Show: Featured publications All publications
Featured publications
Books
- Contesting Masculinities and Women’s Agency in Kashmir. Rowman & Littlefield.
Journal articles
- . International Studies Perspectives, 24(1), 88-114.
- . International Feminist Journal of Politics, 20(4), 654-656.
- Mothers' Grief and Love in War and Resistance: Visuals, Aesthetics and Storytelling. Journal of International Relations and Development.
- . Uluslararası İlişkiler Dergisi, 18(70), 63-83.
Chapters
- Entangled Imaginaries and Bonds of Shared Pain: The Case of Kashmiri and Palestinian Resistance In Freistein K, Unrau C, Quack S & Mahlert B (Ed.), Imagining Pathways for Global Cooperation Edward Elgar Publishing
- Civilian and Caring Masculinities and the Questions of Justice in Kashmir In Schulz P, Hamber B, Touquet H & Messmer G (Ed.), Masculinities and Queer Perspectives in Transitional Justice Routledge
Book reviews
- Changing the Subject: Feminist and Queer Politics in Neoliberal India. Doing Sociology.
All publications
Books
- (Indian edition) Contesting Masculinities and Women's Agency in Kashmir. Delhi, India: Manohar Publishers.
- Contesting Masculinities and Women’s Agency in Kashmir. Rowman & Littlefield.
Journal articles
- . International Studies Perspectives, 24(1), 88-114.
- . International Feminist Journal of Politics, 20(4), 654-656.
- Mothers' Grief and Love in War and Resistance: Visuals, Aesthetics and Storytelling. Journal of International Relations and Development.
- . Uluslararası İlişkiler Dergisi, 18(70), 63-83.
Chapters
- Entangled Imaginaries and Bonds of Shared Pain: The Case of Kashmiri and Palestinian Resistance In Freistein K, Unrau C, Quack S & Mahlert B (Ed.), Imagining Pathways for Global Cooperation Edward Elgar Publishing
- Civilian and Caring Masculinities and the Questions of Justice in Kashmir In Schulz P, Hamber B, Touquet H & Messmer G (Ed.), Masculinities and Queer Perspectives in Transitional Justice Routledge
Book reviews
- Changing the Subject: Feminist and Queer Politics in Neoliberal India. Doing Sociology.
- Contesting Masculinities and Women’s Agency in Kashmir. Rowman & Littlefield.
- Research group
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International Relations Research Group
- Teaching activities
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I am currently co-convening the following module: GEO125 Analysing Global Challenges.
Previously, I co-convened POL122 Gender and the World and POL3034 Politics of Security.
- Professional activities and memberships
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- Section program co-chair Feminist Theory and Gender Section (FTGS) 2025-2026, International Studies Association (ISA);
- Research Associate, Arnold Bergstraesser Institute (ABI), Freiburg, Germany
- Supervision Expertise
I would love to supervise PhD students working on the following areas:
- Feminist and Critical International Relations;
- Gender, Conflict and Security in South Asia;
- Masculinities in War and Conflict (Militarized, Civilian and Caring);
- Motherhood in Global Politics;
- Visuals and Aesthetics in War and Resistance;
- Sexual and Gender Based Violence along the War and Peace Continuum.