Dr Phil Mayne
Associate Lecturer

Profile

Biography

Phil joined the department as an Associate Lecturer in February 2024. Previously Phil has taught at the University of Sheffield and the University of Hull.

Phil Mayne’s research explores the relationship between ethics and strategic success (known as strategic ethics). His current work explores the relationship between adherence to the just war tradition and success in counterinsurgency. His work seeks to challenge the established principles of Western counterinsurgency and provide further clarity on strategic ethics.

Phil received his PhD from the University of Hull in 2022. He is currently working on publishing the findings of his thesis, titled ‘Ethics or Efficacy? Examining Strategic Ethics and Counterinsurgency’. He has also written on British defence policy during Brexit and the geopolitics of counterinsurgency.

Research

Overview

Phil’s research seeks to further the understanding of the role of ethics as a dimension of strategy. Utilising in-depth case study analysis, his thesis explored the relationship between adherence to the just war tradition in classical counterinsurgency campaigns. This work challenged the position put forward in current counterinsurgency doctrine and literature of the last two decades. He is currently working on publishing his findings and has secured a contract with Routledge.

His future work will examine the ethical framing of conflicts in terms of power politics, and the role of ‘narratives’ in conflicts.

He is also working with colleagues from the University of Sheffield on the conception of European security, and the role of conflict in European integration.

Publications

Selected publications

Monographs

Mayne, P. (n.d.) Strategic Ethics and Counterinsurgency: Ethics or Efficacy? (Provisional title). Under contract with Routledge.

Book Chapters

Mayne, P. (2023). ‘British Defence Policy and Brexit: Finding Stability During a Period of Uncertainty’. In: Beech, M., Lee, S. (eds) Conservative Governments in the Age of Brexit. Palgrave Macmillan, Camden. 

Mayne, P. (2024). ‘Geopolitics and Counterinsurgency’. In: Cope, Z. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Contemporary Geopolitics. Palgrave Macmillan, Camden. (Awaiting publication).

Teaching

Undergraduate

Phil has experience teaching (and enjoys teaching) international relations theory and practice, international security, defence policy, human rights, and terrorism and counterterrorism.

He has also supported UG and PG dissertations on foreign policy, terrorism, IR theory, conflict, and critical security.