About
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Write about yourself in the third person. Aim for 100 to 150 words covering the main points about who you are and what you currently do. Clear, simple language is best. You can include specialist or technical terms.
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Research
Research interests
- The role, evolution, influence and significance of the Downing Street Chief-of-Staff (1997-present); and
- Leadership of directly-elected mayors
Current research
Max's research is focused on the environments that political leadership occurs within. This includes "environments" interpreted in an abstract sense. He is currently particularly interested in:
1. The role, evolution, influence and significance of the Downing Street Chief-of-Staff (1997-present); and
2. Leadership of directly-elected mayors.
Max takes comparative and biographical approaches to his research topics.
Forthcoming
1. Stafford, M. W. (2024). 'The UK Prime Minister鈥檚 Chief of Staff鈥檚 management of special advisers', in J. Lees-Marshment (Ed.). Routledge Handbook of Political Management. London: Routledge.
2. I currently have a journal article on the political management roles of the Downing Street Chief-of-Staff submitted for review with a leading journal.
3. I am currently writing up a comparative study of the leadership of the urban centre-left in England (London, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol) with Dr. Georgina Blakeley (Huddersfield) and Dr. Thom Oliver (UWE). This will be included in a forthcoming edited collection on the urban centre-left in Europe.
Journals
Sancino, A., M. W. Stafford, A. Braga and L. Budd (2021). What can city leaders do for climate change? Insights from the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group network. Regional Studies. DOI: 10.1080/00343404.2021.2005244.
(Winner of Policy Paper of the Year, 2021, Regional Studies)
Worthy, B., Bennister, M. and M. W. Stafford (2019). Rebels Leading London? The Mayoralties of Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson Compared. British Politics, 14(1), 23-43.
Stafford, M. W. (2014). Women鈥檚 political participation and their legislative representation. Alfred, 5(1), 50-57.
Books
I am currently in discussions with Bloomsbury, regarding the following books:
1. (2024) - Strong Mayors' Leadership Capital: New York, London, and Amsterdam (2000-2016)
2. A book on my current project regarding the role, influence and significance of the Downing Street Chief-of-Staff (1997-present)
Conferences
I have given c.20 conference papers on a range of topics related to my research interests (full listing on ORCID).
Book Reviews
I have published several book reviews for Party Politics and Political Studies Review (full listing on ORCID).
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Research groups
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Research interests
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Current research
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Research projects
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Publications
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Supervision
A list of your current and past PhD students.
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Teaching
I have broad-ranging teaching interests, covering:
- political leadership
- British and American politics
- public administration
- research methods
In 2023/24, I will be teaching on the following courses:
PAIR1002 Political Systems
PAIR1007 Crises of the 21st Century
PAIR2004 Qualitative Research Methods
PAIR6043 Comparative Public Administration
PAIR6068 Professional Skills for the 21st Century
PAIR6071 Issues in Contemporary Public Administration
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Courses and modules
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External roles and responsibilities
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Biography
Max Stafford is a political leadership studies specialist. He has taught at a number of universities (UK, America and Europe), delivering innovative content for students from First Year undergraduate to doctoral levels.
At Southampton, Max delivers courses in British Politics, Public Administration, Qualitative Research, skills development, and dissertations.
Max welcomes opportunities for research, consultancy, and public engagement work in relation to any of his research specialisms.
Max welcomes applications for PhD supervision.
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Prizes
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