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Biography

Matthew Goodwin is an ESRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow and joined IPEG in February 2007. Previously, Matthew was Temporary Lecturer at the University of Bath. He holds degrees from the University of Salford (B.A. Hons), the University of Western Ontario (M.A. Political Science) and the University of Bath where he completed his PhD in Political Science in June 2007.

Research Interests

• Political behaviour
• The politics of race and immigration
• Extreme right activists, groups, movements and parties
• Research methods in the social sciences

Based on extensive qualitative interviews with political activists Matthew’s doctoral research investigated the motive for active participation in extreme right movements. The research is currently being reworked into a book manuscript. Matthew also has a strong interest in the policy implications of organized extremism which continues research he undertook for the UK Home Office (‘Understanding the Role of ‘Racist’ Groups in Community Tension’) and the Young Foundation think-tank (‘Exploring the Drivers of Far Right Support’). Building on this work, Matthew is co-editing a volume which examines different forms of political and religious extremism and the implications for public policy (The New Extremism, forthcoming with Routledge). He also organizes the annual ‘Challenges to Cohesion’ conference which brings together academics, policy-makers and practitioners to discuss issues around community cohesion. Details of the first conference, held in November 2008, can be found here. The next conference will be held on 25th-26th March 2009.

Outside of his own research Matthew is co-reviews editor for the ECPR Standing Group on Extremism and Democracy. The Standing Group brings together academics who work on various aspects of extremism and currently has approximately 700 members from 50 different countries. Matthew is also a member of the Democracy, Citizens and Elections Research Network (DCERN). He has also discussed some of the issues above on BBC Radio Scotland, BBC World Service, the radio program Westminster Hour and in publications such as Progress Magazine.

For a full list of Matthew’s academic publications, policy reports and presentations see his curriculum vitae above. Recent published articles and working papers include:

• Summary of forthcoming research in The New Extremism is discussed in New Statesman

One of the major challenges facing 21st century Britain is extremism. The two forms which pose the most serious threat to local communities and the democratic order are radical and violent Islamism, and the growing support for the BNP (though the violent potential of the extreme right must also not be ignored). Both pose vital questions for those concerned with the development of a more cohesive and stable society. Unlike many studies, this volume adopts a holistic approach, bringing together leading experts to examine the factors that cause support for different forms of extremism and also potential policy responses. The book presents new empirical research on some of the most crucial issues facing Britain today including: assessing current support for Islamism and right-wing extremism; how effective are the current responses to Islamism such as Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE)?; and why has the BNP not fared better given that many voters share its policy concerns? Pre-order the book here.

• Matthew J. Goodwin, 'Activism in extreme right parties: The case of the British National Party (BNP)', working paper (2009)
• Matthew J. Goodwin, ‘Can we promote cohesion through contact? Intergroup contact and the development of community cohesion (working paper, 2009)
• Matthew J. Goodwin (with Robert Ford) Something rotten in the heartlands? Ethnic competition, working class disaffection and the BNP Challenge (2009) This paper was discussed in the Financial Times.
• Matthew J. Goodwin, ‘The contemporary radical right: Past, present and future' (working paper, 2009)
• Matthew Goodwin will be discussing his research at the Institute of Community Cohesion (ICoCo) Masterclass on Wednesday 25th February.
• Short article by Goodwin and Ford featured on the Guardian website.
• Presentation at the 67th national conference of the Midwest Political Science Association in Chicago (April 2-5, 2009). Copy of paper.
• Coordinated the Challenges to Cohesion Conference on 21 November 2008.
• Forthcoming Book Chapter in Mapping the Far Right in Contemporary Europe (Berghahn books). Pdf copy.
• Goodwin, Matthew J. (2008) Backlash in the ‘hood: support for the British National Party at local level, forthcoming in the special issue ‘The Extreme Right in Contemporary Europe’, Journal of Contemporary European Studies, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 349-363.
  
  
• Goodwin, Matthew J. (2008) Research, revisionists and the radical right, Politics, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 33-40
  
  
• Goodwin, Matthew J. (2007) The extreme right in Britain: still an ugly duckling but for how long?, Political Quarterly, vol. 78, no. 2, pp. 241-250.
  
  
• Goodwin, Matthew J. (2006) The rise and faults of the internalist perspective in extreme right studies, Representation, vol. 42, no. 4, pp. 347-364.
  
  

Other research activity

Matthew has also undertaken research for a variety of bodies, including the Department for Communities and Local Government, the North West Improvement Network (NWIN) and local authorities. This research has utilized a range of research methodologies, including structured qualitative interviews and experimental methods. Recent research reports include:

• Goodwin, Matthew., Greasley, Stephen., John, Peter and Richardson, Liz (2008) Can we make environmental citizens? Evaluation of a school-based intervention designed to promote pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours amongst schoolchildren. IPEG Working Paper. University of Manchester: Institute for Political and Economic Governance.
  

  Goodwin, M.J., Greasley, S., John, P. and Richardson, L. (2008) Can we make environmental citizens? Evaluation of a school-based intervention designed to promote pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours amongst schoolchildren. Research report for the North West Improvement Network (NWIN).

  John, Peter., Gains, Francesca., Goodwin, Matthew and Richardson, Liz (2007) Improving the Representativeness of Councillors: Learning from Five High Performing Local Authorities in England. Research Report 4 for Councillors Commission. Department for Communities & Local Government.
  
  
• Goodwin, Matthew and Richardson, Liz (2007) Making better interventions: models of behaviour change. North West Improvement Network/Centre for Local Governance.