Dr Samantha May is a lecturer in the department of Politics and International Relations. She completed her AHRC funded doctorate at the University of Aberdeen in 2011 on Islamist ideologies and practices.

Dr May was awarded the Student Choice  'Most Inspirational Lecturer' of the Year Award for 2016 and 'Best Lecturer' award in 2014. She was also nominated for the College of Arts and Social Sciences teaching exellence award for  2015 and 2014.

Undergratuate:

Course Coordinator: Political Islam: Ideologies and Practices.

Team Lecturer for: Global Politics: Equality and Inequality

Taught Masters:

Course Coordinator: Religion, Conflict and Security.

Team Lecturer for: International Political Economy: Theory and Themes

Broadly, my research interests lay within the relationship between politics and religion with a particular focus upon Political Islam and Islamist movements. 

Currently I am researching the political and economic role of zakat and Islamic charity within the U.K and the consequences and challenges posed by recent changes within U.K charity law. Previous research was primarily concerned with Political Islam within the Middle East, in particular Hamas and Hizbullah. The focus of my research is the memory and legacy of Imperial non-Western political polities as an alternative to the Westphalian nation-state and the challenges they pose to current dominating ideas of territory, identity and economic practice.