Adam Humphreys is Associate Professor and Head of Department in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Reading. He has been with the University since 2013, following positions as a British Academy Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Oxford (2007–10) and Fellow in Politics at Brasenose College, Oxford (2010–13). His research interests include International Relations theory and metatheory, causation and causal explanation, realism and neorealism, the English School, and the relationship between theory and history. Additionally, he is interested in British foreign and defense policy, strategy, and the ethics of war.
What are the current exciting research and debates in your field?
Humphreys acknowledges the innovative research happening in causal inquiry, particularly the ‘design-based’ approaches to causal inference. He emphasizes the importance of broadening the conception of causal inquiry to include various forms of research that contribute to causal knowledge, such as historical analysis. Humphreys notes the significance of historical work in generating causal knowledge and suggests a more inclusive approach to recognizing different ways of contributing to this endeavor.
How has your understanding of the world evolved, and what prompted significant shifts in your thinking?
Humphreys highlights his transition from focusing solely on grand theories in IR to a more nuanced exploration of causation and causal inquiry. Influenced by scholars like Suganami, Kurki, and Jackson, Humphreys found a more fruitful avenue for pursuing epistemological questions through causal inquiry rather than traditional theoretical approaches.
