Gareth Stansfield

Gareth Robert Vincent Stansfield OBE FRSA FRGS (born 26 October 1973) is a British political scientist who is Professor of Middle East Politics and Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at Exeter University.[1] He was Executive Dean of the faculty most affected by the university's 2026 redundancy proposals, which drew opposition from the University and College Union and several learned societies.[2]

Early life and education

Stansfield was educated at Hulme Grammar School, followed by Durham University, where he read Geography and was awarded the W A Moyes Prize.[3] He completed an MA in Middle East Politics and a PhD at the same institution.[3]

Career

Stansfield joined Exeter University as a Research Fellow in 2002.[3]

Stansfield was Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences when, in June 2026, the University of Exeter proposed a programme of compulsory redundancies equivalent to around 150 full-time posts.[4] The Exeter branch of the University and College Union said the proposals placed more than 500 staff at risk and jeopardised 85% of the faculty, and declared a formal trade dispute in July 2026 following a near-unanimous vote at an emergency branch meeting attended by more than 700 members.[2] A UCU petition described the announcement as a "stunning failure of leadership" by the university's senior management and governance, and the branch said it would move votes of no confidence in the Vice-Chancellor, University Executive Board and Council.

Stansfield was among the senior figures addressed in open letters from learned societies, including the British Sociological Association, which urged the university's leadership to explore every available alternative before proceeding,[5] and the Council of University Classical Departments, which expressed concern and dismay at the proposals.[6]

In 2004, he co-wrote The Future of Iraq: Dictatorship, Democracy or Division? with Liam Anderson.[7]

He has been critical of Turkish policy in Syria.[8]

Stansfield was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to UK interests in Iraq.[9][10]

References

  1. ↑ "Professor Gareth Stansfield". University of Exeter. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  2. 1 2 Cite error: The named reference exeterobs was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. 1 2 3 "Gareth R V Stansfield CV" (PDF). University of Exeter.
  4. ↑ Cite error: The named reference the2026 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ↑ "BSA President and Chair express deep concerns regarding proposed staff reductions at Exeter". British Sociological Association. July 2026. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "Letter to the University of Exeter". Council of University Classical Departments. 2026. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  7. ↑ Hardy, Roger (2005). "Reviewed Work(s): The Future of Iraq: Dictatorship, Democracy, or Division? by Liam Anderson and Gareth Stansfield; Iraq's Future: The Aftermath of Regime Change by Toby Dodge". International Affairs. 81 (5): 1157. JSTOR 3569109.
  8. ↑ Stansfield, Gareth (28 January 2018). "Turkey's attack on Syrian Kurds could overturn the entire region". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  9. ↑ "No. 64269". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2023. p. N28.
  10. ↑ "The King's New Year Honours 2024". Durham University. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
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