Henry Staples

PhD Supervisors: Dr. Juan Miguel Kanai, Dr Anastasia Shesterinina

Research Topic: Understanding mobilization in ‘post-conflict’ Colombia.

Henry was awarded a departmental scholarship to pursue his doctoral research, which will explore mobilization processes in Colombia in the wake of the 2016 peace accord.

Henry’s project seeks to focus on the intersection of social movement theory, civil war studies and post-conflict peace-building, with the Colombian context as his case of focus. Since the peace agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC) was signed – thousands of demobilized ex-combatants have begun new lives as citizens. As well as providing a range of rights to former guerilla members, the peace accord will strengthen the right of all Colombians to participate politically, including a guarantee for social movement activists to be able to freely organise and protest. Henry intends to examine interactions between ex-combatants and social movement members in order to contribute to the understanding of the relationship between civil society, civil war legacies, and peace-building efforts.

Henry began his PhD in the Department of Geography at the University of Sheffield in February 2018. He previously studied for a Research Masters in International Development Studies at the University of Amsterdam (2015) where he graduated Cum Laude, and a BA (Hons) in Land Economy at the University of Cambridge (2012).