Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
Oliver Walton is a Reader in International Development specialising in the political economy of war-to-peace transitions, NGO politics, aid policy, conflict, and peacebuilding.
His research focuses on the political economy of war to peace transitions, civil society, NGOs and NGO legitimacy. Recent work has examined the role of borderlands and brokers in post-war transitions in Nepal and Sri Lanka, UK aid policy, protest movements, and the relationship between conflict and social welfare.
Teaching interests
My teaching focuses on two areas: (1) the politics of development (with a particular focus on South Asia) and (2) the intersections between conflict, development and peacebuilding.
In 2019, I was the joint winner of the University's Mary Tasker Award for excellence in teaching
Other responsibilities
Oliver is Director of Learning and Teaching for the Department of Social and Policy Sciences.
Prior to joining the University of Bath in March 2013, he worked as a Research Fellow at the Governance and Social Development Resource Centre (GSDRC), based at the University of Birmingham. He completed a PhD at the School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London) in 2010, which focused on national NGOs involved in peacebuilding in Sri Lanka. He has experience of working for a range of NGOs in the UK and Sri Lanka, and has worked as a consultant and evaluator for a number of donor agencies (including DFID, UNDP, NORAD, OECD and AusAID).
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 6 Finished
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Crisis and Intersectional Justice in Lebanon and Sri Lanka
Walton, O. (PI)
Arts and Humanities Research Council
15/10/23 → 31/01/25
Project: Research council
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Conflict and peace-building in the MENA region: is social protection the missing link?
Jawad, R. (PI), Devine, J. (CoI), Forrester-Jones, R. (CoI) & Walton, O. (CoI)
1/04/20 → 31/03/25
Project: Research council
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Conflict and peace-building in the MENA region: is social protection the missing link? (Partnershare)
Jawad, R. (PI), Devine, J. (CoI), Forrester-Jones, R. (CoI) & Walton, O. (CoI)
1/04/20 → 31/03/25
Project: Research council
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(Development Award) Social protection and sustainable peace in the Middle East and North Africa Region: Building a new welfare-centred politics
Jawad, R. (PI), Aslam, W. (CoI), Kivimaki, T. (CoI) & Walton, O. (CoI)
Arts and Humanities Research Council
1/07/19 → 31/03/22
Project: Research council
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Living on the Margins
Walton, O. (PI)
Arts and Humanities Research Council
1/11/16 → 30/04/18
Project: Research council
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Fixing the past, mediating the future? Human rights brokers in Nepal and Sri Lanka
Goodhand, J. & Walton, O., 23 Jan 2025, In: Cultural Studies. 24 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Introduction to the Forum: Social welfare and conflict in the MENA region
Walton, O., 18 Jun 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Global Social Policy.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Understanding the relationship between social welfare and conflict in the MENA region
Walton, O., 20 Jun 2025, In: Global Social Policy.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
#GoHomeGota: The Story Behind Sri Lanka’s Hashtagged Protest Movement. Sulochana Peiris. 2023. 51 minutes
Walton, O., Johnson, D. & Goodhand, J., 9 May 2024, Polity.Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article
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After Aragalaya: Moving beyond the Status Quo?
Walton, O., 18 Jul 2024, Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Sri Lanka. Ruwanpura, K. & Saleem, A. M. (eds.). Abingdon, U. K.: Routledge, p. 420-422 3 p.Research output: Chapter or section in a book/report/conference proceeding › Book chapter
Activities
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End-of-Project Conference: Social Protection, Security and Welfare in MENA
Walton, O. (Speaker)
27 Nov 2024Activity: Academic conferences and events (excluding conference publications) › Conference or panel chair
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CDS Book Talk - 'Audacious Hope' by Prof Indrajit Roy
Walton, O. (Chair)
13 Mar 2025Activity: Academic conferences and events (excluding conference publications) › Other academic event (organisation, presentation, attendance)
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Media interview about Sri Lankan election for Radio Student, Slovenia
Walton, O. (No value)
27 Sept 2024Activity: Media article or participation, blog › Media article or participation
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The British Academy (External organisation)
Walton, O. (No value)
10 Aug 2024Activity: Other contribution to the discipline › Grant peer-review
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End-of-Project Conference: Social Protection, Security and Welfare in MENA
Walton, O. (Speaker)
27 Nov 2024Activity: Academic conferences and events (excluding conference publications) › Conference presentation / attendance