Institute of Development Studies

Biography

Dr Robin Luckham is a political sociologist with over 40 years professional experience, more than 30 at IDS. He began his academic career in Nigeria and Ghana, and has also worked in the USA and Australia. He is retired but still works part-time as a Research Associate. Since writing his PhD and book on the Nigerian military, he has analysed the seamier aspects of the state, political violence and development. More recently he has turned his attention to democratic institutions and politics, to the governance of security institutions and to peace-building. He chairs the International Advisory Group of the Global Facilitation Network on Security Sector Reform.

Languages: French (working knowledge)

Thematic Expertise

Governance; Democracy; Politics and Power; Security and Conflict.

Geographic Expertise

Sub Saharan Africa; Ghana; Nigeria.

Selected Publications »»

• Luckham, R. (2011) 'Democracy and Security: a Shotgun Marriage?' in Tadjbakhsh, S. (eds), Rethinking the Liberal Peace, London: Routledge
• Luckham, R. and Hutchful, E. (2010) 'Democratic and War-to-Peace Transitions and Security Sector Transformation in Africa' in Bryden, A. and Olanisakin, 'F. (eds), Security Sector Transformation in Africa, Berlin: LIT Verlag
• Luckham, R. (2009) 'Democracy and Security: A Shotgun Marriage?', Working Paper 8, Santiago de Chile: Global Consortium on Security Transformation
• Luckham, R. with Bagayoko, N., Dammert, L., Fuentes, C. and Solis, M. (2009) 'Transforming Security and Development in an Unequal World', IDS Bulletin 40.2, Brighton: IDS
• Luckham, R. (2009) 'Introduction: Transforming Security and Development in an Unequal World', IDS Bulletin 40.2:1-10, Oxford:
• Luckham, R. (2007) 'The Discordant Voices of ‘Security’', Development in Practice 17.4&5
• Luckham, R. (2004) 'The International Community and State Reconstruction in War-torn Societies', Journal of Conflict, Security and Development 4.3:481-508
• Cawthra, G., Bastian, S., Goetz, A.M., Hassim, S. and Luckham, R. (2003) Democratic Transition in Conflict-Torn Societies, London: Zed Books
• Bastian, S. and Luckham, R. (2003) 'Conclusion. The Politics of Institutional Choice' in Bastian, S. and Luckham, R. (eds), Can Democracy be Designed? The Politics of Institutional Choice in Conflict-Torn Societies, London: Zed Press
• Goetz, A.M., Kaldor, M. and Luckham, R. (2003) 'Democratic Institutions and Democratic Politics' in Bastian, S. and Luckham, R. (eds), Can Democracy be Designed? The Politics of Institutional Choice in Conflict-Torn Societies, London: Zed Press
• Bastian, S. and Luckham, R. (2003) 'Introduction: Can Democracy be Designed?' in Bastian, S. and Luckham, R. (eds), Can Democracy be Designed? The Politics of Institutional Choice in Conflict-Torn Societies, London: Zed Press
• Bastian, S. and Luckham, R. (2003) Can Democracy be Designed? The Politics of Institutional Choice in Conflict-Torn Societies, London: Zed Books
• Cawthra, G. and Luckham, R. (2003) Governing Insecurity: Democratic Control of Military and Security Establishments in Transitional Democracies, London: Zed Books
• Luckham, R. (2002) 'Radical Soldiers, New Model Armies and the Nation-State in Ethiopia and Eritrea' in Koonings, K. and Kruijt, D. (eds), Political Armies, Zed Press
• Luckham, R, Ahmed, I, Muggah, R and White, S (2001) 'Conflict and Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Assessment of the Issues and Evidence', IDS Working Paper 128, Brighton: