Institute of Development Studies

Biography

Dr Roger Williamson is currently undertaking research on urban poverty and the Millennium Development Goals as a Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies. In October 2010, he took early retirement to pursue a portfolio existence of research, institutional consolidation in development and health organisations, voluntary activity and his own art. From 1999-2010, Roger Williamson organised nearly 80 sustainable development conferences at Wilton Park, the UK government's specialist international centre for policy dialogue.

At Wilton Park, Roger Williamson strengthened the policy work on international development, climate change, sub-Saharan Africa and the Millennium Development Goals.

He has also worked at senior level within Christian Aid, the Church of England and other organisations, including being head-hunted as the first Director of the Life and Peace Institute, Uppsala, Sweden, specialised on religion and conflict.

He is widely travelled, having visited over 30 countries in most world regions in the context of development, peace and human rights commitment. He has worked with a wide range of international and UK-based NGOs.

Wilton Park conference reports, including those written by Roger Williamson can be downloaded from the Wilton Park website.

Thematic Expertise

Climate Change; Development (General); MDGs; Security and Conflict.

Geographic Expertise

Sub Saharan Africa.

Selected Publications »»

• Williamson, R. (2005) 'Further Developing the Criteria for Intervention' in Asfaw, S., Kerber, G. and Weiderud, P. (eds), The Responsibility to Protect: Ethical and Theological Reflections, Geneva: World Council of Churches
• Williamson, R. (2000) 'The Church of England in International Affairs: 1979 to mid-1997' in Dark, K.R. (eds), Religion in International Relations, Basingstoke: Macmillan
• Williamson, R. (1998) 'Moving in Vicious Circles: The Moral Dilemmas of Arms Transfers and Weapons Manufacture' in Moore, J. (eds), Hard Choices: Moral Dilemmas in Humanitarian Intervention, Oxford: Rowman and Littlefield
• Williamson, R. (1998) Some Corner of a Foreign Field: Intervention and World Order, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
• Williamson, R. (1996) 'Back from the Abyss: Symbolic Immortality, Faith, and Human Survival' in Strozier, C.B. and Flynn, M. (eds), Genocide, War, and Human Survival, London: Rowman and Littlefield
• Race, A. and Williamson, R. (1995) True to this Earth: Global Challenges and Transforming Faith, Oxford: Oneworld Publications
• Williamson, R. (1994) 'Conventional Weapons, Conventional Wars: The Need for an Expanded Arms Control Agenda' , London: Council for Arms Control
• Williamson, R. (1993) The Arms Trade Today, Geneva: World Council of Churches
• Williamson, R. (1991) The Role of Religion in Conflict Situations, Limassol, Cyprus: Middle East Council of Churches
• Williamson, R. (1990) 'Why is Religion Still a Factor in Armed Conflict?', Security Dialogue 21.3:243-253, Oslo: Sage