Dr Neil Loughlin

Overview

Dr. Neil Loughlin is a Senior Lecturer in Comparative Politics at City St George's, University of London. His primary research interests lie in authoritarian politics and the comparative political economy of development. He is currently completing a book manuscript on crime and politcs in Southeast Asia, with a focus on the cyberscamming industry. 

Neil's first book, The Politics of Coercion: State and Regime Making in Cambodia, was published by Cornell University Press in 2024. His work has also appeared in leading academic journals, including Comparative Politics, Democratization, Development and Change, Third World Quarterly, and the Journal of Contemporary Asia.

Neil's research spans a wide range of topics, such as comparative authoritarianism, post-conflict state-building, crime and development, patronage and clientelism, and land dispossession and resource extraction. His current research projects focus on three areas:

1) The international dimensions of authoritarianism and the rise of powerful autocracies.

2) The implications of Chinese investment, including through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), on political and developmental outcomes in recipient states.

3) The relationship between transnational organised crime, political stability and development, particularly in the context of of cyber scams in East and Southeast Asia.

Neil's work has predominantly centered on Southeast Asia, where he has extensive professional experience. Prior to academia, he worked with local and international NGOs as a human rights advocate and development professional. He has consulted for organizations such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). His insights have been featured in prominent international news outlets, including Al Jazeera, The Diplomat, Global Post, The Guardian, The Nikkei, The Observer, Radio Free Asia, and Voice of America.

At City, Neil teaches several undergraduate modules, including:

IP1031: Approaches to Comparative Politics

IP2053: Authoritarianism and Democracy in the 21st Century

IP2037: Comparative Asian Politics

He has also previously taught:

IP1030: Introduction to Politics

IP2033: Advanced Topics in Comparative Politics

IP3017: Final Year Dissertation Project

In addition, he has contributed to SAM005: Qualitative Research Methods in Sociology (postgraduate level).

Before joining City, Neil was based at the Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV), where he continues to hold an Associate Fellowship. He has taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses on comparative authoritarianism and development at the University of Amsterdam and Leiden University. He has also held fellowships at the University of Sydney and the University of Copenhagen. Neil earned his PhD from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.

Expertise

Geographic Areas

• Asia - Southeast
• Asia - East

Publications by category