Dr. Portia Roelofs

Biography

Dr. Portia Roelofs is a Lecturer in the Department of Political Economy at King's College London. She holds degrees from the University of Oxford, SOAS, and the London School of Economics (LSE). Dr. Roelofs has previously held post-doctoral fellowships at LSE and St Anne’s College, Oxford, and has been a visiting researcher at universities in Maiduguri and Ibadan, Nigeria. Her research focuses on development studies, African politics, and political theory, applying a critical approach to governance, democracy, and accountability. Notably, her book, 'Good Governance in Nigeria: Rethinking Accountability and Transparency in the Twenty-First Century', draws on qualitative fieldwork in southwestern Nigeria, proposing novel, socially-embedded conceptions of accountability and transparency. She is actively engaged in academic communities as a fellow of the Higher Education Academy and serves in leadership roles within various political associations, having co-convened workshops and discussions that center on African political ideologies and development. Her work critically examines the public-private partnerships and the role of consultants in shaping governance issues in the UK and Nigeria. In terms of teaching, she offers courses on International Institutions and Global Governance, and has a strong focus on topics surrounding African politics and climate policy in her classes.

Research Interests