Dr. Stephen Whitefield

Professor

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Biography

Stephen Whitefield is a Professor of Politics at the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford. He holds a DPhil and an MA. His academic focus is on post-Communist politics and comparative politics, exploring the political dimensions of social inequality, political culture, and party systems in post-Communist societies. Over the past two decades, he has conducted extensive research across thirteen post-Communist countries, studying the character of political parties in the post-Communist context alongside issues of electoral choice and partisanship. He is currently the Principal Investigator for the Horizon/UKRI project on Neo-Authoritarianism in Europe, examining the liberal democratic responses to these political changes. Whitefield has published influential works, including his study on Soviet political economic institutions. He has received various funding grants for his research projects, contributing to the understanding of democracy, authoritarianism, and political mobilization in post-Communist contexts. His teaching encompasses topics such as political sociology, comparative government, and Russian politics, engaging both undergraduate and graduate students in critical discussions on the evolution of political institutions and democratic theory.

Research Interests

Experience

Professor of Politics

— Present

Department of Politics and International Relations • Oxford

Awards

#

Ed Hewett Prizewinner

Requirements for University of Oxford

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.7
IELTS
Listening
Required:7
Reading
Required:7
Writing
Required:7
Speaking
Required:7
Overall
Required:7.5
TOEFL
Listening
Required:22
Reading
Required:24
Writing
Required:24
Speaking
Required:25
Total
Required:110
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Politics, International Relations, Economics, History, Law, Philosophy or Sociology
Application Checklist
  • Three academic references
  • Official transcripts
  • CV/Resume
  • Statement of Purpose (1,000 words)
  • Two academic essays (2,000 words each)
Specialization Notes

Department of Politics and International Relations - Higher Level English requirement.