The department is a lively community that is recognised internationally as one of the top centres for research and teaching in development studies.

Our courses offer excellent training for a career in international development or for advanced study, and attract students of the highest calibre from across the world.
“I had waited for 10 years before my dream to study in Oxford became a reality and the experience was truly beyond expectation”
Our students are taught to develop as critical and independent thinkers and when they leave us they are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to bring about real change.
“My time at Oxford strengthened my critical analysis and provided me with a unique interdisciplinary grounding in history, politics and economics that has equipped me well in dealing with public policy issues and program development strategy.”
Our courses offer excellent training for a career in international development or for advanced study, and attract students of the highest calibre from across the world.
“I had waited for 10 years before my dream to study in Oxford became a reality and the experience was truly beyond expectation”
Our courses offer excellent training for a career in international development or for advanced study, and attract students of the highest calibre from across the world.
“I had waited for 10 years before my dream to study in Oxford became a reality and the experience was truly beyond expectation”
Our students are taught to develop as critical and independent thinkers and when they leave us they are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to bring about real change.
“My time at Oxford strengthened my critical analysis and provided me with a unique interdisciplinary grounding in history, politics and economics that has equipped me well in dealing with public policy issues and program development strategy.”
Our students are taught to develop as critical and independent thinkers and when they leave us they are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to bring about real change.
“My time at Oxford strengthened my critical analysis and provided me with a unique interdisciplinary grounding in history, politics and economics that has equipped me well in dealing with public policy issues and program development strategy.”
Corneliu Bjola received his PhD in Political Science from the University of Toronto (2007) and previously taught and conducted research at McMaster University and the University of Toronto. He was a research fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and a Visiting Fellow at the Australian Defense Force Academy (2012) and China Foreign Affairs University (2016).
His current research interests relate to the impact of digital technology on the conduct of diplomacy with a focus on strategic communication and digital influence as well as on theories and methods for countering disinformation and propaganda.
He has authored or edited six books, including the twin volumes on Countering Online Propaganda and Violent Extremism: The Dark Side of Digital Diplomacy (2018) – listed in the 20 Best New International Relations Books To Read In 2019 - and Digital Diplomacy: Theory and Practice (2015). His work has been published in the European Journal of International Relations, Review of International Studies, Ethics and International Affairs, International Negotiation, Cambridge Review of International Affairs, Global Policy, Journal of Global Ethics and the Hague Journal of Diplomacy.
Bjola is co-editor of the book series on 'New Diplomatic Studies' with Routledge, and Editor-in-Chief of the new journal Diplomacy and Foreign Policy. He is the recipient of the 2014 OxTALENT award for enhancing students' learning experience using social media apps awarded by the Oxford Committee on Teaching and Learning Enhanced with Technology.
Corneliu Bjola teaches on the Foundation Course on Global Governance and Diplomacy for the MSc in Global Governance and Diplomacy, as well as offering options on Diplomatic Management of International Crises and Diplomacy and International Law.
Professor Bjola provides doctoral supervision on topics related to the impact of digital technology on the conduct of diplomacy with a focus on public diplomacy, diaspora engagement, crisis communication, as well as on theories and methods of digital strategic communication for countering disinformation and propaganda.
Digital diplomacy; cultural diplomacy, secret/back-channel diplomacy; diplomatic crisis management; diplomatic ethics; negotiation breakthrough analysis; EU diplomacy.