Martin Weber’s main research clusters are in International Social and Political Theory, in (International) Environmental Politics, and in PE/IPE. His work has focussed on contributions that Critical Theory can make to developments in normative International Political Theory, and to the ‘social turn’ in IR theory in general. It is also concerned with limitations and lacunae in critical theoretic approaches, and how these may be addressed. These theoretcial interests are complementary to the more empirically oriented other clusters, informs these, and are in turn informed by them (see articles in European Journal of International Relations, Review of International Studies, Alternatives, Globalizations, as well as in contributions to edited volumes). In Environmental Politics, and PE/IPE, his work has focussed on the political analysis of global governance, and in particular on global health governance and global environmental governance. He has published book-chapters and articles in key journals on these issues (Review of International Political Economy, Global Environmental Politics, Global Governance), and is currently finishing on a monograph on ‘Critical Theory and Global Political Ecology’.
Teaching Interests:
POLS2115 Environmental Politics and Policy
POLS7251 Theories in International Relations
POLS7115 Politics of Environmental Change
Journal Article: When means of implementation meet Ecological Modernization Theory: a critical frame for thinking about the Sustainable Development Goals initiative
Weber, Heloise and Weber, Martin (2020). When means of implementation meet Ecological Modernization Theory: a critical frame for thinking about the Sustainable Development Goals initiative. World Development, 136 105129, 105129. doi: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105129
Journal Article: Colonialism, genocide and International Relations: the Namibian–German case and struggles for restorative relations
Weber, Heloise and Weber, Martin (2020). Colonialism, genocide and International Relations: the Namibian–German case and struggles for restorative relations. European Journal of International Relations, 26 (1_suppl), 91-115. doi: 10.1177/1354066120938833
Journal Article: The normative grammar of relational analysis: recognition theory's contribution to understanding short-comings in IR's relational turn
Weber, Martin (2020). The normative grammar of relational analysis: recognition theory's contribution to understanding short-comings in IR's relational turn. International Studies Quarterly, 64 (3), 1-8. doi: 10.1093/isq/sqaa036
Journal Article: From Alma Ata to the SDGs: the politics of global health governance and the elusive “health for all”
Weber, Martin (2020). From Alma Ata to the SDGs: the politics of global health governance and the elusive “health for all”. Global Governance, 26 (1), 176-197. doi: 10.1163/19426720-02601005
Journal Article: As if 'relations' mattered: how to subvert positional bias in social science with a lot of help from 'others'
Weber, Martin (2013). As if 'relations' mattered: how to subvert positional bias in social science with a lot of help from 'others'. Global Discourse: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Current Affairs and Applied Contemporary Thought, 4 (1), 1-13. doi: 10.1080/23269995.2013.805513
Journal Article: Between "isses" and "oughts": IR constructivism, Critical Theory, and the challenge of political philosophy
Weber, Martin (2013). Between "isses" and "oughts": IR constructivism, Critical Theory, and the challenge of political philosophy. European Journal of International Relations, 20 (2), 516-543. doi: 10.1177/1354066112466573
Journal Article: Ontologies, depth, and otherwise: Critical notes on Wight's meta-theoretical proposal of a scientific realist IR
Weber, Martin (2012). Ontologies, depth, and otherwise: Critical notes on Wight's meta-theoretical proposal of a scientific realist IR. Review of International Studies, 38 (1), 223-234. doi: 10.1017/S0260210511000659
Journal Article: The concept of solidarity in the study of world politics: Towards a critical theoretic understanding
Weber, M. (2007). The concept of solidarity in the study of world politics: Towards a critical theoretic understanding. Review of International Studies, 33 (4), 693-713. doi: 10.1017/S0260210507007735
Journal Article: The 'nature' of environmental services: GATS, the environment and the struggle over the global institutionalization of private law
Weber, Martin (2005). The 'nature' of environmental services: GATS, the environment and the struggle over the global institutionalization of private law. Review of International Political Economy, 12 (3), 456-483. doi: 10.1080/09692290500170833
Journal Article: Politics of Global Health Governance: Whatever happened to Health for All by the Year 2000
Thomas, Caroline and Weber, Martin (2004). Politics of Global Health Governance: Whatever happened to Health for All by the Year 2000. Global Governance, 10 (2), 187-205. doi: 10.1163/19426720-01002005
(2011–2012) UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
UQ Category 2 Travel Award - Martin Weber
(2011–2012) UQ Travel Awards for International Collaborative Research (Category 2)
UQ Travel Awards Category 1 - Dr Roland Axtmann
(2011) UQ Travel Awards for International Collaborative Research (Category 1)
(2021) Doctor Philosophy
Anarchism, Critical Theory and Emancipation: Towards the Realisation of an Ideal Speech Situation
(2020) Doctor Philosophy
(2017) Doctor Philosophy
Social and Political Theory
Politics of Global Governance
Political Ecologies and International Environmental Governance
Weber, Heloise and Weber, Martin (2020). When means of implementation meet Ecological Modernization Theory: a critical frame for thinking about the Sustainable Development Goals initiative. World Development, 136 105129, 105129. doi: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105129
Weber, Heloise and Weber, Martin (2020). Colonialism, genocide and International Relations: the Namibian–German case and struggles for restorative relations. European Journal of International Relations, 26 (1_suppl), 91-115. doi: 10.1177/1354066120938833
Weber, Martin (2020). The normative grammar of relational analysis: recognition theory's contribution to understanding short-comings in IR's relational turn. International Studies Quarterly, 64 (3), 1-8. doi: 10.1093/isq/sqaa036
From Alma Ata to the SDGs: the politics of global health governance and the elusive “health for all”
Weber, Martin (2020). From Alma Ata to the SDGs: the politics of global health governance and the elusive “health for all”. Global Governance, 26 (1), 176-197. doi: 10.1163/19426720-02601005
Weber, Martin (2013). As if 'relations' mattered: how to subvert positional bias in social science with a lot of help from 'others'. Global Discourse: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Current Affairs and Applied Contemporary Thought, 4 (1), 1-13. doi: 10.1080/23269995.2013.805513
Weber, Martin (2013). Between "isses" and "oughts": IR constructivism, Critical Theory, and the challenge of political philosophy. European Journal of International Relations, 20 (2), 516-543. doi: 10.1177/1354066112466573
Weber, Martin (2012). Ontologies, depth, and otherwise: Critical notes on Wight's meta-theoretical proposal of a scientific realist IR. Review of International Studies, 38 (1), 223-234. doi: 10.1017/S0260210511000659
The concept of solidarity in the study of world politics: Towards a critical theoretic understanding
Weber, M. (2007). The concept of solidarity in the study of world politics: Towards a critical theoretic understanding. Review of International Studies, 33 (4), 693-713. doi: 10.1017/S0260210507007735
Weber, Martin (2005). The 'nature' of environmental services: GATS, the environment and the struggle over the global institutionalization of private law. Review of International Political Economy, 12 (3), 456-483. doi: 10.1080/09692290500170833
Politics of Global Health Governance: Whatever happened to Health for All by the Year 2000
Thomas, Caroline and Weber, Martin (2004). Politics of Global Health Governance: Whatever happened to Health for All by the Year 2000. Global Governance, 10 (2), 187-205. doi: 10.1163/19426720-01002005
George, Jim, Devetak, Richard and Weber, Martin (2017). Marxism and critical theory. An Introduction to International Relations. (pp. 64-78) edited by Richard Devetak, Jim George and Sarah Percy. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/9781316855188.006
Social Movements and the Politics of Development
Weber, Martin (2014). Social Movements and the Politics of Development. Politics of Development: A Survey. (pp. 88-102) edited by Heloise Weber. Abingdon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780203804919-10
The environmental politics of development
Weber, Martin (2014). The environmental politics of development. Politics of Development: A Survey. (pp. 141-153) edited by Heloise Weber. Abingdon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780203804919-13
The fantastic social world of human security through global governance
Weber, Martin (2013). The fantastic social world of human security through global governance. Globalization, difference, and human security. (pp. 129-139) edited by Mustapha Kamal Pasha. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315886923
'Come in, make yourself uncomfortable!': Some thoughts on putting Critical Theory in its place
Weber, Martin (2012). 'Come in, make yourself uncomfortable!': Some thoughts on putting Critical Theory in its place. Critical theory in international relations and security studies : Interviews and reflections. (pp. 186-196) edited by Shannon Brincat, Laura Lima and Joao Nunes. New York, NY, United States: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780203145494
Devetak, Richard, George, Jim and Weber, Martin (2012). Marxism and critical theory. An Introduction to International Relations. (pp. 62-75) edited by Richard Devetak, Anthony Burke and Jim George. Port Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Cambridge University Press.
On the Critique of the Subject of Development: Beyond Proprietary and Methodological Individualism
Weber, Martin (2009). On the Critique of the Subject of Development: Beyond Proprietary and Methodological Individualism. Recognition and redistribution : Beyond international development. (pp. 35-48) edited by Heloise Weber and Mark T. Berger. London and New York: Routledge.
Understanding and Analysing Social Movements and Alternative Globalization
Weber, M. (2009). Understanding and Analysing Social Movements and Alternative Globalization. The Ashgate Research Companion to Ethics and International Relations. (pp. 427-442) edited by Hayden, Patrick. England: Ashgate Publishing Limited.
Constructivism and critical theory
Weber, Martin (2007). Constructivism and critical theory. An introduction to international relations: Australian perspectives. (pp. 96-108) edited by Richard Devetak, Anthony Burke and Jim George. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CBO9781139168557.010
IR Theory, Green Political Theory and Critical Approaches: What Prospects?
Weber, M. (2006). IR Theory, Green Political Theory and Critical Approaches: What Prospects?. International Ecopolitical Theory: Critical Approaches. (pp. 104-121) edited by Eric Laferriere and Peter J. Stoett. Canada: University of British Columbia.
'Alter-Globalization' and social movements: Towards understanding transnational politicization
Weber, Martin (2005). 'Alter-Globalization' and social movements: Towards understanding transnational politicization. Confronting Globalization: Humanity, justice, and the renewal of politics. (pp. 191-207) edited by Patrick Hayden and Chamsy El-Ojeili. New York, U.S.: Palgrave Macmillan.
Thomas, Caroline and Weber, Martin (1999). New Values and International Organizations: Balancing trade and environment in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Global Trade and Global Social Issues. (pp. 114-130) London, UK: Routledge.
Before the ‘post’: some thoughts in response to P.R. Conway’s analytical schemas
Weber, Martin (2022). Before the ‘post’: some thoughts in response to P.R. Conway’s analytical schemas. International Politics Reviews, 10 (1-2), 1-8. doi: 10.1057/s41312-022-00143-3
Relational Indigenous systems: Aboriginal Australian political ordering and reconfiguring IR
Brigg, Morgan, Graham, Mary and Weber, Martin (2021). Relational Indigenous systems: Aboriginal Australian political ordering and reconfiguring IR. Review of International Studies, 48 (5), 1-19. doi: 10.1017/s0260210521000425
A puzzle: the environment/development constellation in Madagascar
Weber, Martin (2021). A puzzle: the environment/development constellation in Madagascar. Globalizations, 18 (6), 1-19. doi: 10.1080/14747731.2020.1859762
Weber, Heloise and Weber, Martin (2020). When means of implementation meet Ecological Modernization Theory: a critical frame for thinking about the Sustainable Development Goals initiative. World Development, 136 105129, 105129. doi: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105129
Weber, Heloise and Weber, Martin (2020). Colonialism, genocide and International Relations: the Namibian–German case and struggles for restorative relations. European Journal of International Relations, 26 (1_suppl), 91-115. doi: 10.1177/1354066120938833
Weber, Martin (2020). The normative grammar of relational analysis: recognition theory's contribution to understanding short-comings in IR's relational turn. International Studies Quarterly, 64 (3), 1-8. doi: 10.1093/isq/sqaa036
From Alma Ata to the SDGs: the politics of global health governance and the elusive “health for all”
Weber, Martin (2020). From Alma Ata to the SDGs: the politics of global health governance and the elusive “health for all”. Global Governance, 26 (1), 176-197. doi: 10.1163/19426720-02601005
Knowing and Doing Between the Academic and Policy Worlds in Development Assistance
Brigg, Morgan, Curth-Bibb, Jodie, Strakosch, Elizabeth and Weber, Martin (2015). Knowing and Doing Between the Academic and Policy Worlds in Development Assistance. Journal of International Development, 27 (7), 1294-1311. doi: 10.1002/jid.3068
On the history and politics of the social turn
Weber, Martin (2015). On the history and politics of the social turn. Review of International Studies, 41 (4), 693-714. doi: 10.1017/S0260210515000200
Positions and relations again: a reply to commentaries on 'As if "relations" mattered'
Weber, Martin (2014). Positions and relations again: a reply to commentaries on 'As if "relations" mattered'. Global Discourse, 4 (1), 26-29. doi: 10.1080/23269995.2014.900398
Conversations in International Relations: interview with Andrew Linklater
Devetak, Richard, Kaempf, Sebastian and Weber, Martin (2013). Conversations in International Relations: interview with Andrew Linklater. International Relations, 27 (4), 481-505. doi: 10.1177/0047117813502504
Weber, Martin (2013). As if 'relations' mattered: how to subvert positional bias in social science with a lot of help from 'others'. Global Discourse: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Current Affairs and Applied Contemporary Thought, 4 (1), 1-13. doi: 10.1080/23269995.2013.805513
Mols, Frank and Weber, Martin (2013). Laying sound foundations for social identity theory-inspired European Union attitude research: beyond attachment and deeply rooted identities. Journal of Common Market Studies, 51 (3), 505-521. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-5965.2012.02316.x
'It's over; I've seen it on TV': Occupy's politics beyond media spectacle
Weber, Martin (2013). 'It's over; I've seen it on TV': Occupy's politics beyond media spectacle. Global Change, Peace and Security, 25 (1), 123-126. doi: 10.1080/14781158.2013.758094
Weber, Martin (2013). Between "isses" and "oughts": IR constructivism, Critical Theory, and the challenge of political philosophy. European Journal of International Relations, 20 (2), 516-543. doi: 10.1177/1354066112466573
Review of Applying political theory: Issues and debates
Weber, Martin (2012). Review of Applying political theory: Issues and debates. Political Science, 64 (1), 84-85. doi: 10.1177/0032318712442175
Weber, Martin (2012). Ontologies, depth, and otherwise: Critical notes on Wight's meta-theoretical proposal of a scientific realist IR. Review of International Studies, 38 (1), 223-234. doi: 10.1017/S0260210511000659
Critical theory and contemporary world politics
Weber, Martin (2010). Critical theory and contemporary world politics. International Studies Review, 12 (3), 444-450. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2486.2010.00948.x
Weber, Martin (2010). A statement of intent. Global Discourse, 1 (1), 5-15. doi: 10.1080/23269995.2010.10707833
Weber, M. (2009). A Statement of Intent. Global Discourse, 1, 1-11.
On the critique of the subject of development: Beyond proprietary and methodological individualism
Weber, Martin (2007). On the critique of the subject of development: Beyond proprietary and methodological individualism. Globalizations, 4 (4), 460-474. doi: 10.1080/14747730701695703
The concept of solidarity in the study of world politics: Towards a critical theoretic understanding
Weber, M. (2007). The concept of solidarity in the study of world politics: Towards a critical theoretic understanding. Review of International Studies, 33 (4), 693-713. doi: 10.1017/S0260210507007735
Weber, Martin (2005). The 'nature' of environmental services: GATS, the environment and the struggle over the global institutionalization of private law. Review of International Political Economy, 12 (3), 456-483. doi: 10.1080/09692290500170833
The critical social theory of the Frankfurt School, and the ‘social turn’ in IR
Weber, Martin (2005). The critical social theory of the Frankfurt School, and the ‘social turn’ in IR. Review of International Studies, 31 (1), 196-209. doi: 10.1017/S0260210505006388
Politics of Global Health Governance: Whatever happened to Health for All by the Year 2000
Thomas, Caroline and Weber, Martin (2004). Politics of Global Health Governance: Whatever happened to Health for All by the Year 2000. Global Governance, 10 (2), 187-205. doi: 10.1163/19426720-01002005
Keeping it real? Kant and systemic approaches to IR – a reply to Harrison
Weber, Martin (2003). Keeping it real? Kant and systemic approaches to IR – a reply to Harrison. Review of International Studies, 29 (1), 145-150. doi: 10.1017/S0260210503000093
Engaging globalization: Critical theory and global political change
Weber, M. (2002). Engaging globalization: Critical theory and global political change. Alternatives: Global, Local, Political, 27 (3), 301-325. doi: 10.1177/030437540202700302
Forging world order paradigms: 'Good civilization' vs. 'global terror'
Herd, Graeme P. and Weber, Martin (2001). Forging world order paradigms: 'Good civilization' vs. 'global terror'. Security Dialogue, 32 (4), 504-506. doi: 10.1177/0967010601032004012
Competing political visions: WTO governance and green politics
Weber, Martin (2001). Competing political visions: WTO governance and green politics. Global Environmental Politics, 1 (3), 92-113. doi: 10.1162/152638001316881421
Culture and nature: The paradoxes of modern developmentalism
Weber, Martin (2010). Culture and nature: The paradoxes of modern developmentalism. Oceanic Conference on International Studies (OCIS IV), Auckland, New Zealand, 30 June - 2 July 2010. Auckland, New Zealand: University of Auckland.
Ontology, logic, and the quest for depth
Kessler, Oliver and Weber, Martin (2010). Ontology, logic, and the quest for depth. 2010 International Studies Association Annual Convention, New Orleans, LA, United States, 17-20 February 2010. ERA -unavailable: ISA.
(2011–2012) UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
UQ Category 2 Travel Award - Martin Weber
(2011–2012) UQ Travel Awards for International Collaborative Research (Category 2)
UQ Travel Awards Category 1 - Dr Roland Axtmann
(2011) UQ Travel Awards for International Collaborative Research (Category 1)
UQ Travel Awards Category 1, Kimberly Hutchings
(2010) UQ Travel Grants Scheme
(2009) UQ Early Career Researcher
(2006–2007) UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
Water Justice and Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM): Changing institutional frameworks of water governance in Chile
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
(2021) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Anarchism, Critical Theory and Emancipation: Towards the Realisation of an Ideal Speech Situation
(2020) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
(2017) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
(2017) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Governance and the Management of Intercommunal Conflicts: Rethinking Contemporary Perspectives and Possibilities through Relational Analysis
(2015) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
(2015) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
The Reification of Nature and its Discontents: A Contribution to the Political Philosophy of Social Ecology
(2015) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Western state-building and women¿s human (in)security in Afghanistan
(2013) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Towards an Emancipatory Cosmopolitanism: Reconstructing the concept of emancipation in Critical International Relations Theory
(2011) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
External Support to Non-State Armed Groups and National Role Conceptions
(2020) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
(2016) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
(2014) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Migration, Development, and Kinetic Politics
(2014) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
(2013) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Conspiracy Theory and American Foreign Policy
(2013) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
(2011) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
(2010) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
Social and Political Theory
Politics of Global Governance
Political Ecologies and International Environmental Governance
Politics beyond 'The State'