Reader in International Relations
Matt McDonald joined the School of Political Science and International Studies in January 2010. After completing his PhD at UQ in 2003, Matt held lectureship posts in international relations at the University of New South Wales and the University of Birmingham (UK), and was Associate Professor in International Security at the University of Warwick (UK). His research focuses on critical theoretical approaches to security and their application to issues such as environmental change, Australian foreign and security policy, climate politics and Asia-Pacific security dynamics. He has published on these themes in journals such as European Journal of International Relations, Political Geography, Review of International Studies, International Theory, Security Dialogue, International Political Sociology and Australian Journal of Political Science. He is the author of Security, the Environment and Emancipation (Routledge 2012) and (with Anthony Burke and Katrina Lee-Koo) Ethics and Global Security (Routledge 2014). He is co-editor of Australian Journal of Politics and History.
Selected Publications
Books (Authored)
Edited Volumes
Refereed Journal Articles
Media
Matt has been interviewed on television and radio, and has contributed opinion editorials to The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian Literary Review, Australian Outlook, ABC's The Drum, Insight and is a regular contributor to The Conversation. For his recent articles in The Conversation, see here: https://www.theconversation.com/profiles/matt-mcdonald-12655/articles
On climate change, and in particular its relationship to security, Matt has acted as a consultant for the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office and prominent public policy thinktanks such as the Royal United Services Institute (UK), and his work has been cited in publications by representatives of UK's Department for International Development (Harris 2012). He has been a member of Australia's stakeholder briefing group for the UNFCCC climate change talks. He has also worked with policy-makers, industry groups and NGO representatives in communicating research work on the politics of climate change in Australia. He hosted a dedicated interdisciplinary workshop on this theme at UQ in 2012.
Matt has contributed to broader public debate on issues relating to climate change and Australian foreign policy through media work, in particular opinion editorial publications in The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian Literary Review, ABC's The Drum, The Conversation and the Lowy Interpreter. And he has been invited to present his research in Australia and beyond: a combination of seminars and public lectures at leading institutions in Australia (ANU, Sydney, UNSW, Griffith), the UK (Warwick, St Andrews, Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester, Queen Mary, Leeds, Nottingham, Aberystwyth, Leicester) and mainland Europe (Copenhagen, Sciences Po Paris, Geneva, Hamburg).
Journal Article: Climate change and security: towards ecological security?
McDonald, Matt (2018) Climate change and security: towards ecological security?. International Theory, 10 02: 153-180. doi:10.1017/s1752971918000039
Book: Ethics and global security: a cosmopolitan approach
Burke, Anthony, Lee-Koo, Katrina and McDonald, Matt Ethics and global security: a cosmopolitan approach. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge, 2014.
Journal Article: The future of critical security studies: ethics and the politics of security
Browning, Christopher S. and McDonald, Matt (2013) The future of critical security studies: ethics and the politics of security. European Journal of International Relations, 19 2: 235-255. doi:10.1177/1354066111419538
Journal Article: Discourses of climate security
McDonald, Matt (2013) Discourses of climate security. Political Geography, 33 1: 42-51. doi:10.1016/j.polgeo.2013.01.002
Book: Security, the environment and emancipation: contestation over environmental change
McDonald, Matt Security, the environment and emancipation: contestation over environmental change. Oxon, U. K.: Routledge, 2012.
Journal Article: Securitization and the construction of security
McDonald, Matt (2008) Securitization and the construction of security. European Journal of International Relations, 14 4: 563-587. doi:10.1177/1354066108097553
Climate Change and National Security: International Responses
(2019–2022) ARC Discovery Projects
Climate Change and Discourses of Security
(2012) UQ Early Career Researcher
The politics of climate change in Australia
(2012) UWA-UQ Bilateral Research Collaboration Award
The Politics of International Legitimacy: Indonesia's and Sri Lanka's Justifications for the Use of Force
(2019) Doctor Philosophy
The Rudd/Gillard Government, Asylum Seekers, and the Politics of Norm Contestation
Doctor Philosophy
Dragon or Panda? The United States and the Macrosecuritisation of the "China Threat"
Doctor Philosophy
Climate change and security: towards ecological security?
McDonald, Matt (2018) Climate change and security: towards ecological security?. International Theory, 10 02: 153-180. doi:10.1017/s1752971918000039
Ethics and global security: a cosmopolitan approach
Burke, Anthony, Lee-Koo, Katrina and McDonald, Matt Ethics and global security: a cosmopolitan approach. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge, 2014.
The future of critical security studies: ethics and the politics of security
Browning, Christopher S. and McDonald, Matt (2013) The future of critical security studies: ethics and the politics of security. European Journal of International Relations, 19 2: 235-255. doi:10.1177/1354066111419538
Discourses of climate security
McDonald, Matt (2013) Discourses of climate security. Political Geography, 33 1: 42-51. doi:10.1016/j.polgeo.2013.01.002
Security, the environment and emancipation: contestation over environmental change
McDonald, Matt Security, the environment and emancipation: contestation over environmental change. Oxon, U. K.: Routledge, 2012.
Securitization and the construction of security
McDonald, Matt (2008) Securitization and the construction of security. European Journal of International Relations, 14 4: 563-587. doi:10.1177/1354066108097553
Ethics and global security: a cosmopolitan approach
Burke, Anthony, Lee-Koo, Katrina and McDonald, Matt Ethics and global security: a cosmopolitan approach. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge, 2014.
Security, the environment and emancipation: contestation over environmental change
McDonald, Matt Security, the environment and emancipation: contestation over environmental change. Oxon, U. K.: Routledge, 2012.
An Introduction to Security Studies
Williams, Paul D. and McDonald, Matt (2018). An Introduction to Security Studies. In Wiliams, Paul D. and McDonald, Matt (Ed.), Security Studies: An Introduction 3rd ed. (pp. 1-13) London, United Kingdom: Routledge.
McDonald, Matt (2018). Constructivisms. In Wiliams, Paul D. and McDonald, Matt (Ed.), Security Studies: An Introduction. 3rd edition 3rd ed. (pp. 48-59) London: Routledge.
Ethics and critical security studies
McDonald, Matt (2018). Ethics and critical security studies. In Brent J. Steele and Eric A. Heinze (Ed.), Routledge handbook of ethics and international relations (pp. 196-207) Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge.
McDonald, Matt (2017). Ecological Security. In Clara Eroukhmanhoff and Matt Harker (Ed.), Reflections on the posthuman in international relations: The anthropocene, security and ecology (pp. 62-72) Bristol, United Kingdom: E-International Relations.
McDonald, Matt and Mitchell, Audra (2017). Introduction. In Clara Eroukhmanhoff and Matt Harker (Ed.), Reflections on the posthuman in international relations (pp. 1-8) Bristol, United Kingdom: E-International Relations.
Australia and Global Climate Change
McDonald, Matt (2016). Australia and Global Climate Change. In Steve Smith, Amelia Hadfield and Tim Dunne (Ed.), Foreign Policy: Theories, Actors, Cases 3rd ed. (pp. 394-410) Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
Whose security? Ethics and the referent
McDonald, Matt (2016). Whose security? Ethics and the referent. In Anthony Burke and Jonna Nyman (Ed.), Ethical security studies: a new research agenda (pp. 32-45) London, United Kingdom: Routledge.
Eckersley, Robyn and McDonald, Matt (2014). Australia and climate change. In Daniel Baldino, Andrew Carr and Anthony Langlois (Ed.), Australian foreign policy : controversies and debates (pp. 230-251) South Melboure, Vic., Australia: Oxford University Press.
Constructivism, US foreign policy, and counterterrorism
Jackson, Richard and McDonald, Matt (2014). Constructivism, US foreign policy, and counterterrorism. In Inderjeet Parmar, Linda B. Miller and Mark Ledwidge (Ed.), Obama and the world : new directions in US foreign policy 2nd ed. (pp. 15-28) New York, NY United States: Routledge.
Contesting border security: emancipation and asylum in the Australian context
McDonald, Matt (2014). Contesting border security: emancipation and asylum in the Australian context. In Thierry Balzacq (Ed.), Contesting Security: Strategies and logics (pp. 154-168) Abington, Oxon, UK: Routledge.
Australia and global climate change
McDonald, Matt (2012). Australia and global climate change. In Steve Smith, Amelia Hadfield and Tim Dunne (Ed.), Foreign policy: theories, actors, cases 2nd ed. (pp. 384-399) Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
Human security and the politics of security
McDonald, Matt (2012). Human security and the politics of security. In Dennis Altman, Joseph A. Camilleri, Robyn Eckersley and Gerhard Hoffstaedter (Ed.), Why human security matters (pp. 107-126) Crows Nest, NSW, Australia: Allen & Unwin.
Australian identity, interventionism and the War on Terror
Holland, Jack and McDonald, Matt (2010). Australian identity, interventionism and the War on Terror. In Asaf Siniver (Ed.), International Terrorism Post-9/11 (pp. 184-206) London & New York: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780203852002
The environment and global security
McDonald, Matt (2010). The environment and global security. In Pinar Bilgin and Paul D. Williams (Ed.), Global security and international political economy (pp. 283-305) Oxford, U.K.: UNESCO; EOLSS Publishers.
Constructivism, US foreign policy and the 'war on terror'
Jackson, Richard and McDonald, Matt (2009). Constructivism, US foreign policy and the 'war on terror'. In Inderjeet Parmar, Linda B. Miller and Mark Ledwidge (Ed.), New directions in US foreign policy (pp. 18-31) London: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780203878811
Emancipation and critical terrorism studies
McDonald, Matt (2009). Emancipation and critical terrorism studies. In Richard Jackson, Marie Breen Smyth and Jeroen Gunning (Ed.), Critical Terrorism Studies: A New Research Agenda (pp. 109-123) London: Routledge.
McDonald, Matt (2008). Constructivism. In Paul D. Williams (Ed.), Security studies: An introduction (pp. 59-72) Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, U.K.: Routledge.
Global security after September 11 2001
McDonald, Matt (2008). Global security after September 11 2001. In Simon Carter, Tim Jordan and Sophie Watson (Ed.), Security: Sociology and Social Worlds (pp. 47-80) Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Introduction: Asia-Pacific security legacies and futures
Burke, Anthony and McDonald, Matt (2007). Introduction: Asia-Pacific security legacies and futures. In Anthony Burke and Matt McDonald (Ed.), Critical Security in the Asia-Pacific (pp. 1-9) Manchester, U.K.: Manchester University Press.
US Hegemony, the War on Terror and the Asia-Pacific
McDonald, Matt (2007). US Hegemony, the War on Terror and the Asia-Pacific. In Anthony Burke and Matt McDonald (Ed.), Critical security in the Asia Pacific (pp. 198-211) Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Teaching Australian foreign policy: vocational training or critical thinking?
McDonald, Matt (2019) Teaching Australian foreign policy: vocational training or critical thinking?. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 1-6. doi:10.1080/10357718.2019.1683513
Climate change and security: towards ecological security?
McDonald, Matt (2018) Climate change and security: towards ecological security?. International Theory, 10 02: 153-180. doi:10.1017/s1752971918000039
Critical security in the Asia-Pacific: an introduction
McDonald, Matt (2017) Critical security in the Asia-Pacific: an introduction. Critical Studies on Security, 5 3: 237-252. doi:10.1080/21624887.2017.1420125
Remembering Gallipoli: Anzac, the Great War and Australian memory politics
McDonald, Matt (2017) Remembering Gallipoli: Anzac, the Great War and Australian memory politics. Australian Journal of Politics and History, 63 3: 406-418. doi:10.1111/ajph.12372
Trouble in paradise: contesting security in Bali
McDonald, Matt and Wilson, Lee (2017) Trouble in paradise: contesting security in Bali. Security Dialogue, 48 3: 241-258. doi:10.1177/0967010617692925
Huda, Mirza Sadaqat and McDonald, Matt (2016) Regional cooperation on energy in South Asia: unraveling the political challenges in implementing transnational pipelines and electricity grids. Energy Policy, 98 73-83. doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2016.07.046
Bourdieu, environmental NGOs and Australian climate politics
McDonald, Matt (2016) Bourdieu, environmental NGOs and Australian climate politics. Environmental Politics, 25 6: 1058-1078. doi:10.1080/09644016.2016.1196968
Bonnell, Andrew G. and McDonald, Matt (2016) Editors' note. Australian Journal of Politics and History, 62 2: . doi:10.1111/ajph.12259
Burke, Anthony, Lee-Koo, Katrina and McDonald, Matt (2016) An ethics of global security. Journal of Global Security Studies, 1 1: 64-79. doi:10.1093/jogss/ogv004
Australian foreign policy under the Abbott government: foreign policy as domestic politics?
McDonald, Matt (2015) Australian foreign policy under the Abbott government: foreign policy as domestic politics?. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 69 6: 651-669. doi:10.1080/10357718.2015.1056514
Climate Security and Economic Security: The Limits to Climate Change action in Australia?
McDonald, Matt (2015) Climate Security and Economic Security: The Limits to Climate Change action in Australia?. International Politics, 52 4: 484-501. doi:10.1057/ip.2015.5
Four degrees of global warming: Australia in a hot world
McDonald, Matt (2014) Four degrees of global warming: Australia in a hot world. Australian Journal of Politics and History, 60 3: 477-478. doi:10.1111/ajph.12062
Issues in Australian foreign policy: January to June 2013
McDonald, Matt (2013) Issues in Australian foreign policy: January to June 2013. Australian Journal of Politics and History, 59 4: 605-617. doi:10.1111/ajph.12036
The future of Australian climate politics
McDonald, Matt (2013) The future of Australian climate politics. Australian Journal of Politics and History, 59 3: 449-456. doi:10.1111/ajph.12026
The politics of climate change in Australia
Beeson, Mark and McDonald, Matt (2013) The politics of climate change in Australia. Australian Journal of Politics and History, 59 3: 331-348. doi:10.1111/ajph.12019
Foreign and defence policy on Australia's political agenda, 1962-2012
McDonald, Matt (2013) Foreign and defence policy on Australia's political agenda, 1962-2012. Australian Journal of Public Administration, 72 2: 171-184. doi:10.1111/1467-8500.12021
The future of critical security studies: ethics and the politics of security
Browning, Christopher S. and McDonald, Matt (2013) The future of critical security studies: ethics and the politics of security. European Journal of International Relations, 19 2: 235-255. doi:10.1177/1354066111419538
Discourses of climate security
McDonald, Matt (2013) Discourses of climate security. Political Geography, 33 1: 42-51. doi:10.1016/j.polgeo.2013.01.002
Foreign policy internationalism and political possibility
McDonald, Matt (2013) Foreign policy internationalism and political possibility. International Politics, 50 1: 97-117. doi:10.1057/ip.2012.30
The politics of liberal internationalism
Dunne, Tim and McDonald, Matt (2013) The politics of liberal internationalism. International Politics, 50 1: 1-17. doi:10.1057/ip.2012.25
The failed securitization of climate change in Australia
McDonald, Matt (2012) The failed securitization of climate change in Australia. Australian Journal of Political Science, 47 4: 579-592. doi:10.1080/10361146.2012.731487
McDonald, Matt (2011) Deliberation and resecuritization: Australia, asylum-seekers and the normative limits of the Copenhagen School. Australian Journal of Political Science, 46 2: 281-295. doi:10.1080/10361146.2011.568471
"Lest We Forget": The politics of memory and Australian military intervention
McDonald, Matt (2010) "Lest We Forget": The politics of memory and Australian military intervention. International Political Sociology, 4 3: 287-302. doi:10.1111/j.1749-5687.2010.00106.x
How was Howard's war possible? Winning the war of position over Iraq
McDonald, Matt and Merefield, Matt (2010) How was Howard's war possible? Winning the war of position over Iraq. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 64 2: 186-204. doi:10.1080/10357710903544346
Security and environmental change
McDonald, Matt (2009) Security and environmental change. International Affairs, 85 6: 1262-1263.
Constructivism, US foreign policy and the 'war on terror'
Jackson, Richard and McDonald, Matt (2009) Constructivism, US foreign policy and the 'war on terror'. New Directions in Us Foreign Policy, 18-31.
Emancipation and critical terrorism studies
McDonald, Matt (2009) Emancipation and critical terrorism studies. Critical Terrorism Studies, 109-123.
Securitization and the construction of security
McDonald, Matt (2008) Securitization and the construction of security. European Journal of International Relations, 14 4: 563-587. doi:10.1177/1354066108097553
Emancipation and critical terrorism studies
McDonald, Matt (2007) Emancipation and critical terrorism studies. European Political Science, 6 3: 252-259. doi:10.1057/palgrave.eps.2210142
Ethics and exclusion: Representations of sovereignty in Australia's approach to asylum-seekers
Gelber, Katharine and McDonald, Matt (2006) Ethics and exclusion: Representations of sovereignty in Australia's approach to asylum-seekers. Review of International Studies, 32 2: 269-289. doi:10.1017/S0260210506007029
Constructing insecurity: Australian security discourse and policy post-2001
McDonald, Matt (2005) Constructing insecurity: Australian security discourse and policy post-2001. International Relations Journal, 19 3: 297-320. doi:10.1177/0047117805055408
Be alarmed? Australia's anti-terrorism kit and the politics of security
McDonald, Matt (2005) Be alarmed? Australia's anti-terrorism kit and the politics of security. Global Change, Peace and Security, 17 2: 171-189. doi:10.1080/14781150500091755
Fair weather friend? Ethics and Australia's approach to global climate change
McDonald, Matt (2005) Fair weather friend? Ethics and Australia's approach to global climate change. Australian Journal of Politics and History, 51 2: 216-234. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8497.2005.00371.x
Perspectives on Australian foreign policy, 2004
McDonald, Matt (2005) Perspectives on Australian foreign policy, 2004. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 59 2: 153-168. doi:10.1080/10357710500134467
Because I said so: A response to Makinda
Bellamy, A. J. and McDonald, M. (2005) Because I said so: A response to Makinda. Australian Journal of Political Science, 40 4: 555-558. doi:10.1080/10361140500302407
Debate - The insecurities of an English school gatekeeper: A reply to Makinda
Bellamy, A. J. and McDonald, M. (2005) Debate - The insecurities of an English school gatekeeper: A reply to Makinda. Australian Journal of Political Science, 40 3, September: 411-417. doi:10.1080/10361140500203969
In fear of security: Australia's invasion anxiety
McDonald, M (2004) In fear of security: Australia's invasion anxiety. Australian Journal of Political Science, 39 3: 661-661. doi:10.1080/103614042000295237
International environmental cooperation: Politics and diplomacy in Pacific Asia
McDonald, M (2004) International environmental cooperation: Politics and diplomacy in Pacific Asia. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 58 3: 389-391.
Securing international society: Towards an English School discourse of security
Bellamy, Alex J. and McDonald, Matt (2004) Securing international society: Towards an English School discourse of security. Australian Journal of Political Science, 39 2: 307-330. doi:10.1080/1036114042000238537
Environment and security: Global eco-politics and Brazilian deforestation
McDonald, Matt (2003) Environment and security: Global eco-politics and Brazilian deforestation. Contemporary Security Policy, 24 2: 69-94. doi:10.1080/13523260312331271919
Human security and the construction of security
McDonald, Matt (2002) Human security and the construction of security. Global Society: Journal of Interdisciplinary International Relations, 16 3: 277-295. doi:10.1080/09537320220148076
Fear, security and the politics of representing asylum seekers
McDonald, Matt J. (2002) Fear, security and the politics of representing asylum seekers. M/C Journal: A Journal of Media and Culture, 5 1: .
'The utility of human security': Which humans? What security? A reply to Thomas & Tow
Bellamy, A. J. and McDonald, M. (2002) 'The utility of human security': Which humans? What security? A reply to Thomas & Tow. Security Dialogue, 33 3: 373-377. doi:10.1177/0967010602033003010
Book Review: Cynthia Weber: International Relations Theory
McDonald, Matt (2001) Book Review: Cynthia Weber: International Relations Theory. Millennium: Journal of International Studies, 30 3: 832-833.
Making waves? The environment and security as a contracting discourse
McDonald, Matt (2001) Making waves? The environment and security as a contracting discourse. International Journal of Human Rights, 5 3: 111-126.
Power and identity : the environment and the construction of security
McDonald, Matt (2004). Power and identity : the environment and the construction of security PhD Thesis, School of Political Science and International Studies, The University of Queensland.
Climate Change and National Security: International Responses
(2019–2022) ARC Discovery Projects
Climate Change and Discourses of Security
(2012) UQ Early Career Researcher
The politics of climate change in Australia
(2012) UWA-UQ Bilateral Research Collaboration Award
The Rudd/Gillard Government, Asylum Seekers, and the Politics of Norm Contestation
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Dragon or Panda? The United States and the Macrosecuritisation of the "China Threat"
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Debating Ebola: Contestation and Construction in the US Securitization of the 2014-2015 West African Outbreak
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Ontological Security and Migration: Beyond Securitisation and Identity Politics
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Containing the climate change debate: Hegemony and domination in Australian climate justice discourse
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
The Politics of International Legitimacy: Indonesia's and Sri Lanka's Justifications for the Use of Force
(2019) Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
(2017) Doctor Philosophy — Joint Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Middle powers and the re-negotiation of regional order in East Asia: The case of Indonesia
(2019) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
(2017) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Who We Are and What We Stand For: Australian Foreign Policy and National Identity Construction Under Keating and Howard
(2016) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors: