Monika de Silva
About Monika de Silva
Presentation
I am a PhD candidate in political science at the University of Gothenburg.
I received an Advanced MA in EU International Relations and Diplomacy at the College of Europe (2020) and a Master of Law degree in the framework of interdisciplinary studies at the University of Warsaw (2019).
My professional experience includes traineeships at the European External Action Service, the Council of Europe and Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
I am a member of the Gender and Diplomacy project (GenDip) and the Centre for European Research (CERGU).
Research
I conduct research in the fields of international relations and European studies. I work mainly in constructivist tradition. I employ qualitative methods.
My dissertation explores the phenomenon of polarization over gender and sexuality norms in international society. I study interactions between conservative and progressive states in two contexts, activities of bilateral embassies in Poland and negotiations in the Council of the European Union, in order to understand structural factors which mitigate and exacerbate polarization between states.
My research interests include: policies related to gender and sexuality, international norms, foreign policy implementation, law in context, and Central and Eastern Europe.
Teaching
I teach lectures and seminars in the following courses: Swedish Politics in a Comparative Perspective, EU Practical Knowledge, EU in International Affairs, Modern European Integration, European Identity and Heritage, and Applied Qualitative Research Methods, Problems and Design.
I also supervise students' theses (BA and MA levels).