King’s College London has opened applications for a new Lecturer in Politics & Technology, a post that underscores the university’s growing focus on the political implications of rapid technological change. The position, which must be applied for by 20 April 2026, is especially notable for scholars working on or from the Global South, where questions of digital governance, data sovereignty and technological inequality are increasingly urgent. Based within one of the UK’s leading institutions for political and international studies, the role offers an opportunity to shape teaching and research at the intersection of power and innovation, at a time when debates over AI, platform regulation and cyber security are reshaping global politics.
Understanding the New Lecturer in Politics and Technology Role at Kings College London
The position sits at the intersection of political science, digital transformation, and global inequality, asking candidates to interrogate how emerging technologies reshape power, participation, and policy. Rather than treating technology as a neutral tool,the role expects you to unpack its ideological,economic and social dimensions,especially as they affect communities in the Global South. Teaching is likely to cover themes such as digital authoritarianism, data justice, AI governance, and platform politics, while embedding voices and case studies from Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. You will be expected to translate cutting‑edge research into accessible learning experiences, contributing to an habitat where students critically evaluate who designs technology, who benefits from it, and who bears its risks.
Alongside teaching, the role places strong emphasis on research leadership and collaboration across departments such as War Studies, International Development and Digital Humanities. King’s anticipates that the successful candidate will build networks with civil society, policymakers and tech practitioners, notably those working on Global South technology governance and innovation ecosystems. This means engaging in activities like:
- Designing modules that foreground decolonial and non-Western perspectives
- Co-authoring research on AI, platforms and democracy with partners in the Global South
- Informing policy debates on regulation of digital platforms, data and algorithms
- Contributing to grant applications focused on tech, inequality and political change
| Key Focus | Your Contribution |
|---|---|
| Teaching | Innovative modules on politics & tech with Global South cases |
| Research | Publications on digital power, governance and justice |
| Engagement | Partnerships with activists, policymakers and tech communities |
Eligibility Criteria Application Timeline and How to Prepare a Competitive Portfolio
Applicants are expected to hold a completed PhD (or be very near completion) in politics, international relations, science and technology studies, or a closely related field, with a demonstrable research focus on the political dimensions of technology. A strong publication trajectory in reputable journals, or clear evidence of publishable work in progress, will be central, alongside proven experience or strong potential in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. King’s places particular value on candidates who can engage critically with digital governance, AI policy, platform power, or data justice, especially from Global South perspectives. International candidates are welcome,and the institution is prepared to consider visa sponsorship for suitably qualified scholars.
The application window runs until 20 April 2026, with shortlisted candidates typically invited for interview in early summer and an anticipated start date in the following academic year. To assemble a portfolio that stands out, applicants should ensure their CV, cover letter, writing sample and teaching dossier present a coherent intellectual narrative and a clear contribution to debates on politics and technology. A concise portfolio might include:
- Research statement linking current projects to future agendas in tech governance and democracy.
- Teaching ideology with sample syllabi that foreground critical, decolonial and Global South lenses.
- Evidence of impact such as policy briefs, media commentary or collaborations with NGOs and civic tech communities.
- Referees who can speak to both scholarly rigour and classroom effectiveness.
| Key Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Now – Feb 2026 | Refine publications and draft research & teaching statements |
| Mar – 20 Apr 2026 | Submit application and confirm referees |
| May – Jun 2026 | Prepare for interview, job talk and teaching demonstration |
Why Scholars from the Global South Should Apply Strategic Advantages and Career Prospects
For early and mid-career academics based in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East or the Pacific, this role is more than a job; it is a launch pad into the policy and tech power corridors of Europe. Scholars who bring lived experience of data governance gaps, platform labor, digital authoritarianism, or infrastructure inequality in the Global South can turn those insights into highly cited research and coveted policy briefs. King’s College London actively prizes perspectives that interrogate how AI, surveillance, and platform capitalism play out beyond the usual North American and European case studies, creating space where you can turn regional expertise into global thought leadership. This can translate into:
- Faster research visibility through collaboration in high-impact, interdisciplinary tech-policy projects
- Direct policy influence via engagement with UK and EU regulators, think tanks and NGOs
- Media profiling as a go-to analyst on crises and innovations in the Global South tech sphere
- Funding leverage for comparative or multi-sited projects that center Southern knowledge
| Global South Asset | Strategic Advantage at King’s | Career Payoff |
|---|---|---|
| Local policy networks | Co-designed research with ministries, regulators, civic tech | Cross-appointment offers, advisory roles |
| Multilingual fieldwork | Original datasets from under-researched regions | High-impact publications, citation traction |
| Experience in constrained systems | Critical insight into how tech scales under pressure | Consultancy with multilaterals, foundations |
Positioning yourself strategically also means using this post as a gateway to a sustained international career rather than a one-off move. You can build a portfolio that crosses teaching, public engagement and policy innovation, and turn it into a springboard for future promotions, visiting professorships across continents, and leadership roles in global research consortia. Through targeted course design and supervision, you can shape a new generation of students who understand that the future of technology governance will not be decided in London alone, but in Lagos, São Paulo, Jakarta, Nairobi, and beyond-places you know first-hand and can represent with authority.In a hiring landscape where diversity is sometimes treated as a slogan, this is a moment to convert your regional depth into a structural advantage that reshapes the field itself.
Strengthening Your Application Tailoring Research and Teaching Profiles to Kings Priorities
Aligning your dossier with King’s institutional mission means foregrounding how your work speaks to technology, democracy and global inequalities, rather than offering a generic politics CV. In your research statement, emphasise how your projects interrogate issues such as algorithmic governance, digital authoritarianism, data justice, or platform labor with specific reference to Global South contexts. Show that your methodology travels: mixed methods,comparative case studies,partnerships with civil society or tech actors,and the capacity to generate impact beyond academia. Use your cover letter to join the dots between your publications, grants and fieldwork and King’s strategic focus on interdisciplinary, policy-relevant research in London and across transnational networks. Where possible,evidence momentum through recent or forthcoming outputs.
- Highlight modules you can design or refresh that connect politics, technology and the Global South.
- Show teaching range, from large undergraduate lectures to small-group MA seminars and dissertation supervision.
- Evidence inclusive pedagogy with concrete strategies for decolonising reading lists and assessments.
- Connect to London by referencing potential collaborations with think tanks, NGOs and tech firms.
| King’s Priority | What to Emphasise |
|---|---|
| Interdisciplinarity | Co-authored work with computer scientists, lawyers or sociologists |
| Global South focus | Fieldwork, partnerships or case studies beyond the OECD |
| Research-led teaching | Modules built directly from your current projects |
| Public impact | Policy briefs, media commentary, practitioner workshops |
Wrapping Up
As the political implications of digital technologies intensify worldwide, this role at King’s College London offers a rare opportunity to shape both scholarship and practice from a vantage point that explicitly values Global South perspectives. With the application window closing on 20 April 2026, prospective candidates have a limited but meaningful window to position themselves at the intersection of politics, technology, and global inequalities. For scholars ready to engage critically with power, innovation, and representation on a truly international stage, this lectureship could be a decisive next step.
