Centre for Citizenship, Civil Society and Rule of Law

02/06/2026

A reminder for tomorrow at 2pm on Zoom: join CISRUL staff Professors Nadia Kiwan and Trevor Stack, and CISRUL alumnus Dr Eve Hayes de Kalaf, for an online interdisciplinary session hosted by the Institute of Historical Research!

On 3 June, join CISRUL staff Professors Nadia Kiwan and Trevor Stack, and CISRUL alumnus Dr Eve Hayes de Kalaf, for an online interdisciplinary session hosted by the Institute of Historical Research. In the session, they will 'explore how decolonial methods might be applied in practice and in teaching, considering both their value for historical research as well as their wider relevance in addressing contemporary global and real-world challenges.'

To attend, book at the link below:

https://www.sas.ac.uk/news-events/events/decolonising-society-politics-historical-perspectives

25/05/2026

On 3 June, join CISRUL staff Professors Nadia Kiwan and Trevor Stack, and CISRUL alumnus Dr Eve Hayes de Kalaf, for an online interdisciplinary session hosted by the Institute of Historical Research. In the session, they will 'explore how decolonial methods might be applied in practice and in teaching, considering both their value for historical research as well as their wider relevance in addressing contemporary global and real-world challenges.'

To attend, book at the link below:

https://www.sas.ac.uk/news-events/events/decolonising-society-politics-historical-perspectives

11/05/2026

Shao-Chi Kuo, who began his doctoral research in 2022 and joined the Centre for Citizenship, Civil Society and Rule of Law (CISRUL) in 2023, has passed his viva with no corrections. A huge congratulations to Dr Shao-Chi Kuo!

To read more about his thesis on the public theological significance of Wang Yi and the Early Rain Covenant Church’s practice of “faithful disobedience", view this article:

Shao-Chi Kuo, who began his doctoral research in 2022 and joined the Centre for Citizenship, Civil Society and Rule of Law (CISRUL) in 2023, has recently submitted his thesis on the public theologi…

17/04/2026

We have updated our 'Upcoming Events' page for the remainder of April and May, with a number of interesting events scheduled. This includes talks in our 'Post-PhD life with CISRUL alumni' series, the next 'What is a Constitution? Reading Toward a Problem' reading seminar, and a visit to Aberdeen from CISRUL alumnus Professor Chuck Sturtevant. All welcome!

Dr Eve Hayes de Kalaf and Dr Hanifi Bariş on Research Impact and Teaching in UK Academia April 29 @ 10:00 am - 11:30 am Post-PhD Life with CISRUL Alumni Alumnus Dr Eve Hayes de Kalaf, one of the first PhD students to graduate from CISRUL, is joining us via Microsoft Teams to discuss her impressive ...

15/12/2025

One of our first PhD students to graduate from the Centre for Citizenship, Civil Society and Rule of Law (CISRUL) in 2018, Dr Eve Hayes de Kalaf, recently began a new role as Lecturer in Humanities Training. She leads key aspects of Research Training across the School of Advanced Study with a focus on the Institute of Historical Research (IHR), the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (IALS) and the School’s wider Short Course and Summer School portfolio.

Read more about her role and her broader academic work here:

One of our first PhD students to graduate from the Centre for Citizenship, Civil Society and Rule of Law (CISRUL) in 2018, Dr Eve Hayes de Kalaf, recently began a new role as Lecturer in Humanities…

12/12/2025

A book by CISRUL alumnus Dr Aditya Mohanty, ‘Subaltern Brokers: Unpacking Community Leadership in Urban India’, will be published by Routledge in March 2026. The book draws on ethnographic evidence to discuss emergent patterns of community leadership in urban India and follows completion of Dr Mohanty’s PhD at CISRUL in 2023.

Read more about the book, and Dr Mohanty's work here:

A book by CISRUL alumnus Dr Aditya Mohanty, ‘Subaltern Brokers: Unpacking Community Leadership in Urban India’, will be published by Routledge in March 2026. The book draws on ethnographic evidence…

15/09/2025

Alumnus Dr A. Sophie Lauwers will be starting as postdoctoral fellow at the University of Edinburgh on October 1st. She received the IASH-Alwaleed postdoctoral fellowship for 2025-2026, and will be joining the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities with a project titled ‘Islam, National Identity and the State: Rethinking the Politics of Recognition.’ Read more by clicking the link below:

Alumnus Dr A. Sophie Lauwers will be starting as postdoctoral fellow at the University of Edinburgh on October 1st. She received the IASH-Alwaleed postdoctoral fellowship for 2025-2026, and will be…

09/09/2025

Research on school uniform, dress codes and appearance policies by lead CISRUL member and Interdisciplinary Institute Director of Social Inclusion and Cultural Diversity, Dr Rachel Shanks, has contributed to the introduction of Scottish national guidelines for schools and education authorities. Read more about her work here:

Research on school uniform, dress codes and appearance policies by lead CISRUL member and Interdisciplinary Institute Director of Social Inclusion and Cultural Diversity, Dr Rachel Shanks, has cont…

04/09/2025

CISRUL is now on LinkedIn! Follow us for event notifications and updates on what our current members and our alumni are up to:

Centre for Citizenship, Civil Society and Rule of Law | 13 followers on LinkedIn. CISRUL is an interdisciplinary research group at the University of Aberdeen studying key concepts of the modern polity. | The Centre for Citizenship, Civil Society, and Rule of Law (CISRUL) at the University of Aberdee...