Accepting applications from PhD students.
Email: A.Werner@soton.ac.uk
Annika is Professor of Politics in the Department of Politics and International Relations (School of Economic, Social and Political Sciences). In her position, she focuses on her research on the challenges to liberal democracy and brings in her leadership experience.
Annika's current research focuses on the challenges to liberal democracy that are, in particular, created by populist actors and rising democratic discontent among citizens. She investigates the attitudinal and value bases for democratically problematic behaviour such as supporting populist, anti-liberal and undemocratic political actors. Furthermore, she studies political parties, both populist and non-populist, in how they adapt to the rapidly changing political context and how they attempt to future-proof themselves. Most of Annika's research compares European countries and parties, as well as Australia.
Annika strongly believes in the value of skills for political science students and has focused a lot of her teaching in building these skills. These include critical thinking, research design and methods, as well as academic writing and the 'hidden curriculum' in academia. Furthermore, she teaches courses related to her research, in comparative politics, democracy, and political parties.
Before joining the University of Southampton in 2025, Annika spent 10 years in Australia. From 2019 - 2025, she worked at the Australian National University in Canberra, including two years as Head of the School of Politics and International Relations. 2015 - 2019 she spent at Griffith University in Brisbane. Annika received her PhD from Humboldt-University Berlin in 2015.
