Jack McGinn

  • Researcher
  • London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton Street, London, UK
  • 06/03/2023
Research assistant, Researcher Democracy and Governance Inequalities International Development Organisations and Management Urban and Regional Development

Personal Summary

  • My thesis, entitled ‘Revolution and its Dislocations: Syria's 2011 Moment as Conceived by its Creators’, focuses on decentralised anti-hierarchical organising in the Syrian uprising
    While pursuing my studies part-time, I work for a research centre, have been on the editorial board of a journal, have taught sociological theory to LSE undergrads, serve on an academic society’s communications committee, have published my research and been awarded prizes for my conference presentations.
  • My academic expertise is in the politics and societies of the Middle East, with a particular focus on Syria and Israel/Palestine. I have published on MENA social movements, am currently helping conduct research for a book by Vincent Bevins on this topic, and have a wide survey knowledge of other issues (particularly to do with regional geopolitics) through my six years working as the Communications Coordinator (and now Manager) at the LSE Middle East Centre. Before that I worked as an editor for Hurst Publishers (who are known for their MENA, Africa and Asia lists), a researcher for Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME), and a translator for a museum in Al-Quds University dedicated to the Palestinian prisoners’ movement. I have lived in Jordan and Palestine and have a good level of spoken Levantine Arabic and am proficient in Modern Standard Arabic.
  • Given the overlap between my professional experience, my excellent teaching record as a GTA at LSE in 2022 and a class teacher at the LSE Summer School in 2023, and my academic expertise (I am midway through my PhD, have published one academic piece and received a prize for an unpublished conference paper), I am well placed to offer research assistance on projects involving international development, regional politics in the Middle East and North Africa (Syria in particular), governance structures, local service provision, among other topics.

Work Experience

Communications Manager
Aug 2022 - Aug 2025 LSE Middle East Centre

Manage all aspects of the research centre's communications and outputs. Direct the work of the communications team, including editing and designing the Middle East Centre’s paper series, overseeing the peer review process, managing publications and responding to media requests. I also manage the website & widely-read blog, commission reviews and articles, and manage all social media accounts

Communications Coordinator
Aug 2017 - Aug 2022 LSE Middle East Centre

•    Edit and design Centre’s paper series, oversee peer review process, manage publications, coordinate and respond to media requests
•    Manage the website & widely-read blog, commission reviews and articles, manage all social media accounts

Editor
Jul 2015 - Aug 2017 Hurst Publishers

•    Commission/assess proposals particularly for Middle East list, edit and proofread manuscripts, maintain author relationships, attend conferences, oversee peer review process
•    Also manage the website & blog, plan campaigns, design marketing material, maintain databases for email list & Critical Muslim (quarterly journal) subscribers
•    Supervise interns and editorial assistants

Administrative & Editorial Assistant
Feb 2015 - Jul 2015 Gingko Library & Arabia Books

•    Solicited abstracts & proposals from academics for conference, edited Arabic translations and submissions, and helped with logistics
•    Organised events in conjunction with student groups visiting from the Middle East

Campaigns Consultant
Sep 2014 - Oct 2014 38 Degrees

•    Co-ordinated UK campaign against the TTIP European trade deal, with responsibility for London & Northern Ireland
•    Helped to set up local actions, contacted MEPs, and handled activists’ logistical issues (using NationBuilder software)

Research Analyst
Jan 2011 - Apr 2011 Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME)

•    Researched and published factsheets/action alerts for CJPME, a Canadian NGO
•    Organised and hosted a week-long speaking tour for US academic Norman Finkelstein, and operated the NGO’s media centre during early months of the Arab Spring
•    Participated in lobbying delegation to parliament and furnished MPs with up to date information on regional developments

Class Teacher
Sep 2021 - Jun 2022 LSE Sociology

Taught a weekly undergraduate-level class entitled 'SO100: Introduction to Social Theory' to 17 students, which included planning and teaching the 90 minute class, creating materials and exercises, explaining theoretical concepts, marking three sets of essays through the year, and holding regular office hours. I was awarded the second prize in the Department's Class Teacher Awards for my work.

Education

PhD in Sociology
Sep 2020 - Aug 2025 London School of Economics
MSc Arab World Studies
Sep 2011 - Aug 2013 University of Edinburgh
BSc (Hons) Politics & Modern History
Sep 2007 - Jun 2010 University of Manchester

Department/Centre

LSE Middle East Centre/LSE Sociology