Organisation profile
Organisation profile
Aston Centre for Europe (ACE) was established in 2009 and is a leading academic and research centre. ACE acts as a ‘hub’ for a range of Europe and EU-related research and teaching activities across the University. Reflecting the ‘European’ strengths of Aston’s research culture, the Centre engages in a programme of rigorous, policy relevant research on Western and Eastern Europe.
Aston Centre for Europe hosts high-profile speakers on Europe, through a series of major academic conferences and lectures.
Aston Centre for Europe is Co-directed by Professor Simon Green, Professor John Gaffney and Dr Nathaniel Copsey.
The Aston Centre for Europe (ACE) is a cutting-edge research facility - bringing together the University's well-established strengths in the study of Europe.
- The Centre engages in a programme of rigorous, policy relevant research on Western and Eastern Europe
- ACE hosts high-profile speakers on Europe, through a series of major academic conferences and lectures
- Our staff are leading experts in their fields, and offer supervision to a number of PhD students. The centre offers masterclasses to Undergraduate and Postgraduate students, in addition to providing a number of PhD stipends
- As well as being a leading academic and research centre, ACE also works with the Aston Business School to train the next generation of civil servants from new and aspirant EU member states.
If you would like to meet/discuss any activity with the Co-Directors then please email to: [email protected]
Key research themes
Research within Aston Centre for Europe is categorised by the following themes:
- Economic and Social transformation in Europe - to incorporate political economy, immigration, identity, citizenship, religion, work and welfare)
- Nations and Europe & Europe and the World - focuses on the UK’s often tense relationship with the EU, as well as Europe in the international system
- The challenge of security, freedom and justice - to incorporate issues such as energy and responses to radicalism across Europe
- Leadership and governance - covering political institutions, civil society and political cultures.
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Profiles
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Parveen Akhtar
- Aston University
- Aston Centre for Europe (ACE)
- Society and Politics
- Politics, History and International Relations - Senior Lecturer
Person: Teaching & Research
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Amanda Beattie
- Aston University
- Centre for Migration and Forced Displacement
- Aston Centre for Europe (ACE)
- Society and Politics
- Politics, History and International Relations - Senior Lecturer
Person: Teaching & Research
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Patricia Correa
- Aston Centre for Europe (ACE)
- Society and Politics
- Politics, History and International Relations - Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations
Person: Teaching & Research
Research output
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Anatomy of a Stalemate: Making Sense of the EU-UK Youth Mobility Controversy
Brusenbauch Meislova , M., Smith, J. E. & Turner, E., Mar 2026, In: Journal of Common Market Studies. 64, 2, p. 902-911 10 p., e70372.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile7 Downloads (Pure) -
Divided Korea: Understanding Unification Narratives
Lim, S., Grzelczyk, V. & Mitchum, D., 2026, (Accepted/In press) Palgrave Macmillan. 177 p.Research output: Book/Report › Edited Book
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Ethnic dealignment and the limits of representation: South Asian Muslim voting behaviour under Keir Starmer
Akhtar, P., Dec 2026, In: British Politics. 21, 1, 20 p., 3.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Downloads (Pure)
Student theses
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Crossing the River by Feeling the Stones: The Empowerment of EU Agencies in EU Border Management
Zhong, Y. (Author), Rozbicka, P. (Supervisor), Farrand Carrapico, H. (Supervisor) & Turner, E. (Supervisor), Jan 2022Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy
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Cultural processes behind contemporary protest mobilisation in authoritarian settings: unaffiliated citizens vs. Putin's regime, 2017-2022
Reid, E. (Author), Schimpfoessl, E. (Supervisor), Popov, A. (Supervisor) & Rowe, C. (Supervisor), Mar 2024Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy
File -
Games, push-backs and the everyday violence at the Bosnian-Croatian border
Augustova, K. (Author), Mizen, P. (Supervisor) & Obradovic, J. (Supervisor), Jun 2020Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy
File
Prizes
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Innovations in Teaching Politics (Group) Award 2018
Rozbicka, P. (Recipient) & Carrapiço, H. (Recipient), 2018
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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British International Studies Association & Higher Education Academy Teaching Excellence Prize
Obradovic-Wochnik, J. (Recipient), Jun 2015
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Stop Asylum Poverty Campaign: A qualitative & quantitative overview of unfolding research.
Beattie, A. (Speaker)
20 Jan 2026Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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British International Studies Association Annual Conference
Beattie, A. (Participant)
17 May 2025 → 20 May 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
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Narrating a Deportation Hearing
Beattie, A. (Speaker)
6 Jan 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Press/Media
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Sahelexit raises questions about the future of West African integration
Wunderlich, U., Gaenzle, S. & Hofelich, T.
5/09/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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Realpolitik trifft Werte: Europas Suche nach einer neuen Rolle
27/08/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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Can the EU become a strategic-normative power in a fractured world?
3/07/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research