Dr. Alexander Thomson
My primary research interest is the diplomatic history of US relations with apartheid South Africa. I have published a number of books and journal aricles on this topic, and I am currently working on a project integrating previously overlooked South African archive materials into the literature addressing this issue.
Additionally, i also work with grassroots community groups in Zimbabwe who are seeking to gain a voice in this country's transitional justice programme. In partnership with a local NGO, this project seeks to assess and facilitate understanding of transitional justice processes at the grassroots level, with a view to encouraging participation, and broadening the relevance of transitional justice initiatives in Zimbabwe.
- Thomson, A. (2009) U.S. Foreign Policy Towards Apartheid South Africa, 1948-1994: Conflict of Interests. New York: Palgrave-Macmillan.
- Thomson, A. (2012) 'A More Effective Constructive Engagement: US Policy Towards South Africa after the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986'. Politikon 39 (3), 1-19.
- Thomson, A. (2010) 'The diplomacy of impasse: The Carter administration and apartheid South Africa'. Diplomacy and Statecraft 21 (1), 107-124.
- Thomson, A. (2005) 'Contending with Apartheid: United States Foreign Policy Towards South Africa, 1948-1994'. Studia Diplomatica 58 (4), 51-74.
- Thomson, A. (2005) 'Balancing interests beyond the water's edge'. Politikon 32 (1), 123-137.
- Thomson, A. (1995) 'Reagan's South Africa policy revisited'. Journal of Modern African Studies33 (1), 83-101.
- Thomson, A. (1996) Incomplete Engagement: US Foreign Policy Towards the Republic of South Africa. Aldershot: Avebury.
- Thomson, A., and Jazdowska, N. (2012) 'Bringing in the grassroots: transitional justice in Zimbabwe'. Conflict, Security and Development 12 (1), 75-102.
- Hulme, M., Thomson, A., Hulme, R., and Doughty, G. (2013) 'Trading Places: The Role of Agents in International Student Recruitment from Africa'. Journal of Further and Higher Education 37 (4).
- Thomson, A. (2010) An Introduction to African Politics. 3rd edn. London: Routledge.
- Re-assessing US Cold War relations with apartheid South Africa: Accessing and analysing previously overlooked South African archives and integrating the resulting ‘view from Pretoria’ into the existing (US archive dominated) history of this issue.
- Grassroots community participation in Zimbabwean transitional justice: Working with grassroots community groups in Zimbabwe to facilitate their participation in this country’s transitional justice initiatives.