Abigail Blyth

I am a Teaching Fellow in the School of International Studies, having joined in February 2023.  Previously, I taught at the University of Nottingham UK campus for two years, focusing my teaching on security and intelligence. Prior to this, I was part time teaching staff at Aberystwyth University in the International English Centre and Department of International Politics. The latter is where I completed my PhD in 2020 entitled 'The British Intelligence Services in the public domain' which was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. This explored the portrayals of the British Intelligence Services provided through different avenues of information, including fictitious portrayals of James Bond. Indeed, I also my completed both my undergraduate and taught postgraduate degrees at Aberystwyth University too.

My two main research interests lie in intelligence studies and pedagogy. Specifically, I am interested in exploring the depictions of the intelligence realm, and how these are constructed, either directly from the Intelligence Services themselves, or via other entities.

Additionally, examining the ways in which intelligence is taught without falling into certain tropes or narratives to provide students with an informed understanding of the secret and fascinating world. This ties into my interest of ensuring best pedagogical practice and researching how to consistently ensure this.

At UNNC, I have taught on the following undergraduate modules: 

Introduction to International Relations 

International Organisations 

Other areas I have taught on at the undergraduate level include: 

Secet Intelligence and International Security 

Russian Security and Russian Great Power Politics 

Diplomacy 

Security including theories, threats, NATO and European security in the 21st Century

British Political History

Politics in the 21st Century

At the postgraduate level, I have taught: 

Covert Action and Unacknowledged Interventions