Postgraduate Profile

Lucy Shule

PhD Candidate, School of Humanities & Social Science

Discipline: History
Faculty/Division: Education and Arts
Email: Lucy.Shule@newcastle.edu.au
Campus: Callaghan, Newcastle.

Current Research

Thesis title: Beyond the Cold War: Challenges to Tanzanian Foreign Policy and Conflict Resolution in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Supervisors: A/Prof. Wayne Reynolds (Principal) & Dr. Robert Imre (Co-Supervisor)

Abstract

This research is about Tanzanian foreign policy and the involvement in conflict resolution in sub-Saharan Africa after the Cold War, which cannot be discussed in isolation from the evolution in the international system. For more than fifty years Tanzania has been playing a key role in sub-Sahara African conflict resolution. While from the 1950s onwards the country supported the liberation struggles in the southern African region, the post-Cold War focus seems to have shifted largely to the Great Lakes Region (GLR). The revision of the 'security' concept from early 1990s (justified by the emergence of new threats such as terrorism and intrastate conflict) has challenged Tanzania in terms of the traditional response to conflict, specific problems in its neighbours and the international community's response. The main hypothesis is that the nation's role and outlook in conflict resolution has remained the same despite the change in circumstances and the shift of emphasis. The study will examine Tanzania's historical and current role in Mozambique, Rwanda and Burundi conflicts.
The overall research question investigates the impact of Tanzanian foreign policy and the involvement in conflict resolution in the region by assessing both domestic and international drivers. Furthermore, specific questions will focus on the urgency and the role of regional frameworks, as well as the likely benefits and losses for the country in promoting a more activist role in conflict resolution.

Academic background

  • 2009- PhD candidate
  • 2004- M.A. International Relations, University of Dar es Salaam-Tanzania.
             Thesis: "Tanzania's Foreign Policy during the Third Phase Government."
  • 2001- B.A. Political Science and French, University of Dar es Salaam-Tanzania.

Language spoken

Kiswahili, English and French

Professional background

Assistant Lecturer, Centre for Foreign Relations, Dar es Salaam-Tanzania.

Teaching and writing interests

Tanzanian foreign policy, diplomacy, conflict resolution, international relations and public international law.

Research experience

  • Researcher/Lecturer, Defence and Security Management sub-Centre of the Southern Africa Defence and Security Management (SADSEM) Network (2005-2009).
  • Administrator, Widening Participation in Higher Education international project (2007-2009).
  • Research Assistant, Gender Equity in Commonwealth Higher Education international project (2003-2005).
  • Also conducted research on democratisation and governance issues.

Selected presentations

"New approaches to security: implications for the evolution of regional security" (2009).

"Small arms and light weapons in Southern Africa" (2008).

"Gender perspectives in civil-military relations" (2007).

"Regional and sub-regional organisations in managing Multinational Peacekeeping Operations." (2006).

Selected research reports and publications

"The Challenges of Affirmative Action in Tanzanian Higher Education Institutions: A Case Study of the University of Dar es Salaam." Women's Studies International Forum 29 (2006) 581-591.

"Understanding Patterns of Accountability in Tanzania: The Bottom-Up Perspective" (2005).

Membership in academic and professional networks

  • Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA).
  • Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE-Tanzania).
  • African Association of Political Scientists (AAPS).
  • East African Uongozi Institute.