Isabelle Calleja graduated from the University of Malta with a B.A. (Gen.) in History, Classics and Contemporary Mediterranean Studies and a B.A. (Hons) in History. After obtaining a chevening scholarship she pursued further studies in the Politics and Government of European States with an emphasis on the Southern dimension and EU politics at the London School of Economics and Politic Science where she obtained an MSc in the subject. She completed her studies under the tutorship of Dr Robert Leonardi from the European Institute at the London School of Economics where she obtained her Doctorate in politics. The emphasis of her research was in the field of Democratization and the role of the external domain, indeed attempting to adopt a cross disciplinary approach and merge the field of Political Science and International Relations. The title of her doctoral dissertation which is a forthcoming publication is: “The Role of External Players in Democratization in Southern Europe: The Cases of Malta and Cyprus” She is presently head of the Department of International Relations at the University of Malta where she lectures on International Politics, teaching courses in politics and governance, political parties, democratization studies in the Southern Europe and North Africa, and EU politics and External Relations, among others. She has published various papers in her areas of interest including a recent publication on “The Political System of Malta” for a Commission publication on the 27 states of the EU.
Before joining the Department of International Relations in 2009, Dr Arsalan Alshinawi was employed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malta for 13 years, including work at the Embassies of Malta in Arab countries between 2001 and 2004.
His main areas of interest are International Political Economy, state-society relations and role of the state in the economy, with special emphasis on the Middle East and North Africa region. He has conducted research in Egypt, and was a visiting lecturer in St. Petersburg State University in Russia in the scholastic year of 2007-2008.
He completed his Ph.D. studies on the Continuous Relevance of the State in Islamic-Arabic countries at Radboud University Nijmegen in The Netherlands, under the supervision of Prof. Wil Hout, Dean of the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague. He holds B.Pharm. (Hons.) and M.A. in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Malta, and Post-Graduate Certificate in International Relations from the University of Amsterdam.
Dr James Calleja is a permanent part-time Lecturer at the Department of International Relations of the University of Malta where he teaches subjects related to Peace and Conflict Studies, Theories of International Relations, International Institutions, Federalism and Globalisation. Dr Calleja is the Chief Executive of the Malta Qualifications Council and a Visiting Professor of the European University Centre for Peace Studies in StadtSchlaining, Austria. Dr Calleja is a graduate of the University of Malta (1981), the University of Padua (1986) and the University of Bradford (1991) from where he obtained a Ph.D. in Peace Studies. Dr Calleja has lectured in various countries in Europe, North America, South East Asia, Australia, North Africa, China and in the Middle East. He published several books, articles and papers in Malta and internationally. Dr Calleja’s current professional interests lie with Conflict Management, Mediation Skills and Policy in Vocational Training. Dr Calleja represents Malta on the EU’s Implementation Group of the European Qualifications Framework and on the Bologna Follow-Up Group. He is an Accredited Mediator with C.E.D.R. London and Director of Training of Malta Dispute Management Limited.
Ms Valentina Cassar
B.A. (Hons), M.Litt. (Aberd.)
Tel: +356 2340 3063 Room: 245 Old Humanities Building (OH) (Arts, Education)
Valentina Cassar is a graduate in International Relations from the University of Malta and a graduate in Strategic Studies from the University of Aberdeen. Before joining the Department of International Relations, she held posts within the Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs, the Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment, and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Her areas of research and teaching include Terrorism, European and Global Security Issues, Foreign Policy Analysis, Strategic Studies and Strategic Culture, and the Foreign and Security Policies of the USA and Russia, amongst others.
Dr Carmen Sammut is a lecturer at the International Relations Department. Her area of specialisation is International Communications. She has researched media organisations and the professionalisation of journalists but she is also interested issues of culture, gender and migration in international politics.
Dr Sammut started a career in journalism with the public service broadcaster. After the advent of pluralism in 1991, she continued to work on a freelance basis, presenting and producing a number of news and current affairs programmes on PBS, One Radio, RTK, as well as some newspaper features and articles. She is currently a regular newspaper analyst on Campus FM. In 2006 presented and co-produced Ewropa Ewropa, a programme on EU affairs on RTK Radio, that was awarded the Malta Journalists’ Award for radio journalism. She is also a regular participant on RTK’s news anaysis programme Stampa Cara.
Dr Sammut is an active member of the Institute of Maltese Journalists, a member of its Studies Board and of the Press Ethics Commission. She is one of the founder members of the WIIS-Malta (Women in International Security).
In 2001 she was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship to pursue doctoral research in Media and Communications at Goldsmiths College, University of London. She also holds an MA, PGCE and BA from the University of Malta.
Her book “Media and Maltese Society” was published in 2007 by Lexington Press, USA.
Dr Anna Khakee B.A. Lund University, M.A. Ph.D. Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva
Room: 245
Old Humanities Building (OH) (Arts, Education)
Bionote:
Dr. Anna Khakee is a specialist on
democratization and democracy promotion. Her consultancy and previous
work experience has also focussed extensively on human security and
development issues. At the University of Malta she has taught a course
on Development and Development Assistance. She has previously taught at
the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in
Geneva and at the United Nations University for Peace in Costa Rica. She
is currently working on a large human security-related project for the
Norwegian Peacebuilding Centre, Oslo, and is an Associate of The Policy
Practice, a leading UK-based development consultancy company. She has
previously acted as a consultant to FRIDE, EuroMeSCo, Geneva Centre for
the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), UNDP-BCPR, and Amnesty
International, amongst others. Dr. Khakee has published a number of
articles and book chapters internationally. Recent publications include
“Interests vs. Ideals: EU Democracy Promotion in Nigeria” (Johns Hopkins
University Press 2010); “Morocco: Accompanying Timid Reform in a
Liberal Kingdom” (FRIDE/World Movement for Democracy 2010); “Securing
Democracy? A Comparative Analysis of Emergency Powers in Europe” (DCAF
Policy Paper Geneva: DCAF, 2009); and “Energy and Development: Lessons
from Nigeria” EDC 2020 Policy Brief 2008). She has field experience from
Somalia, Morocco, Jordan, Kosovo, and Central and Eastern Europe.
Visiting Lecturers:
Mr Marvin Cuschieri
Mr Mark De Martino
Dr Alex Sciberras Trigona
Mr Andre` Spiteri
Bionote:
Mr. Spiteri graduated in International Relations at the University of Malta in 2005. In 2007 he was awarded a scholarship from the Japanese Ministry of Education (MEXT). He completed his Masters in International Relations at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan in 2010. His academic area of interest was the International Political Economy of East Asia. His Masters dissertation was entitled: ‘Untangling the Web: European Strategies for the Harmonization of Regional Trade Agreements in East Asia’. Mr. Spiteri enjoys reading, martial arts and playing football.
Administrative Staff:
Ms Annelise Calleja
Tel: +356 2340 3083 Room: 301 Old Humanities Building (OH) (Arts, Education)
Literature and Comparison’ Research Seminar Series Thursday 17 May, 7:00 pm in Gate Way Hall C Prof. Gaetana Marrone (Princeton), ‘Power, Spectacle, and Representation: Liliana Cavani’s Transgressive Gaze’
Dr James Calleja
Ms Valentina Cassar 
