Home › Research▻People▻Political Science & Sociology

Political Science & Sociology

Dr Kevin Ryan

Ph.D

Contact Details

Lecturer
Political Science & Sociology
Room 325
Aras Moyola Building
NUIG

T: +353 91 493111
E: Kevin.Ryan@nuigalway.ie
 
researcher

Biography


2001 - 2004 PhD, NUI Galway.
 
1998 - 2001 BA, Political Science & Sociology, Geography (1st Hons), NUI Galway.
 
1995 - 1996 BA, Fine Art (1st Hons), Crawford College of Art & Design, Cork.
 
1992 - 1995 National Diploma in Art (Distinction), Crawford College of Art & Design, Cork. 

Research Interests

Having made my way into sociology via the visual arts, I have a keen interest in how these fields interact in the form of socially-engaged art. My research as a sociologist (and previously as an artist) focuses on degrees of freedom, i.e. not freedom as an abstract figure of thought or normative ideal, but rather freedom as an agonistic arena of practice which is conditioned and constrained by historically-constituted relations of power. I am particularly interested in relations of inclusion/exclusion, histories of childhood, governmentality and biopower, technologies of subjectivation, and attempts to govern the excesses of competitive performance.

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2016) 'Academic freedom and the eye of power: the politics and poetics of open enclosures'
Ryan, K (2016) 'Academic freedom and the eye of power: the politics and poetics of open enclosures'. Journal Of Political Power, 9 :249-268 [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Beating the Bounds of Socially-Engaged Art? A Transdisciplinary Dialogue on a Collaborative Art Project with Youth in Dublin, Ireland'
F. Whelan & K. Ryan (2016) 'Beating the Bounds of Socially-Engaged Art? A Transdisciplinary Dialogue on a Collaborative Art Project with Youth in Dublin, Ireland'. FIELD: A Journal of Socially-Engaged Art Criticism, Spring (4) [Details]
(2015) 'Doping and anti-doping: the excesses of enterprise and the tyranny of transparency'
Ryan, K. (2015) 'Doping and anti-doping: the excesses of enterprise and the tyranny of transparency'. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 7 (4):637-653 [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2015) 'Gellner’s Genealogy of the Open Society: Biopolitics as Fragment and Remainder'
Ryan K. (2015) 'Gellner’s Genealogy of the Open Society: Biopolitics as Fragment and Remainder'. Thesis Eleven, 128 (1):113-125 [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2014) 'Childhood, Biosocial Power, and the “Anthropological Machine”: Life as a Governable Process?'
Ryan, K (2014) 'Childhood, Biosocial Power, and the “Anthropological Machine”: Life as a Governable Process?'. Critical Horizons, 15 (3):266-283 [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2014) 'The Art of Democracy: Constitutive Power and the Limits of Dissensus'
Ryan, K. (2014) 'The Art of Democracy: Constitutive Power and the Limits of Dissensus'. Journal Of Political Power, 7 (3):363-381 [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2014) 'Agonism'
K. Ryan (2014) 'Agonism'. International Encyclopaedia of the Social and Behavioural Sciences, 2nd Edition, [Details]
(2013) 'The Disfigured Ontology of Figurational Sociology: Norbert Elias and the Question of Violence'
Malesevic, S. and K. Ryan (2013) 'The Disfigured Ontology of Figurational Sociology: Norbert Elias and the Question of Violence'. Critical Sociology, 39 (2):165-181 [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2012) 'The new wave of childhood studies: Breaking the grip of bio-social dualism?'
Ryan, KW (2012) 'The new wave of childhood studies: Breaking the grip of bio-social dualism?'. Childhood, 19 :439-452 [DOI] [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2011) 'Governing the future: Citizenship as technology, empowerment as technique'
Ryan, K. (2011) 'Governing the future: Citizenship as technology, empowerment as technique'. Critical Sociology, 37 (6):763-778 [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2008) 'On power, habitus, and (in)civility: Foucault meets Elias meets Bauman in the playground'
Ryan, K. (2008) 'On power, habitus, and (in)civility: Foucault meets Elias meets Bauman in the playground'. Journal Of Power, 1 (3):251-274 [ARAN Link] [Details]

Other Journals

  Year Publication
(2017) 'Socially Engaged Art & Social Enterprise: Creativity on the Brink…'
Ryan, K. (2017) 'Socially Engaged Art & Social Enterprise: Creativity on the Brink…' TransActions #2, (2) . [Details]

Books

  Year Publication
(2017) Freedom?.
Two Fuse (K. Ryan & F. Whelan) (2017) Freedom?. Cork: Cork University Press. [Details]
(2007) Social Exclusion and the Politics of Order.
Ryan, K. (2007) Social Exclusion and the Politics of Order. MUP: Manchester and New York: Manchester University Press. [Details]

Edited Books

  Year Publication
(2012) Political Power: The Development of the Field.
Haugaard, M. & K. Ryan (Ed.). (2012) Political Power: The Development of the Field. Leverkusen, DE: IPSA and Barbara Budrich. [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2017) 'Governing the future: children’s health and biosocial power'
Ryan, K. (2017) 'Governing the future: children’s health and biosocial power' In: Reframing Health and Health Policy in Ireland: A Governmental Analysis, C. Edwards and E. Fernández (eds). Manchester: MUP. [Details]
(2014) 'Governing the freedom to choose: biosocial power and the playground as a ‘school of conduct’'
K. Ryan (2014) 'Governing the freedom to choose: biosocial power and the playground as a ‘school of conduct’' In: Playgrounds and Battlefields: Critical Perspectives of Social Engagement, edited by F. Martínez and K. Slabina. Talinn: Tallinn University Press. [Details]
(2012) 'Power in Social and Political Theory'
Haugaard, M. & K. Ryan (2012) 'Power in Social and Political Theory' In: in Political Power: The Development of the Field. IPSA and Barbara Budrich. Leverkusen, DE: IPSA and Barbara Budrich. [Details]
(2011) 'Haugaard, Mark'
Ryan, Kevin (2011) 'Haugaard, Mark' In: Encyclopedia of Power, edited by Keith Dowding. London: Sage. [Details]
(2011) 'Exclusion'
Ryan, K (2011) 'Exclusion' In: n Sage Encyclopaedia of Power, edited by Keith Dowding. [Details]
(2009) 'Power and Exclusion'
Ryan, K. (2009) 'Power and Exclusion' In: Sage Handbook of Power. London: Sage. [Details]
(2008) 'Power, Social and Political Theories'
Haugaard, M. & K. Ryan (2008) 'Power, Social and Political Theories' In: in the Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace & Conflict, second edition, edited by Lester Kurtz. Academic Press. . Oxford: Elsevier. [Details]
(2007) 'Truth, Reason and the Spectre of Contingency'
Ryan, K. (2007) 'Truth, Reason and the Spectre of Contingency' In: Ernest Gellner and Contemporary Social Thought. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [Details]
(2007) 'Environmental Conflict and Democracy: between Reason and Hegemony'
Ryan, K. (2007) 'Environmental Conflict and Democracy: between Reason and Hegemony' In: Environmental Arguing and Cultural Difference: Locations, Fractures and Deliberations. Germany: Peter Lang. [Details]
(2006) 'Power and Powerlessness'
Haugaard, M., Ryan, K. (2006) 'Power and Powerlessness' In: Contemporary Ireland: A Sociological Map. Dublin: Dublin: UCD Press. [Details]
(2006) 'Hegemony and the Power to Act'
Ryan, K. (2006) 'Hegemony and the Power to Act' In: in Hegemony and Power: Consensus and Coercion in Contemporary Politics, edited by H. Lentner and M. Haugaard. New York: Lexington. Maryland: Lexington. [Details]

Review Articles

  Year Publication
(2017) The (anti-) politics of protest movements: notes on Ivan Krastev’s Democracy Disrupted. European Journal of Cultural and political Sociology.
Ryan, K (2017) The (anti-) politics of protest movements: notes on Ivan Krastev’s Democracy Disrupted. European Journal of Cultural and political Sociology. Review Articles [Details]

Review Essay

  Year Publication
(2015) Are the Irish Different? Irish Journal of Sociology. 23(1): 129-37.
Ryan, K. (2015) Are the Irish Different? Irish Journal of Sociology. 23(1): 129-37. Review Essay [Details]

Book Review

  Year Publication
(2014) Review of T. Cockburn, Re-thinking children’s citizenship. Critical Sociology, 34(2): 282-4.
Ryan, K (2014) Review of T. Cockburn, Re-thinking children’s citizenship. Critical Sociology, 34(2): 282-4. Book Review [Details]
(2010) Review of The Culture of Homelessness, Megan Ravenhill. Critical Social Policy,30(1): 151-3.
Ryan, K (2010) Review of The Culture of Homelessness, Megan Ravenhill. Critical Social Policy,30(1): 151-3. Book Review [Details]

Reviews

  Year Publication
(2011) review of Andrew Wallace, Remaking Community? New Labour and the Governance of Poor Neighbourhoods, Ashgate, Farnham. Critical Social Policy, 32(2): 291-3.
Ryan, K (2011) review of Andrew Wallace, Remaking Community? New Labour and the Governance of Poor Neighbourhoods, Ashgate, Farnham. Critical Social Policy, 32(2): 291-3. Reviews [Details]
(2007) Review of Crossing the Line: vagrancy, homelessness and social displacement in Russia, Stephenson, S. Critical Social Policy, 27(4): 572-4.
Ryan, K. (2007) Review of Crossing the Line: vagrancy, homelessness and social displacement in Russia, Stephenson, S. Critical Social Policy, 27(4): 572-4. Reviews [Details]
(2008) Steinert, H.; Pilgram, A.: Welfare Policy from Below: Struggles against Social Exclusion in Europe. Critical Social Policy, 28(4): 560-62.
Ryan, K. (2008) Steinert, H.; Pilgram, A.: Welfare Policy from Below: Struggles against Social Exclusion in Europe. Critical Social Policy, 28(4): 560-62. Reviews [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2017) IPSA RC(36) Interim Meeting: The Power of Narrative,
Two Fuse (K. Ryan & F. Whelan) (2017) Power and Freedom in the Enterprise Society: “catch up, keep up, get ahead…. [Oral Presentation], IPSA RC(36) Interim Meeting: The Power of Narrative, Pavia, Italy , 30-MAY-17 - 31-MAY-17. [Details]
(2016) ‘A Peculiar Society’? Ireland, 1970s-1990s,
Ryan, K. (2016) ‘The revolution is us’: art and politics in Ireland, 1974-1993. [Oral Presentation], ‘A Peculiar Society’? Ireland, 1970s-1990s, Moore Institute, NUIG , 24-APR-16 - 25-APR-16. [Details]
(2015) Invited lecture,
Ryan, K. (2015) Governing the future: from rescuing children to child protection. [Invited Lecture], Invited lecture, School of Applied Social Studies, UCC , 27-NOV-15 - 27-NOV-15. [Details]
(2015) IPSA RC(36) Interim Meeting@ The Gestalts of Power,
Ryan, K. (2015) Transparency and the eye of power: democratising surveillance?. [Conference Paper], IPSA RC(36) Interim Meeting@ The Gestalts of Power, Helsinki, Finland , 23-OCT-15 - 24-OCT-15. [Details]
(2014) School of Political Science and Sociology Research Publication Seminar Series,
Ryan, K. (2014) Visualizing the democratic contest. [Chaired Session], School of Political Science and Sociology Research Publication Seminar Series, NUIG , 27-MAR-14 - 27-MAR-14. [Details]
(2014) Invited Lecture, Department of Sociology, UCD,
Ryan, K. (2014) Competition and control in the enterprise society: social life as a sporting contest?. [Invited Lecture], Invited Lecture, Department of Sociology, UCD, UCD, Dublin , 05-MAR-14 - 05-MAR-14. [Details]
(2014) IPSA World Congress, Montreal,
Ryan, K. (2014) The Art of Democracy: Constitutive Power and the Limits of Dissensus. [Conference Paper], IPSA World Congress, Montreal, Montreal , 08-JUL-14 - 13-JUL-14. [Details]
(2014) 23rd IPSA World Congress,
IPSA Research Committee 36 (Political Power) (2014) As RC Secretary I co-organised six panels with Mark Haugaard (RC Chair). [Other], 23rd IPSA World Congress, Montreal, Canada , 20-JUL-14 - 24-JUL-14. [Details]
(2014) Conflict Rights and Security Research Symposium,
Ryan, K. (2014) The Tyranny of Transparency?. [Other], Conflict Rights and Security Research Symposium, NUIG , 28-MAY-14 - 28-MAY-14. [Details]
(2013) Interim Workshop,
IPSA Research Committee 36 (Political Power) (2013) As RC Secretary I co-organised the RC36 Interim Workshop with Mark Haugaard (RC Chair). [Other], Interim Workshop, NUIG , 27-SEP-13 - 29-SEP-13. [Details]
(2013) IPSA Research Committee 36 (Political Power) Interim Meeting, Galway,
Ryan, K. (2013) Power and freedom in the “enterprise society”: social life as a sporting contest?. [Conference Paper], IPSA Research Committee 36 (Political Power) Interim Meeting, Galway, NUIG , 20-SEP-13 - 22-SEP-13. [Details]
(2013) Conflict Rights and Security Research Symposium,
Ryan, K. (2013) Playgrounds and Battlefields: Governing the Future. [Other], Conflict Rights and Security Research Symposium, NUIG , 25-APR-13 - 25-APR-13. [Details]
(2012) Invited Lecture, Graduate School of Culture Studies and Art, Tallinn University,
Ryan, K. (2012) Governing the freedom to choose: biosocial power and the playground as a ‘school of conduct’. [Invited Lecture], Invited Lecture, Graduate School of Culture Studies and Art, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia , 20-FEB-12 - 24-FEB-12. [Details]
(2012) 22nd IPSA World Congress,
IPSA Research Committee 36 (Political Power) (2012) Co-organised six panels as RC Secretary, with Mark Haugaard (RC Chair). [Other], 22nd IPSA World Congress, Madrid , 08-JUL-12 - 12-JUL-12. [Details]
(2012) IPSA World Congress, Madrid,
Ryan, K. (2012) Biosocial Power: Life as a Governable Process?. [Conference Paper], IPSA World Congress, Madrid, Madrid, Spain , 23-JUL-12 - 27-JUL-12. [Details]
(2011) The Biosocial Nation. ‘Nations, States and Conflict’ conference, National University of Ireland, Galway,
Ryan, K (2011) Paper. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], The Biosocial Nation. ‘Nations, States and Conflict’ conference, National University of Ireland, Galway, NUIG , 23-OCT-11 - 24-OCT-11. [Details]
(2011) Childhood and Despotic Power: The Biopolitical Foundations of Republican Freedom’, Conference:. SAI conference, UCC,
Ryan, K (2011) paper. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Childhood and Despotic Power: The Biopolitical Foundations of Republican Freedom’, Conference:. SAI conference, UCC, UCC , 23-OCT-11 - 24-OCT-11. [Details]
(2010) Power, Knowledge and Emotional ‘Detachment. IPSA Research Committee 36 (Political Power) at the interim meeting, Soeterbeeck, Netherlands,
Ryan, K. (2010) Paper. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Power, Knowledge and Emotional ‘Detachment. IPSA Research Committee 36 (Political Power) at the interim meeting, Soeterbeeck, Netherlands, Soeterbeeck, Netherlands , 14-APR-10 - 16-APR-10. [Details]
(2009) Empowering the child in the age of strategy: ‘Ready, Steady, Play!. IPSA World Congress, Santiago, Chile,
Ryan, K. (2009) Paper. [Oral Presentation], Empowering the child in the age of strategy: ‘Ready, Steady, Play!. IPSA World Congress, Santiago, Chile, Santiago, Chile , 06-JUL-09 - 11-JUL-09. [Details]
(2009) Encounters at the Edge of Identity. BSA Annual Conference,
Ryan, K. (2009) Paper. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Encounters at the Edge of Identity. BSA Annual Conference, Cardiff City Hall , 16-APR-09. [Details]
(2008) Engineering Civility: the power of (un)supervised play. Power: Forms, Dynamics and Consequences,
Ryan, K. (2008) paper. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Engineering Civility: the power of (un)supervised play. Power: Forms, Dynamics and Consequences, Tampere University , 22-SEP-08. [Details]
(2008) Civil engineering/engineering civility: the power of play. SAI Annual Conference, School of Political Science and Sociology,
Ryan, K. (2008) Paper. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Civil engineering/engineering civility: the power of play. SAI Annual Conference, School of Political Science and Sociology, NUI Galway , 09-MAY-08 - 05-NOV-08. [Details]
(2007) Environmental Conflict and Democracy: Between Reason and Hegemony. Philosophy and the Social Sciences Conference,
Ryan, K. (2007) paper. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Environmental Conflict and Democracy: Between Reason and Hegemony. Philosophy and the Social Sciences Conference, Villa Lanna, V Sadech 1, Prague 6 , 10-MAY-07. [Details]
(2006) Between Reason and Hegemony: Communication, Participation, Decision. SSRC International Environmental Workshop,
Ryan, K. (2006) Paper. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Between Reason and Hegemony: Communication, Participation, Decision. SSRC International Environmental Workshop, NUIG , 31-MAR-06 - 04-JAN-06. [Details]
(2006) Managing Postmodernity: Inclusive Governance and Irish Travellers. Department of Politics and Public Administration,
Ryan, K. (2006) Seminar. [Invited Lecture], Managing Postmodernity: Inclusive Governance and Irish Travellers. Department of Politics and Public Administration, University of Limerick , 29-MAR-06. [Details]
(2005) Asia-Pacific Researchers in Organization Studies. 11th International Colloquium,
Ryan, K. (2005) Paper. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Asia-Pacific Researchers in Organization Studies. 11th International Colloquium, Melbourne, Australia , 04-DEC-05 - 12-JUL-05. [Details]
(2005) The Social and Political Relevance of Ernest Gellner's Thought Today. Department of Political Science and Sociology, National University of Ireland, Galway,
Ryan, K. (2005) Paper. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], The Social and Political Relevance of Ernest Gellner's Thought Today. Department of Political Science and Sociology, National University of Ireland, Galway, National University of Ireland, Galway , 21-MAY-05. [Details]
(2005) Inclusive Governance: Between Contingency and the Illegitimate Act. PSAI Annual Conference,
Ryan, K. (2005) Paper. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Inclusive Governance: Between Contingency and the Illegitimate Act. PSAI Annual Conference, Queen's University Belfast , 21-OCT-05. [Details]
(2004) Post-Structuralism, Hegemony and Power: Reassessing the Void. IPSA Research committee 36 (Political Power) Interim Workshop, New York,
Ryan, K. (2004) paper. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Post-Structuralism, Hegemony and Power: Reassessing the Void. IPSA Research committee 36 (Political Power) Interim Workshop, New York, CUNY, New York , 23-OCT-04 - 24-OCT-04. [Details]
(2003) Social Life at the Edge of Chaos: Encircling and Encircled by Exclusion. Fourth Graduate Conference on Political Theory, Rhetoric and Politics,
Ryan, K. (2003) Paper. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Social Life at the Edge of Chaos: Encircling and Encircled by Exclusion. Fourth Graduate Conference on Political Theory, Rhetoric and Politics, University of Essex, Department of Government , 09-MAY-03 - 05-OCT-03. [Details]
(2003) The Politics of Discourse and the Poetics of Governance. Political Science Association of Ireland, Annual Conference,
Ryan, K. (2003) Paper. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], The Politics of Discourse and the Poetics of Governance. Political Science Association of Ireland, Annual Conference, SAI , 17-OCT-03. [Details]
(2002) Social Governance in the Local Development Space: The Ambivalent Ethics and Politics of Care. Sociological Association of Ireland Annual Conference: Transitions; stream on Health and Social Services,
Ryan, K. (2002) Paper. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Social Governance in the Local Development Space: The Ambivalent Ethics and Politics of Care. Sociological Association of Ireland Annual Conference: Transitions; stream on Health and Social Services, Galway , 26-APR-02. [Details]
(2002) Discursive Democracy and the Ambivalent Politics of Care. European Consortium of Political Research Joint Sessions; Workshop on Rescuing Democracy: the Lure of the Associative Elixer,
Ryan, K. (2002) Paper. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Discursive Democracy and the Ambivalent Politics of Care. European Consortium of Political Research Joint Sessions; Workshop on Rescuing Democracy: the Lure of the Associative Elixer, ECPR, Turin , 22-MAR-02. [Details]

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
International Political Science Association Research Committee 36 (Political Power) Member (Secretary from 2008 - 2014) /
Power, Conflict & Ideologies Research Cluster, School of Political Science & Sociology, NUIG Member /
Journal of Political Power (Routledge) Reviews Editor (since 2007) /
Conflict, Rights & Security Research Cluster, Whittaker Institute, NUIG Member /

Current Postgraduate Students (Research)

  Student Degree Type Type
Anita Naughton Doctorate - Ph.D.(Arts) Supervisor
Liam Farrell Doctorate - Structured Ph.D. in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Supervisor