Key details
Dr Peter Finn
Lecturer on International Relations
Peter Finn is a Lecturer in International Relations. He holds a Doctorate from Kingston University, where he was also a Senior Lecturer and a Course Leader. He holds SFHEA status, is Web Team Lead of the American Politics Group of the Political Studies Association, and co-runs a long-running comment series focused on US elections for the blog of the LSE United States Politics and Policy site. Along with pedagogic teaching research, his work focuses on elections, the Official Record, and oversight of national security.
Awards
2024: Lead applicant as American Politics Group won Specialist Group of the Year of the Political Studies Association 2023-24; 2016: British International Studies Association- Higher Education Academy Award for Excellence in Teaching International Studies by a Post-graduate Student
Recognition
Web Team Lead for American Politics Group of the Political Studies Association
Research / Scholarly interests
Peter Finn is co-editor of The Official Record: Oversight, national security and democracy (Manchester University Press, 2024, paperback, 2026). He has also published in various academic journals including Political Studies Review and the Journal of American Studies as well as book chapters, both discipline specific and more pedagogic focused research. In recent years, he led the project 50 States or Bust!, which explored the value of generative artificial intelligence as a tool for research in the context of sub-national level American politics. He is working on a book exploring impunity in the context of US and UK Iraq War detention operations and a project aimed at developing links between higher education in the UK and A Level teachers and schools.
Key funded projects
2025: PSA Excellence & Impact Fund for project titled American Politics Group-Political Studies Association A-Level Engagement Project (£1,350)
Recent publications
Article
Finn, Peter and , (2026), Acing your A Level American Politics exam: expert advice. Political Studies Association (PSA). In: , , , . Political Studies Association (PSA), Political Studies Association Blog (doi: https://www.psa.ac.uk/acing-your-a-level-american-politics-exam-expert-advice/) NB Item availability restricted.
Finn, Peter and , (2026), Writing a great politics essay: advice from an expert. Political Studies Association. In: , , , . Political Studies Association, Political Studies Association Blog (doi: https://www.psa.ac.uk/writing-a-great-politics-essay-advice-from-an-expert/).
Finn, Peter and , (2026), The 2026 Midterms: Virginia’s ballot measure shows how Trump’s redistricting push may cost the Republican Party the midterms. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) - LSE Phelan United States Centre. In: , , , . London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) - LSE Phelan United States Centre, United States Politics and Policy Blog (USAPP) (doi: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/2026/04/24/the-2026-midterms-virginias-ballot-measure-shows-how-trumps-redistricting-push-may-cost-the-republican-party-the-midterms/).
Finn, Peter and , (2026), The 2026 Midterms: four ways to think about “late era” Donald Trump as we approach the midterms. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) - LSE Phelan United States Centre. In: , , , . London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) - LSE Phelan United States Centre, LSE Blogs: LSE United States Politics and Policy (doi: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/2026/03/26/the-2026-midterms-four-ways-to-think-about-late-era-donald-trump-as-we-approach-the-midterms/).
Finn, Peter and , (2026), Trump’s State of the Union marathon of greatest hits is unlikely to influence voters. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) - LSE Phelan United States Centre. In: , , , . London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) - LSE Phelan United States Centre, LSE Blogs: LSE United States Politics and Policy (doi: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/2026/02/25/the-2026-midterms-trumps-state-of-the-union-marathon-of-greatest-hits-is-unlikely-to-influence-voters/).