We are delighted to announce this year’s winners – please join us in congratulating their success!
The PSA is proud to highlight the exceptional work of our members and showcase the excellence and impact of our discipline.
Sir Ernest Barker Prize - Joint Winner
Outstanding dissertation on political theory
Martina Zago
University of British Columbia
Civilization as an aesthetic concept: Eugène Delacroix, Paul Gauguin and Juan Luna, 1798 – 1903
This dissertation made an immediate impression through its confidence and depth of thinking. The manuscript is engaging and ambitious, with a strong sense of purpose throughout. It handles complex ideas with assurance and clarity, offering a thoughtful and compelling piece of work that stood out clearly to the judges.
Sir Ernest Barker Prize - Joint Winner
Outstanding dissertation on political theory
Ricky Zici Li
University of Warwick
The Moral Foundations of Data Protection Laws
This dissertation was highlighted for its thoughtful approach and confident handling of big ideas. The manuscript is clearly driven by strong intellectual curiosity and makes its case in an engaging and persuasive way. It is a well-judged and assured piece of work that left a strong impression on the judges.
Government and Public Administration Prize
Outstanding dissertation on government and pubic administration
Guillermo Alonso Simón
University of Warwick
The Limits of Fiscal Convergence: A Practice-Based Account of the Fiscal Politics of Eurozone Design, Accession, and Crisis in Italy and Spain
The judges found this dissertation to be a highly accomplished and persuasive piece of scholarship. It is well organised, intellectually sharp, and consistently engaging. It shows a strong grasp of its subject area and develops its ideas with care and precision, making it a standout entry in this year’s competition.
Shirin M. Rai Prize - Joint Winner
Outstanding dissertation on international relations
John Helferich
University of Oxford
Overcoming the Community Dilemma: Defence Integration in a Post‑Heroic European Union
This manuscript was praised for its perspective and confident voice. The dissertation tackles its central themes with insight and curiosity, developing arguments that are both thoughtful and convincing. Written with clarity and energy, it reflects a high level of scholarly maturity and significant promise for future work.
Shirin M. Rai Prize - Joint Winner
Outstanding dissertation on international relations
Veronica Barfucci
University of Warwick
The Politics of Japan’s Remilitarisation Ontological Security, Gender, and Status-Seeking
The judges praised this dissertation for its originality and clear sense of direction. The manuscript develops its arguments with confidence and balance, showing careful thought throughout. Written in a clear and engaging style, it is a strong and compelling piece of doctoral research that stood out within a very competitive field.
McDougall Trust Prize
Outstanding dissertation on elections, electoral systems and representation
Lucas Paulo da Silva
Universität Zürich
Ideological Media Markets, Cross-Pressured Voters, and Spatial Voting: A Computational and Experimental Approach
The dissertation impressed the panel with its focus, coherence, and analytical strength. The manuscript moves steadily through its main arguments, showing careful attention to detail and a clear sense of direction. It is a polished and engaging piece of work that makes a meaningful contribution to its field.
PSA Dissertation Prize for Comparative Politics
Outstanding dissertation on comparative politics
Tobias Schillings
University of Oxford
The Political Economy of Universal Healthcare: A Global Comparative Perspective
The judges commended this dissertation for its clarity and consistency. The manuscript presents a well-defined set of ideas and explores them with confidence and balance. Its clear writing and thoughtful engagement with key debates make it an impressive and rewarding piece of doctoral research.
Elizabeth Wiskemann Prize
Outstanding dissertation on the study of (in)equality and social justice
Sabrina Ahmed
University of East Anglia
Understanding everyday security in the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh: a vernacular perspective
Judges praised this outstanding and original contribution, combining empirical richness with methodological innovation as well as its insightful engagement with perspectives from both within and beyond camp settings. While rooted in a focused case study, it advances important theoretical thinking and demonstrates significant broader relevance, marking it as a valuable and impressive contribution to the field.
You can see all this year’s Academic Prize winners, here:
2026 Academic Judging Panel:
Donna Smith
PSA Trustee; Open University
Jon Tonge
PSA Fellow; University of Liverpool
Philip Davies
PSA Fellow; De Montfort University
Georgina Blakeley
PSA Trustee; University of Huddersfield
John Craig
PSA Trustee; University of Hull
Kimberley Hutchings
PSA Fellow; QMUL
