Associate Professor Charles T. Hunt is a Senior Fellow (Non-Resident) at United Nations University Centre for Policy Research.
He is also Professor of Global Security in the School of Global, Urban and Social Studies at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, and Senior Research Associate with the Institute of Security Studies in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Professor Hunt's background is in political science with a specialization in international relations and critical security studies. He holds a Doctorate in International Relations from the University of Queensland, Australia, as well as a Master's degree in International Studies and a Bachelor of Science (Joint Honors) in Economics and Political Science - both from the University of Birmingham, UK.
His research in the field of international relations, global security, and peace and conflict studies focuses on four main areas:
- The evolution of United Nations peace operations
- Peacebuilding and governance in conflict-affected countries and regions
- Evaluation, impact assessment and organizational learning in conflict management, peacebuilding and development programming
- The protection of civilians in armed conflict and prevention of mass atrocity crimes
Professor Hunt is widely published, having authored/edited six books and over forty peer-reviewed articles and chapters. He is Editor-in-Chief of the quarterly journal, Global Responsibility to Protect, and a member of the editorial board for International Peacekeeping and the Journal of International Peacekeeping. In addition to traditional academic publications, Charles regularly writes editorials and commentaries for widely-read outlets, including the Washington Post, The Conversation, Global Observatory (International Peace Institute, New York), The Interpreter (Lowy Institute, Sydney), and Australian Outlook (Australian Institute for International Affairs, Canberra). His analysis and expertise have also featured on international television and radio stations, including appearances on flagship programmes on the BBC, ABC, Al-Jazeera, CNN, and SBS.
Charles bridges academic rigor and practical engagement to improve policy on peace and security issues. He has extensive knowledge and experience of the UN policy community, regularly consults with the United Nations and selected Member States, and has been commissioned to write numerous policy papers, practical handbooks, and guidance on issues of peace and security. Professor Hunt has also worked with the Government of Australian over a number of years assessing their role in peace operations and as a Principal Advisor to DFAT’s Fragility and Conflict Panel.
Professor Hunt has worked extensively in Africa, conducting field research in many locations (e.g. South Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe) and regularly consults to the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, and several international NGOs. Charles’ work for international organizations, government agencies, think tanks, civil society organizations, and academic institutions across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific has provided him with a global perspective on issues of peace, security, and justice.
