Roman Gerodimos is Professor of Global Current Affairs at Bournemouth University, and a faculty member at the Salzburg Academy on Media & Global Change. Roman holds an M.Sc. in European Politics and Policy (LSE) and a Ph.D. in Political Communication from Bournemouth University. He is the winner of the Arthur McDougall prize for his research on online youth civic engagement.
Roman’s current research focuses on the challenges facing democracy due to globalization, digitization and extremism, the threats facing global security, and the role of civic engagement, media literacy and urban public space in bridging divides. He recently completed a project on shame and violence funded by the ISRF, a report on the refugee crisis for Greek think-tank Dianeosis, and produced Deterrence a feature-length documentary on European security and deterrence funded by NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division. He previously led or worked on projects funded by the UK Department for International Development, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy in London.
Roman is the editor of Interdisciplinary Applications of Shame/Violence Theory (Palgrave Macmillan 2022), and the co-editor of The Politics of Extreme Austerity: Greece in the Eurozone Crisis (Palgrave Macmillan 2015) and The Media, Political Participation and Empowerment (Routledge 2013).
His work has appeared in numerous global media outlets (CNN, BBC, AP, Euronews, USA Today, Newsweek etc). In 2013/14 Roman was a Visiting Scholar at Emerson College in Boston and in 2017 a Visiting Scholar at the Salzburg Global Seminar in Austria. He is the writer, director and producer of four award-winning short films: At the Edge of the Present (2015), A Certain Type of Freedom (2015), Essence (2018), which is based on an essay by Paul Badura-Skoda, and We’ll Meet Again (2021). He is now working on his first live-action film, A Probable Outcome. Roman has a column in Greece’s leading weekly newspaper, Athens Voice.
His first book in Greece, ‘Dispatches from the 21st Century’, – a collection of current affairs essays, travelogues and personal writings – was published in January 2020 by Papadopoulos Publishing. It was named best non-fiction book of 2020 by Athens Voice, one of the Books of 2020 by To Vima, one of the books of the 21st century by Ta Nea, and was short-listed for the Public Book Awards 2021, and made it to the best-seller lists of numerous bookshops and newspapers.
He is the founder and former convenor (2004-2017) of the Greek Politics Specialist Group (GPSG), the leading network of Greek politics experts in the world, which in 2019 was named ‘Specialist Group of the Year’ by the UK Political Studies Association (PSA).
Roman’s academic work includes acting as Impact Champion for BU’s REF UoA34 submission (2019-), Development Lead for the Faculty of Media & Communication Foundation Year (2020-21), Global Engagement Lead (2016-18) for the School of Journalism, English and Communication, and Framework Leader (2012-16) for BA (Hons) Communication & Media. He has 20 years of service in academia, political science/sociology, international studies and communication/media studies.
Latest books:
Praise for Interdisciplinary Applications of Shame/Violence Theory:
“𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴… must absolutely be read by every single world leader… and by every single citizen as well” – Professor Brett Kahr, Chair of the Scholars Committee of the British Psychoanalytic Council, and Honorary Director of Research at Freud Museum London.
“𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆… Every thought-provoking section of the book has actionable intelligence. Activists and scholars across fields will find this inspiring. And those making public health or public policy decisions as well as those standing on the frontlines of criminal justice or social justice will find it a wise and ultimately hopeful guide to a better future” – Professor Susan Moeller, University of Maryland
“A 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 book… The collection is wonderfully consistent, insightful, and a vital addition to our understanding of violence” – Charles B. Strozier, Psychoanalyst and Professor Emeritus, City University of New York
“Covers a dazzling amount of conceptual and disciplinary space to offer a volume 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗸-𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀 and insights about the causes and dynamics of violence” – Professor Stathis N. Kalyvas, University of Oxford
“This 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 interdisciplinary contribution to the human sciences could not be more timely or more needed as we face the continuing threat of forms of political violence both at home and internationally” – Professor David. A.J. Richards, New York University
Honours and Prizes
2021 – Bournemouth University
Winner, Excellence in Education for Sustainable Development, Global Current Affairs Reflective Mind-Map
2021 – Public Book Awards
Short List, Ανταποκρίσεις από τον 21ο αιώνα
2021 – Independent Shorts Awards
Winner, Bronze Award (Best Web & New Media), We’ll Meet Again
2020 – Athens Voice Awards 2020
Best Non-Fiction Book of 2020, Ανταποκρίσεις από τον 21ο αιώνα
2020 – Hollywood Verge Film Awards
Winner, Best Documentary Film, Deterrence
2020 – Essex DocFest
Official Selection, Deterrence
2020 – The Indie Fest
Winner, Award of Excellence (Documentary Feature, Web Series), Deterrence
2020 – Impact DOCS Awards
Winner, Award of Excellence (Documentary Feature), Deterrence
2018 – Independent Shorts Awards
Winner, Silver Award (Best Experimental Short), Essence
2018 – Best Shorts Competition
Winner, Award of Merit (Experimental), Essence
2018 – Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival
Official Selection, Essence
2017 – Visiting Fellow, Salzburg Global Seminar
2016 – Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) 2016 Research in Film Awards
Shortlisted for At the Edge of the Present (Category: ‘The Utopia Award: Imagining our Futures)
2016 – 9th Thin Line Film Festival, Denton, Texas
Official Selection (A Certain Type of Freedom)
2016 – International Independent Film Awards
Winner, Diamond Award (Narration), At the Edge of the Present
Winner, Platinum Award (Narration), A Certain Type of Freedom
Winner, Gold Award (Documentary Short), At the Edge of the Present
Winner, Gold Award (Documentary Short), A Certain Type of Freedom
2016 – Hollywood International Independent Documentary Awards
Winner (Best Narration), A Certain Type of Freedom
2015 – Best Shorts Competition
Winner, Award of Merit: Special Mention (Experimental; Public Service Programming / PSA), At the Edge of the Present
Winner, Award of Merit: Special Mention (Experimental; Public Service Programming / PSA), A Certain Type of Freedom
2015 – Students’ Union at Bournemouth University
Winner, ‘You’re Brilliant’ prize
2014 – Visiting Scholar, Engagement Game Lab, Emerson College, Boston
2012 – Students’ Union at Bournemouth University
Winner, ‘You’re Brilliant’ prize
2011 – Bournemouth University
Shortlisted, The Vice Chancellor’s Award for an Excellent Educational Experience Underpinned by Research, for “Going ‘Unplugged’: 24 Hours without Media”
2010 – Political Studies Association
Winner, The Arthur McDougall Prize for the Best Dissertation in Elections, Electoral Systems or Representation, for “New Media, New Citizens: The Terms and Conditions of Online Youth Civic Engagement”
2009 – Bournemouth University
Winner, BU Award for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning
2008 – Bournemouth University
Winner, BU Inaugural Award for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning
“Roman demonstrates through his actions what it means to be a public intellectual, presenting his ideas in ways that unmask fallacies and commend considered ideas. He has helped make the Salzburg Academy a leading international forum for encouraging comparative international thinking on media’s role in democracy.”
Stephen L. Salyer
President, Salzburg Global Seminar
“An essential academic player in the field of political communication and a powerful public voice on global current affairs. Internationally respected as a thought leader for his work in media and digital literacies and a driving force for pedagogic innovation.”
Prof. Susan Moeller
Director, International Center for Media & the Public Agenda, University of Maryland
“An internationally recognized scholar and a valuable voice on the global issues signified by both Grexit and Brexit.”
Prof. Stephen D. Reese
Jesse H. Jones Professor of Journalism, University of Texas
“An innovator in the applied research and practice arena… At the forefront of combining education, research, practice and public engagement… He works tirelessly, in support of ideas and knowledge that are vital for the future of work and livelihood in digital culture. A prolific scholar with an established record of work that is not rivalled by many at this stage in his career.”
Dr Paul Mihailidis
Associate Professor, Emerson College, Boston / Co-Director: Engagement Lab
Director: Salzburg Academy on Media & Global Change
“As former dean, and in my current capacity as Professor of Journalism, I can vouch for Roman’s exemplary commitment to the faculty and dedication to his students.”
Prof. Stephen Jukes
School of Journalism, English & Communication, Bournemouth University
“Roman has worked carefully and over time to build a career profile that has depth and integrity as well as a clear trajectory. A leading scholar in his field and internally. A clear-sighted strategic thinker. He embodies the interdisciplinary profile of the school, faculty and university. He champions and believes in excellence in teaching – too often a rare trait in senior academics. Roman leads by example in terms of his intellectual rigour and high standards.”
Dr Karen Fowler-Watt
Former Head of the School of Journalism, English & Communication, Bournemouth University