About
Dr Obert Hodzi is an International Relations scholar, specializing in the evolving role of emerging powers in global governance. His research provides critical insights into how non-Western actors influence international conflict, security frameworks, and the geopolitics of the Global South.
Obert is the author of several influential works, including his latest book, Aid for Dominance, which examines the strategic intersection of material resources and diplomatic discourse in U.S. and Chinese foreign policies. His previous book, The End of China’s Non-Intervention Policy in Africa, offered a pioneering account of China's shifting security role on the continent. These works draw upon his extensive empirical expertise in China-Africa relations and his background as a legal practitioner admitted to the High Court of Zimbabwe.
Prior to joining Liverpool, Obert held research positions at the University of Helsinki and has been a visiting scholar at Renmin University of China, the Nordic Africa Institute, and Boston University. His academic rigor is matched by deep field experience, having led democratic governance and transitional justice projects for international organizations across Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Germany. He currently serves on the board of the Chinese in Africa/Africans in China Research Network.
Dr Hodzi invites inquiries from prospective PhD and Master’s students driven to explore the complexities of the Global South. He is particularly interested in supervising research in the following areas:
1. Foreign Policy Analysis: The grand strategies of emerging global and regional powers.
2. China-Africa Relations: Evolution of security, economic, and diplomatic norms.
3. Global Governance & Security: Conflict resolution and the role of non-Western actors.
4. African Politics: Human rights, democratic governance, and transitional justice.