Projects per year
Personal profile
Profile
Dr Aaron Winter is Senior Lecturer in Sociology (Race and Anti-Racism) at Lancaster University and Research Associate in the Faculty of Humanities at University of Witwatersrand. Prior to arriving at Lancaster University in 2022, he taught at the University of Brighton, University of Sussex, Abertay University and the University of East London.
His research is on the far right with a focus on racism, historical change, mainstreaming, terrorism and counterterrorism. He is co-editor of the books Discourses and Practices of Terrorism: Interrogating Terror (Routledge 2010), Reflexivity in Criminological Research: Experiences with the Powerful and Powerless (Palgrave 2014), Historical Perspectives on Organised Crime and Terrorism (Routledge 2018) and Researching the Far Right: Theory, Method and Practice (Routledge 2020), and co-author, with Aurelien Mondon, of Reactionary Democracy: How Racism and the Populist Far Right Became Mainstream (Verso 2020). He has published in Ethnic and Racial Studies, Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power, Journal of Political Ideologies, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Sociological Research Online and Women and Performance, as well as openDemocracy, The Independent, Discover Society, Novara Media and Jacobin. He has advised a range of organisations, governmental bodies, local councils and educational institutions on issues related to racism and the far right, and has frequently appeared in the media, including: BBC, NBC, LBC, France 24, Times Radio, The Times, The Guardian, NewStatesman, Al Jazeera, HuffPost, Washington Post, der Freitag, Financial Times, Christian Science Monitor, Radio France, Times Radio, Aftenposten, dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH, Kathimerini, Vice, and Wired.
He is co-editor of the journal Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power and the Manchester University Press (MUP) series Racism, Resistance and Social Change, and sits on the board of Trustees of the Runnymede Trust and Sociological Review Foundation, the editorial board of Ethnic and Racial Studies, and the organising committee of the Reactionary Politics Research Network (RPRN). He previously served as a BSA Trustee, co-convenor of the Race and Ethnicity Study Group and coordinator of the Social Divisions/Social Identities and Race, Ethnicity and Migration streams.
Current Teaching
Module Convenor: SOCL360 Independant Dissertation Project
Module Convenor: SOCL365 Racism, Populism and the Far Right: A Sociological Perspective
Module Convenor: SOCL210 Dissertation Prep
Lecturer: SOCL200 Sociological Thought for Our Times
My Role
Senior Lecturer in Sociology (Race and Anti-Racism)
School of Social Sciences Engagement Lead
North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Pathway Lead for Criminology, Social Policy and Social Work
Previous Roles:
Director of the Centre for Alternatives to Social and Economic Inequalities (CASEI)
Deputy Doctoral Director
Personal Tutor (Sociology)
Web Links
Google Scholar Profile: https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=PCRFV8YAAAAJ&hl=en
External Roles
Co-Editor, Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power
Editorial Board Member, Ethnic and Racial Studies
Co-Editor, Manchester University Press (MUP) book series Racism, Resistance and Social Change
Trustee, Sociological Review Foundation
Trustee, Runnymede Trust
Research Associate, Faculty of Humanities, University of Witwatersrand
Co-convenor, Reactionary Politics Research Network (RPRN)
Previous External Roles:
Associate Editor, Sociological Research Online, 2014-2018
Editorial Board Member, Rowman and Littlefield book series Off the Fence: Morality, Politics and Society, 2015-18
Sociology and Criminology Foundation, External Examiner, Birmingham City University, 2018
External Examiner, Sociology, University of Glasgow, 2014-2018
Supervisor, British Library-British Sociological Association (BSA) Postdoc Fellowship Sociology in the Archives, 2018-2019
Grant Reviewer, Early Career Fellowship, Churchill College, University of Cambridge, UK, 2023
Grant Reviewer Independent Social Research Foundation (ISRF), UK, 2022
Grant Reviewer, National Science Centre, Poland, 2020
Grant Reviewer, Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Research Centre Grant Competition, 2018
Sociology Representative, Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) Criminology Research Excellence (REF) Consultation Advisory Group, 2017
Member, Quality Assurance Agency of Higher Education (QAA) Sociology Subject Benchmarking Group, 2015-2016
Trustee, British Sociological Association (BSA), 2015-2019
Member, BSA Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, 2018-2019
Coordinator, BSA Race, Ethnicity and Migration Stream, 2014-2017
Convener, BSA Race and Ethnicity Study Group, 2013-2017
Mentor, BSA, 2016-2018
Member of BSA Governance Review Committee, 2015-2016
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, Social and Political Thought, Uni of Sussex
1999 → 2006
Award Date: 30/01/2007
MA, Philosophy and Social Theory, Uni of warwick
1997 → 1998
Award Date: 1/09/1998
BA, Political Science (Humanities Minor), York University Toronto
1991 → 1997
Award Date: 1/07/1997
External positions
Co-Convener , Reactionary Politics Research Network (RPRN)
05/2023 → …
International Editorial Board Member, Ethnic and Racial Studies
01/2023 → …
Co-Editor, Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power
03/2018 → …
Co-Editor , Manchester University Press (Racism, Resistance and Social Change series)
05/2016 → …
Keywords
- Theory
- Racialisation
- Extremism
- Terrorism
- Identity
- Political Discourse
- Politics
- Social Justice
- Social Movements
- sociology
- Social Sciences
- Inequalities
- Racism
User-defined keywords
- Racism
- Political ideologies
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Accommodating Diversity: Austerity, Asylum, and Community Solidarity (Refugee Action, New Economics Foundation and Lancaster University, Nuffield Foundation)
Winter, A. (Co-Investigator) & Sirriyeh, A. (Co-Investigator)
1/07/26 → 30/06/28
Project: Research
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Liberalism’s Shadow: Content, Impact and Response to Far Right discourse affecting racialised minorities, asylum seekers and refugees, LGBTQI+, women’s rights and working class communities during the 2024/25 electoral cycle in Ireland (NUI Maynooth. COALESCE/2024/2049. €219,760.42) )
Cannon , B. (Principal Investigator), Timoney, J. (Co-Investigator), Winter, A. (Consultant) & Ni Chasaide, N. (Researcher)
1/11/24 → 31/10/25
Project: Research
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SUTSH: Step Up to Stop Hate (London Scholars)
Winter, A. (Principal Investigator), Holt, S. (Co-Investigator) & Hall, T. (Co-Investigator)
1/01/17 → 31/12/18
Project: Other
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Racism and political mobilisation: learning from history and thinking internationally (ESRC)
Bhattacharyya , G. (Principal Investigator), Winter, A. (Co-Investigator) & Virdee, S. (Co-Investigator)
12/01/15 → 31/01/17
Project: Other
Research output
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After BLM, the far-right resurgence was only a matter of time
Winter, A., 19/05/2025, In: The Big Issue . 1667Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Contribution to Magazine with ISSN
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Celebrate Adolescence's Emmy win - but don't forget the message at its core (LBC)
Winter, A., 15/09/2025Research output: Exhibits, objects and web-based outputs › Blog
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Dictator DNA: individualising Nazism in the context of rising fascism and genocide
Winter, A., 18/11/2025Research output: Exhibits, objects and web-based outputs › Blog
Open Access -
Elon Musk, Nazi salutes and the reactionary redefinition of fascism
Winter, A. (Artist), 6/03/2025Research output: Exhibits, objects and web-based outputs › Blog
Open Access -
Far-Right Extremism and the Sociology of Race and Racism
Winter, A., 16/07/2025, The Sociology of Violent Extremism: Theoretical and Sociological Approaches. Lakhani , S. & Amarasingam, A. (eds.). New York: Oxford University Press, p. 179-204 26 p. (Causes and Consequences of Terrorism ).Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings - With ISBN/ISSN › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review
Open Access
Activities
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An Ever More Hostile Environment: Racism, Migration and the Mainstreaming of the Far Right
Winter, A. (Invited speaker)
10/12/2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Racism and the Far Right: Reflecting on the relationship between research, engagement and impact
Winter, A. (Speaker)
3/12/2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
File -
Sociology, Racism and the Far Right
Winter, A. (Invited speaker)
2/12/2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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No Release: Film Screening and Discussion
Winter, A. (Invited speaker)
7/11/2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference - Public
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Continuities and Ruptures on the Right
Winter, A. (Speaker)
31/10/2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Prizes
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Dean's Staff Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Engagement (Lancaster University FASS Dean's Awards 2025)
Winter, A. (Recipient), 07/2025
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Research Impact Award (University of East London RDSBL 2022)
Winter, A. (Recipient), 2022
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Press/Media
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LBC News with Vanessa Baffoe: Huntingdon Train Attack (LBC)
3/11/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: TV Interview/Appearance
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Nick Ferrari at Breakfast: 'Born and bred' comments by Reform UK Cllr Claire Mackie-Brown (LBC)
13/10/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: TV Interview/Appearance
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The Breakfast Show: The Far Right in the UK (Voice of Islam Radio)
9/10/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: TV Interview/Appearance
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Met Police's racism and misogyny shame after BBC Panorama expose (The Standard)
2/10/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: TV Interview/Appearance
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Britain looks for answers after huge far-right rally (Agence France-Presse - AFP)
16/09/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Newspaper Article