In the seventh episode of Speaking of Research, a podcast from the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership, we hear from Max Dixon, a doctoral researcher from the University of Portsmouth, about his work exploring British foreign policy toward Taiwan since its first democratic election in 1996. Drawing on a poststructuralist discourse analysis, Max unpacks how parliamentary language and historical legacies—particularly those rooted in Britain’s colonial past—shape the UK’s diplomatic stance on Taiwan.

Max reflects on how his time living in Hong Kong sparked his research interest, and how he’s using interpretive methods to reveal the often-overlooked narratives that influence foreign policy decisions. He also shares how he's ensuring impact beyond academia—through writing for policy blogs, contributing to public debate, and engaging directly with policymakers and diplomats.

This conversation explores how language, history, and power intersect in international relations—and why these perspectives matter more than ever.

You can read a transcript of the conversation here.

Find out more about the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership at southcoastdtp.ac.uk

This is a Research Podcasts production.

Credits:

Presenter: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts

Guest: Max Dixon, University of Portsmouth

Producer: Krissie Brighty-Glover, Research Podcasts

Editor: Anton Jarvis, Research Podcasts

Transcripts: Lauren White, Research Podcasts

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