Dr Eleanor Bindman
Dr Eleanor Bindman
Senior Lecturer
My profile
Biography
I joined MMU in January 2019. Prior to my current appointment I was Lecturer in Politics at the University of Liverpool and Leverhulme Early Career Fellow at Queen Mary, University of London. I completed my PhD in Russian and EU Politics at the University of Glasgow in 2013 and have held visiting fellowships at the Aleksanteri Institute (University of Helsinki); Uppsala University in Sweden; and at New York University.
Academic and professional qualifications
PhD in Russian and EU Politics - University of Glasgow (2013)
MRes (Distinction) in Russian and East European Studies - University of Glasgow (2009)
BA (First Class with Distinction) in Russian Studies and European History - University of Edinburgh (2003)
Teaching qualifications:
completed the HEA-accredited Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) at QMUL’s Centre for Professional Development in January 2017 with merit
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Languages
English (native)
Russian (fluent)
French (intermediate)
External examiner roles
External examiner for the BA in Politics and International Relations at the University of the West of England
Expert reviewer for external funding bodies
I act as reviewer for Governance; East European Politics; Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Orgnaizations; and Europe-Asia Studies
Membership of professional associations
Political Studies Association (PSA)
PSA Public Policy and Administration Specialist Group
European Consortium for Political Research
Association for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies (US)
International Society for Third-Sector Research
Interests and expertise
My research interests include civil society development and policy-making processes in electoral authoritarian regimes with a focus on Russia and Belarus. I also focus on welfare reform and social policy in these two countries. I am currently working on two research projects: 1) a comparative project on social security and social service delivery in Russia and Belarus and 2) a major new project funded by the Leverhulme Trust which explores the role played by civil society organisations and social movements in the mass protests against the Lukashenka regime in Belarus in 2020.
Teaching
Undergraduate Teaching
Russian Politics; Case Studies in International Relations
Postgraduate teaching
Masterclass in Transitional Justice
Subject areas
Russian and East European Politics; Comparative Politics; Public Policy
Supervision
Travon Hendricks - Russian Foreign Policy (in progress)
Research outputs
Sole-authored Books:
- Bindman, E (2017) Social Rights in Russia: From Imperfect Past to Uncertain Future (Routledge, UK) (rated 4* in internal MMU REF review)
Journal articles/Book chapters:
- Chulitskaya, T and Bindman, E (forthcoming) ‘Civil society and political change in Belarus in 2020 and after’ in Korosteleva, E; Petrova, I and Kudlenko, A (eds.) Changing Belarus in the XXI century: between dictatorship and democracy, BASEES Routledge Press
- Bindman, E and Chulitskaya, T (in production) ‘Post-Soviet Policy Entrepreneurs? The Impact of Non-State Actors on Social Service Reform in Russia and Belarus’ in Grömping, M and Teets, J (eds.) Lobbying the Autocrat: The dynamics of policy advocacy in non-democracies, University of Michigan Press
- Bindman, E; Kulmala, M; and Bogdanova, E (2018) ‘NGOs and the Policymaking Process in Russia: the Case of Child Welfare Reform,’ Governance, 32:2, pp.207-222 (rated 4* in MMU internal REF review)
- Owen, C and Bindman, E (2017) ‘Civic participation in a hybrid regime: public oversight, policymaking and delivery in contemporary Russia,’ Government and Opposition, Vol.52:3, pp. 1-23 (rated 3* in University of Liverpool and QMUL internal REF reviews)
- Bogdanova, E and Bindman E (2016) ‘NGOs protecting children in contemporary Russia: policy entrepreneurship under regime hybridity,’ Demokratizatsiya: The Journal of Post-Soviet Democratization, Vol.24:2, pp.143-172 (rated 3* in University of Liverpool internal REF review)
- Bindman, E (2015) ’ The State, civil society and social rights in contemporary Russia’ East European Politics, Vol.31:3, pp.342-360 (rated 3* in University of Liverpool and QMUL internal REF reviews)
- Bindman, E (2013) ‘Russia, Chechnya and Strasbourg: Russian Official and Press Discourse on the ‘Chechen Cases’ at the European Court of Human Rights,’ Europe-Asia Studies, Vol.65:10, pp.1954-1973
- Bindman, E (2013) ‘EU Policy on Economic and Social Rights in Russia: A Missed Opportunity?,’ East European Politics, Vol.29:4, pp.461-478
-
Books (authored/edited/special issues)
Bindman, E., Bedford, S., Chulitskaya, T., Rudnik, A. Voices of the 2020 Belarusian Protests – Mobilisation in a Consolidated Autocracy. Palgrave Macmillan.
Bindman, E. (2017) Social rights in Russia: From imperfect past to uncertain future.
-
Chapters in books
Chulitskaya, T., Bindman, E. (2025) 'Belarusian civil society amid national and regional crises.' The Handbook of Eurasian Societies. De Gruyter,
Bindman, E., Chulitskaya, T. (2023) 'Post-Soviet policy entrepreneurs? The impact of nonstate actors on social service reform in Russia and Belarus.' In Grömping, M., Teets, J.C. (ed.) Lobbying the Autocrat: The Dynamics of Policy Advocacy in Non-Democracies. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, pp. 225-245.
Chulitskaya, T., Bindman, E. (2023) 'Social movements and political change in Belarus in 2020 and after.' In Korosteleva, E., Petrova, I., Kudlenko, A. (ed.) Belarus in the Twenty-First Century: between dictatorship and democracy. London: Routledge, pp. 133-145.
-
Journal articles
Bindman, E., Chulitskaya, T. 'Explaining the Mass Protests in Belarus in 2020: What Role Did Civil Society Play?.' Democratization,
Bindman, E., Chulitskaya, T. 'Belarusian civil society in exile: a new diaspora’s voice after exit in the context of war.' Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies,
Bindman, E., Kulmala, M., Bogdanova, E. (2018) 'NGOs and the policy-making process in Russia: The case of child welfare reform.' Governance, 32(2) pp. 207-222.
Owen, C., Bindman, E. (2017) 'Civic Participation in a Hybrid Regime: Limited Pluralism in Policymaking and Delivery in Contemporary Russia.' Government and Opposition, 54(1) pp. 98-120.
Bogdanova, E., Bindman, E. (2016) 'NGOs, policy entrepreneurship and child protection in Russia: Pitfalls and prospects for civil society.' Demokratizatsiya, 24(2) pp. 143-171.
Bindman, E. (2015) 'The state, civil society and social rights in contemporary Russia.' East European Politics, 31(3) pp. 342-360.
Bindman, E. (2013) 'Russia, Chechnya and Strasbourg: Russian Official and Press Discourse on the 'Chechen Cases' at the European Court of Human Rights.' Europe - Asia Studies, 65(10) pp. 1954-1977.
Bindman, E. (2013) 'The EU's strategy on economic and social rights in Russia: a missed opportunity?.' East European Politics, 29(4) pp. 461-478.
Press and media
Media appearances or involvement
I comment regularly on Russian and Belarusian politics for a range of media outlets including:
BBC News Channel
BBC World Service
BBC Breakfast
BBC 5 Live
BBC Arabic
BBC London/Manchester/Birmingham/Merseyside
Sky News
The Financial Times
LBC
Vice News (US)
El Mercurio (Chile)