Qualifications:
PHD (University of Kent)
Visiting PHD Researcher (Brussels School of International Studies)
Advanced Certificates in Statistics (University of Oxford)
MA (Department of Government, University of Essex)
BA (First Class Honours) (Department of Government, University of Essex)
Dr. James F. Downes is a Co-Director of the Think Tank, the Center for Research & Social Progress (Italy) alongside a Consultant in Political Risk Analysis. He is currently affiliated as an Adjunct (Part-Time) Lecturer in the School of Governance and Policy Science at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, teaching on the MGPE, MPUP & GPGC Programmes. He is also a Research Fellow in the Global Europe Centre at the University of Kent and a Consultant at Instats.
Previously, Dr. Downes was a Professor in Comparative Politics and International Relations, alongside being the Head of the Politics & Public Administration Programme at Hong Kong Metropolitan University. He was previously a Lecturer in the Department of Government and Public Administration at CUHK, alongside a Visiting Scholar on the European Union Academic Programme Hong Kong and has taught at The University of Hong Kong.
For his outstanding teaching, Dr. Downes received the prestigious CUHK Vice-Chancellor’s Exemplary Teaching Award and the Faculty of Social Sciences Exemplary Teaching Award in 2022. He also previously worked in the Market Research industry as a Public Opinion Pollster.
Dr. Downes conducts regular analysis and media interviews for CNBC and South China Morning Post.
Research Interests:
EU Governance
European Politics (Populism & Immigration)
Public Policy (Immigration, ESG & Climate Change)
EU-China Relations (BRI Project)
UK Politics (Polling & Voter Behaviour)
Latest Research Publications (Since 2024):
2025. Populism vs. the Planet: How Leaders Undermine Climate Adaptation
(1995-2020). Research & Politics
(with Jeremy Ko & Chun Kai Leung).
2025. EU-China Relations in A Post-COVID-19 World Order: The Context of the BRI Project.
Frontiers in Political Science.
China's Belt and Road Initiative: Strategic Dynamics in the Global South Special Edition.
(with Kenneth Lai).
2025. The BNO Visa Scheme in UK–China Relations: A Geopolitical Tool.
Global Society).
(with Kenneth Lai).
2024. The Rise of the Radical Right in Italy: A New Balance of Power in the Right-Wing Camp. Columbia University Press & ibidem Press.
(with Valerio Alfonso Bruno & Alessio Scopelliti).
2024. The Rise of the Radical Right in Italy & The Transformation of Italian Politics.
OxPol: University of Oxford.
(with Valerio Alfonso Bruno & Alessio Scopelliti).
2024. Reassessing the Impact of China’s Belt and Road Initiative: A Mixed Methods Approach. Journal of Chinese Political Science.
(with Mathew Yee Hang Wong).
Latest Op-Ed Articles (Since 2024):
2025. Between Washington, Brussels, & Beijing: UK-China Relations in 2025. UK in A Changing Europe.
2025. The BNO Visa Scheme in UK–China Relations: A Geopolitical Tool. European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR): The Loop.
2025. The 2025 German election: far-right surge and coalition collapse. European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR): The Loop.
2024. How real is the threat of far right populist parties in June’s 2024 European Parliament elections? European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR): The Loop.
2024. Does Hungary still belong in the European Union?
(with Sebastian Contin Trillo-Figueroa).
European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR): The Loop.
2024. Europe’s far-right is making gains. Can they wield power?
South China Morning Post.
2024. China’s Belt and Road Initiative: re-evaluating the economic impact. European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR): The Loop.
(with Mathew Yee Hang Wong).
2024. Together, China and the EU can be better prepared for a Trump return.
South China Morning Post.
(with Sebastian Contin Trillo-Figueroa).
