麻豆传媒

Research Interests

The role of arts and culture in peacebuilding (including local cosmologies), visual politics, protest and cultural politics in South and Southeast Asia, solidarity and civic courage during riots, alternative and non-liberal approaches to peacebuilding

Qualifications

• PhD, University of Queensland, Political Science and International Studies
• MA, University of Queensland, International Studies/Peace and Conflict Resolution
• BA, University of Colombo, Major in English, Minor in International Relations and Journalism

Previous Positions

• Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Political Science, Umeå University
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Geography, University of Zurich
• Visiting Lecturer, Department of International Relations, University of Colombo

My research examines the intersection of arts, culture and peacebuilding. In my book  (Palgrave, 2018) I examine the peacebuilding approach and practices of three theatre groups from Sri Lanka, Nepal, and India.

Currently, I am working on a second book project that explores how different art forms including film, theatre, music, and literature contend with past violence, present conceptualisations of peace, and imagined futures in Sri Lanka. This project makes methodological, empirical and conceptual advances in peace and conflict studies. I respond to a persistent call for methodological pluralism by using an array of methods, including audio-visual elicitation and life diagrams. Empirically, I address a gap in the literature by examining the ways in which different art forms have engaged with peacebuilding over time in the context of Sri Lanka. Conceptually, I propose the framework of "arts as counterpublics" as a means to understand the transformative potential of the arts. 

Awards

• Dean’s Award for Outstanding Research Higher Degree Theses, The University of Queensland, 2015

Current research projects

• 2023-2026: "" with A/Prof. (PI), Umea University, Sweden (Swedish Research Council)
• 2023-2027: Affiliated Researcher, "" led by Prof. Roland Bleiker, Prof. Emma Hutchison, Dr. Cassandra Chapman, Prof. Matthew Hornsey, A/Prof. Sana Nakata, Dr. David Campbell, Prof. Fiona Terry (Australian Research Council)

Past funded projects and exhibitions

• 2024: "" exhibition co-curated with Prof. and organised in collaboration with , Agora and Vimbam
• 2023: Impact Catalyst Fund for the "" exhibition in Harrow, co-organised with Prof. , Agora, Vimbam and the Harrow Arts Centre
• 2022: Faculty Research Fund to research music and peacebuilding in Sri Lanka’s 2022 Protests
• 2019-2020: "" with (PI), A/Prof. , , and (Riksbankens Jubileumsfond)
• 2019: Karl Staaff Foundation Individual Grant

Undergraduate

• POL1032: Key Concepts in International Politics
• POL2110: Security Studies 
• POL3046: Dissertation in Politics

Postgraduate

• POL8006: Theories of International Relations
• POL8060: Gender, War and Military 
• POL8062: Arts and Peacebuilding
• POL8099: MA Dissertation

• Articles

  • Waldorf L, Premaratna N. . Peacebuilding 2025, 13(2), 209-229.
  • Olivius E, Waldorf L, Åkebo M, Premaratna N. . Conflict, Security & Development 2025, 25(4), 433-459.
  • Premaratna N. . Journal of Peacebuilding and Development 2021, 16(1), 39-54.
  • Premaratna N. . Peacebuilding 2020, 8(1), 16-31.
  • Premaratna N. . Peace Review 2019, 31(3), 424-431.
  • Chou M, Bleiker R, Premaratna N. . PS: Political Science & Politics 2016, 49(1), 43-47.

• Authored Book

  • Premaratna N. . Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, 2018.

• Book Chapters

  • Waldorf L, Premaratna N. . In: Stefan Horlacher, Thilini Meegaswatta, ed. Contemporary Sri Lankan Literature and Art: The Creation of a New Community in the Aftermath of War. India: Routledge, 2025, pp.370.
  • Premaratna N. . In: Anna K. Jarstad, Johanna Söderström, and Malin Åkebo, ed. Relational Peace Practices. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press, 2023, pp.198-220.
  • Premaratna N, Rajkobal P. . In: Tarja Väyrynen, Swati Parashar, Élise Féron, Catia Cecilia Confortini, ed. Routledge Handbook of Feminist Peace Research. London: Taylor and Francis, 2021, pp.260-269.
  • Premaratna N. . In: Rosie Meade and Mae Shaw, ed. Arts, Culture and Community Development. Bristol: Policy Press, 2021, pp.231-239.
  • Premaratna N, Bleiker R. . In: Oliver P. Richmond, Sandra Pogodda, Jasmin Ramović, ed. The Palgrave Handbook of Disciplinary and Regional Approaches to Peace. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2016, pp.82-94.
  • Premaratna N, Bleiker R. . In: Oliver P. Richmond, ed. Palgrave Advances in Peacebuilding: Critical Developments and Approaches. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010, pp.376-391.