Tim Hayward (political scientist)


Tim Hayward is professor of environmental political theory at the University of Edinburgh and director of the university's Just World Institute.
With Piers Robinson, he is a member of the Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media. In April 2018, The Times reported that the group was spreading "disinformation" favouring the line of the government of Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian Civil War and conspiracy theories promoted by Russia. Hayward responded that the working group is "scrupulous in its analysis and presentation, which stands always open to correction, as any academic work in progress does". He said its only published item, about the Poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal, had been well received by "academics and serious commentators".
The Just World Institute is a body set up to "foster interdisciplinary research into the global challenges facing the international order, with particular attention to issues of ethics and justice".

Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media

The Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media  was established to examine the "role of both media and propaganda" and provide "reliable, informed and timely analysis for journalists, publics and policymakers". Other members of the WGSPM apart from Hayward include Vanessa Beeley, Piers Robinson and David Miller. The first briefing note published by the WGSPM, was titled "Doubts about ‘Novichoks’ " and questioned whether Russia's secret nerve agent programme ever existed.

Selected publications