Dr Rob Manwaring is an Associate Professor in the College of Business, Law and Government. Rob's research interests are mostly in the area of political parties, and centre-left politics. In 2021, his book 'The Politics of Social Democracy' was published with Routledge, which examined the changing ideological and policy profile of the mainstream centre-left parties.

Rob is an active media commentar on political issues, including both Australian national and state politics, and also British and European politics. Rob has significant media and public engagement which includes the ABC, BBC, CNN, and articles in the Washington Post, New York Times, The Australian Financial Review and the Guardian. Rob is also a regular contributor to The Conversation.

Prior to academia, Rob's background is in public policy, and he worked for the UK's Commission for Racial Equality as a senior policy adviser, and also for the South Australian Council of Social Services. 

Rob is an active member of the Australian Political Studies Association (APSA). Rob is one of the convenors of the APSA 'Political Organisations and Parties' group, along with the British PSA's Labour Movements Group. Rob is also currently one of the editors of the Australian Journal of Political Science

Rob's research interests include:

• Labour and social democratic politics
• Comparative politics
• Democracy, Consultation and Engagement
• Public Policy
• Australian Politics
• South Australian politics
• British Politics