Dr Niamh Gaynor is a political sociologist who specialises in the politics of inequality and development, citizen participation and democracy, and evolving forms of governance – both formal and informal. Dr Gaynor has a particular interest in how social and political inequalities come to be produced and reproduced and her research to date has focused on exploring the conditions under which more marginalised groups and communities wield an influence at local and national levels. Areas of focus range from Social Partnership, the Government’s Active Citizenship Campaign, Community Development and Community Radio in Ireland to Poverty Reduction Strategy Programmes (PRSPs), Decentralisation and Local Governance processes, local Drivers of Conflict and Peace-building, and the role of NGOs in local development in Africa.