Miles Tendi joined the Department of Politics and International Relations (DPIR) in 2017. His post is a joint appointment with the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies (OSGA). Before moving to DPIR, he held a Departmental Lectureship in African Politics in the Oxford Department of International Development (QEH) from 2011 to 2017. Prior to joining the Oxford Department of International Development (QEH), he worked as a risk consultant for Control Risks (London).
Research
Tendi is interested in:
• Civil-Military Relations.
• Gender and Politics.
• Biography.
• Intelligence and Politics.
• Intellectuals and Politics.
• Southern African Politics.
Publications
Sole Authored Books
• "Coups D’état: What They Are And Why They Are Back", (expected in 2026)
• "The Overthrow of Robert Mugabe: Gender, Coups, and Diplomats", (Oxford University Press, 2025)
• "Army and Politics in Zimbabwe: Mujuru, the Liberation Fighter and Kingmaker", (Cambridge University Press, 2020)
• "Making History: Politics, Intellectuals and the Media", (Peter Lang Academic Publishers & Weaver Press, 2012)
Edited Books
- Transnational Histories of Southern African Liberation Movements, Taylor and Francis. [Co-edited with Jocelyn Alexander and JoAnn McGregor]
- Politics, Patronage and the State in Zimbabwe, Taylor and Francis. [Co-edited with Jocelyn Alexander and JoAnn McGregor]
Key Journal Articles
- 'The Motivations and Dynamics of Zimbabwe's 2017 Military Coup', African Affairs, 119, 474, 2019.
- ‘Transnationalism, Contingency and Loyalty in African Liberation Armies: The Case of ZANU’s 1974-1975 Nhari Mutiny’, Journal of Southern African Studies, 43, 1, 2017.
- ‘State Intelligence and Zimbabwe’s Presidential Succession Politics’, African Affairs, 115, 459, 2016.
- ‘Soldiers contra Diplomats: The Rhodesia/Zimbabwe Ceasefire (1979-80) Reconsidered’, Small Wars and Insurgencies, 26, 6, 2015.
- ‘The Origins and Functions of Demonisation Discourses in Britain-Zimbabwe Relations (2000-)’, Journal of Southern African Studies, 40, 6, 2014.
- ‘Ideology, Civilian Authority and the Zimbabwean Military’, Journal of Southern African Studies, 39, 4, 2013.
- ‘Robert Mugabe’s 2013 Presidential Election Campaign’, Journal of Southern African Studies, 39, 4, 2013.
- ‘Patriotic History and Public Intellectuals Critical of Power’, Journal of Southern African Studies, 34, 2, 2008.
- ‘La Violence et les Urnes: Le Zimbabwe en 2008’, (co-author: Jocelyn Alexander), Politique Africaine, 111, 29, 2008.
- ‘A Tale of Two Elections: Zimbabwe at The Polls in 2008’, (co-author: Jocelyn Alexander), ACAS Bulletin, 2, 80, 2008.
