Matthew Goodwin

Matthew Goodwin is Professor of Politics at the University of Kent and a bestselling author specialising in populism, political volatility, Brexit, and the dynamics reshaping Western democracies. He authored six books, including the 2015 Political Book of the Year and the Sunday Times bestseller National Populism, and has consulted over 200 organisations globally, from the UK Prime Minister's Office to the European Commission, Deutsche Bank, and Goldman Sachs. His research, published with Oxford and Cambridge University Press, translates complex political shifts into strategic insights that help leaders, investors, and organisations navigate uncertainty, anticipate risk, and understand the forces driving electoral change and public opinion across Britain and Europe.

When Britain voted to leave the European Union in 2016, Matthew Goodwin had already spent years researching the forces that would make that decision possible. His work on political volatility, populism, and the fracturing of Western democracies positioned him as one of the few academics who understood the depth of public discontent reshaping the political landscape. As Professor of Politics at the University of Kent and Senior Visiting Fellow at Chatham House, he has built a reputation for translating complex electoral shifts into strategic insights that help leaders anticipate change rather than react to it. His six books, including the 2015 Political Book of the Year and the Sunday Times bestseller National Populism, have become essential reading for anyone seeking to understand why established political orders across Europe and America face unprecedented pressure.

Matthew's academic credentials are matched by the breadth of his advisory work. He has consulted more than 200 organisations worldwide, from the UK Prime Minister's Office and the U.S. State Department to the European Commission, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, and the Council on Foreign Relations. His research, published with Oxford and Cambridge University Press alongside dozens of peer-reviewed studies in leading journals, combines rigorous scholarship with practical application. Previously a Senior Fellow with UK in a Changing Europe and recipient of fellowships from the Economic and Social Research Council, Leverhulme Trust, and British Academy, he has also completed a full-time secondment in a central government department. His contribution to political science earned him the Richard Rose Prize in 2014 for his distinctive impact on the field, and the Communicator Prize for making complex research accessible to wider audiences.

Matthew helps organisations navigate uncertainty by explaining the underlying trends driving electoral volatility, from Brexit and the rise of populism to shifting public attitudes on immigration and national identity. His speaking engagements equip leaders, investors, and policymakers with the foresight needed to understand not just what happened in recent elections, but what comes next. Whether addressing boardrooms, conferences, or media outlets including the BBC, Financial Times, and New York Times, he delivers clarity on the forces reshaping Britain, Europe, and the Western world. Audiences leave with a deeper understanding of political risk, the ability to anticipate rather than follow events, and practical frameworks for decision-making in an era of profound democratic change.