Peter John previously was at Birkbeck College, London, where he is now a visiting professor. He previous held posts Southampton and Keele universities. He is Director of the Institute for Political and Economic Governance, which specialise in civic renewal, local political and public management reform, He leads the UK participation in the Policy Agendas Comparative Project. He is a consultant with Nat Cen for the Citizenship Survey. He was Co-Director of the Home Office Civil Renewal Research Programme, 2004-2005. He is a member of the UK Political Studies Association and the American Political Science Association.