Alex Vines

Roles & Affiliations: Alex Vines is an Assistant Professor at the CAS School of Social Sciences & Humanities, specializing in African geopolitics and security. He concurrently holds senior research roles including Senior Associate Research Fellow at ISPI (2024–present), Research Director at Chatham House (2023–present), and previously served as Director of the Africa Programme at Chatham House (2002–present). He also holds external board positions with the Ferguson Centre for African Studies, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, and EG Justice.

Research Interests: His work focuses on non-state actors, resource governance, EU-Africa policy, and emerging powers' influence in Africa. Key themes include UN sanctions mechanisms, African Union efficacy, and China's strategic engagement on the continent. Recent publications analyze terrorism dynamics, electoral processes in Nigeria, and geopolitical shifts in Sudan.

Advising & Grants: Accepting PhD students in African peace/security and geopolitics. His extensive external collaborations include projects on sanctions regimes and conflict resolution frameworks. He has contributed to over 180 research outputs since 1987, with a notable 2024 report on Nigerian elections.

Labs/Teams: Leads Chatham House's Africa Programme and collaborates with ISPI on regional security initiatives. His work integrates policy analysis with field research in conflict zones across Sub-Saharan Africa.