Kate Sullivan de Estrada

Kate Sullivan de Estrada is an Associate Professor at the University of Oxford, specializing in the International Relations of South Asia. Her research explores the social mobility of states in world politics, focusing on India's status-seeking strategies, nuclear diplomacy, and Indo-Pacific security.

• PhD in Politics and International Relations from the Australian National University (2011)
• Academic Lead for the Athena Swan Bronze Award (2019–2021)
• Former Principal Research Analyst for India at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (2021)
• Associate Fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies

Her work spans International Relations, Nuclear Politics, and Diplomatic History, with a strong emphasis on India's evolving global identity. Recent publications examine UN status-seeking dynamics, Indo-Pacific strategic alliances, and ideational constraints on Modi's foreign policy.

Key trends in her research include:

• Intersections between geopolitical status and nuclear diplomacy
• Climate change as a component of grand strategy
• Rising powers' roles in global institutions

Scientific contributions include:

• Athena Swan Bronze Award (Academic Lead for departmental application)
• Associate Fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies

She supervises DPhil students and convenes Oxford's MSc/MPhil in International Relations of South Asia. Her policy engagement includes expert testimony to UK parliamentary inquiries and Whitehall advisory roles.