Or Wertman

Or Wertman is a Researcher and PhD candidate at the University of South Wales (USW), affiliated with the Faculty of Life Sciences and Education's Criminology, Policing and Security Research and Innovation Group. He concurrently holds an adjunct researcher position at the National Security Studies Center at the University of Haifa, Israel. His work focuses on Arab-Israeli conflict dynamics, securitization theory, counter-terrorism strategies, and Israeli political structures. Wertman's research bridges theoretical security studies with real-world policy analysis, particularly examining how states conceptualize and operationalize threats.

Educationally, he completed his doctoral thesis titled Security and Securitization in Israel in 2021 under supervisors Prof. Kaunert, Prof. Lopes De Deus Pereira, and Prof. Gravelle. This work explored the application of securitization theory to Israeli national security frameworks. His academic contributions include analyzing the Oslo Peace Process, the role of intelligence agencies like AMAN, and the geopolitical implications of Iran's proxy warfare.

Wertman's research demonstrates interdisciplinary reach, with studies on topics ranging from bi-national state securitization to the demography-security nexus in Israel-Palestine. His work frequently engages with contemporary issues such as the collapse of the Israeli Labor Party, U.S.-Israel security alliances, and pandemic-era security norms. He maintains an active public presence through his blog at The Times of Israel, translating academic insights into accessible discourse on Middle Eastern geopolitics.

Notable collaborative efforts include co-authoring a 2023 Springer book on Israel's national security securitization with Prof. Kaunert. His publications emphasize empirical rigor, with over 13 peer-reviewed outputs since 2020, including articles in Israel Affairs, Strategic Assessment, and International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence. Research trends highlight critical analysis of state security narratives, the evolving threat landscape in the Middle East, and the interplay between domestic politics and international alliances.

Academic recognition includes 17 X platform shares for his thesis, 6 Bluesky references, and Wikipedia citations. His work has been downloaded over 20 times on platforms like Pure, with notable attention given to his analyses of AMAN intelligence failures and the Oslo Accords' securitization dynamics.