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Barbara Zanchetta is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, affiliated with the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy. She specializes in Cold War history, American foreign policy, and transatlantic relations. Her work examines US-Soviet détente, nuclear arms control, and the strategic implications of post-Cold War policies. She is the author of The Transformation of American International Power in the 1970's and co-author of Transatlantic Relations since 1945 . Currently, she is researching US policies toward the Persian Gulf and their role in the collapse of the Soviet Union. Her teaching includes courses on international history, US national security, and the War on Terror. She is affiliated with the Sir Michael Howard Centre for the History of War, the Latin American Security Research Group, and the Centre for Grand Strategy. Her research explores the intersections of diplomacy, conflict, and security policy, with a focus on Cold War legacies and modern geopolitical challenges. Zanchetta has organized international conferences, including a hybrid event in Paris on the consequences of the Cold War’s end. Her commentary on contemporary issues, such as NATO’s expansion and Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, reflects her expertise in historical and strategic analysis.

• Cold War History
• American Foreign Policy
• Transatlantic Relations
• +5 more

Dr. Roham Alvandi is Associate Professor of International History at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where he also serves as Director of the Iranian History Initiative and Master's Programme Director. He is affiliated with the Phelan United States Centre and the Middle East Centre at LSE, and is a Fellow of the British Institute of Persian Studies, the Royal Historical Society, and the Royal Asiatic Society. Dr. Alvandi earned his DPhil and MPhil from the University of Oxford, where his doctoral thesis won the Foundation for Iranian Studies’ Dissertation Prize and the Pavry Memorial Prize. He also holds degrees from the University of Sydney, where he received the University Medal, and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. His research focuses on modern Iranian history, U.S. foreign relations, and the Global Cold War, with current work exploring human rights activism and the origins of the 1979 Iranian Revolution. His scholarship has been published in leading journals such as Diplomatic History , Cold War History , and Iranian Studies . He is the author of Nixon, Kissinger, and the Shah: The United States and Iran in the Cold War (Oxford University Press, 2014), selected by the Financial Times as one of the best history books of the year, and editor of The Age of Aryamehr: Late Pahlavi Iran and its Global Entanglements (2018). His recent media commentaries and articles—appearing in The New York Times , The Guardian , The Wall Street Journal , and The Washington Post —reflect a consistent focus on Iran’s political trajectory, nuclear ambitions, and societal resistance. The articles highlight themes such as the fragility of the Islamic Republic, the role of historical memory, and the persistent desire for secular democracy among Iranians. Financial Times Best History Book of 2014 Foundation for Iranian Studies’ Dissertation Prize University of Oxford’s Pavry Memorial Prize University Medal, University of Sydney LSE Excellence in Education Promotion Prize (2015) LSE Excellence in Education Award (2018) Dr. Alvandi has supervised PhD students including Jack Roush and Jean-Baptiste Ollieric, and has received LSE teaching awards in recognition of his excellence in education. He has held visiting appointments at the University of Tehran and Columbia University, and previously worked on the strategic planning staff for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. He is also a frequent contributor to documentaries by HBO, BBC, and Manoto, serving as a historical consultant on projects such as Hostages and Hoveyda .

• Modern Iranian History
• U.S. Foreign Relations
• Global Cold War
• +7 more

Professor Sujit Sivasundaram is a leading scholar in world history at the University of Cambridge, with affiliations as a Fellow of Gonville and Caius College and director of the Centre of South Asian Studies. His academic journey includes a Research Fellowship at Gonville and Caius College (2001), a Lectureship in South Asian History at the London School of Economics, and his current role as Professor of World History since 2019. Research Interests : Imperial history, history of science, environmental history, cultural history, history of race, and Indian/Pacific Ocean history with a focus on marginalized regions and material culture. Professional Leadership : President of The Pacific Circle , co-editorial roles in Cambridge Oceanic Histories and World Environmental History series, and EDI work at the Faculty of History (2024). Scientific Awards : British Academy Prize for Global Cultural Understanding (2021) Bentley Book Prize for World History (2021) Philip Leverhulme Prize for History (2012) Fellow of the British Academy (elected 2023) Publications emphasize oceanic histories, environmental fragments, and critical re-examinations of Euro-Atlantic historiography. His recent work explores materialist approaches to world history using objects like fossilized ferns and sea cucumbers to challenge universalist narratives.

• World History
• Imperial History
• History of Science
• +5 more

Dr David B Roberts is a Reader in International Security and Middle East Studies at King’s College London, leading the Arabic and English Master of Research (MRes) programme in the School of Security Studies. He holds adjunct faculty roles at Sciences Po’s Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA), and is a Non-Resident Fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute and the Middle East Policy Council. His primary research focuses on Middle East security, foreign policy analysis, and military capability development in Gulf monarchies. He authored Security Politics in the Gulf Monarchies: Continuity Amid Change (Columbia UP, 2023) and uses Foucault’s dispositif concept to analyze military innovation. Dr Roberts has supervised PhD students including Sara Al Mahri and Ali Al-Maadeed. His work explores ontological security, US-Gulf relations, and the impact of Iranian activity on UK interests. He founded the Cambridge Elements in Middle East Politics book series and previously directed RUSI Qatar. His research group on Environmental Security bridges security studies and environmental issues. Recent publications analyze US retrenchment in the Gulf, UAE military development, and Qatar’s evolving foreign policies. He actively engages with policy debates through events like the 2024 discussion on Gulf monarchies’ security roles. Grants and collaborations include work with RAND Corporation and King’s College think-tanks.

• International Relations
• Middle East Security
• Security Studies
• +3 more

Professor Anoush Ehteshami holds the Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah Chair in International Relations at Durham University's School of Government and International Affairs. He directs the Institute for Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies (IMEIS), one of Europe's oldest centers of excellence in Middle Eastern studies, and leads the HH Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah Programme in International Relations, Regional Politics and Security. Previously, he served as Durham's Dean of Internationalization (2009-2011), founding Head of the School of Government and International Affairs (2004-2009), and Joint Director of the £3.9 million AHRC-funded Open Worlds Initiative (2016-2021). His research centers on Middle Eastern international relations with emphases on Persian Gulf dynamics, regional security architectures, and China's geopolitical expansion through the Belt and Road Initiative. He examines evolving power structures including Iran-Saudi rivalries, Eurasian connectivity, and the impact of non-state actors on regional stability. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with policy-relevant analysis of energy politics, strategic alliances, and cultural diplomacy in contested spaces. Ehteshami's publication trajectory reveals intensifying focus on Asia-Middle East linkages, Iranian strategic behavior, and multipolar security frameworks. Recent works analyze China's economic statecraft, proxy warfare mechanisms, and the fragmentation of regional orders through lenses of geopolitical competition and institutional adaptation. Scientific Awards: Fellow of the World Economic Forum (2002) As a doctoral supervisor, Ehteshami mentors Abdullah Al-Khonaini, Fahad Al Fahad, and Mengqi Sun. His £3.9 million AHRC grant directed cross-linguistic community research, while his RCUK-funded Centre for Advanced Study of the Arab World (2006-2016) established national doctoral training networks. He edits two major book series and serves on seven international journal editorial boards, shaping scholarly discourse on Middle Eastern and Islamic studies. He leads IMEIS as a hub for interdisciplinary Middle Eastern scholarship and directs the HH Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah Programme, which integrates security studies with political economy analyses through collaborative international research initiatives.

• International relations of the Middle East
• Persian Gulf
• Security and strategic studies
• +2 more

Professor Irene Lemos is a Professor of Classical Archaeology at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Merton College, affiliated with the Ioannou Centre for Classical and Byzantine Studies. She holds an MA and DPhil from Oxford. Her research focuses on the archaeology of Early Greece, particularly the transition from the Mycenaean period to the Persian Wars, with a strong emphasis on the site of Lefkandi in Euboea. She explores material culture, Mediterranean exchange networks, alphabetic writing, and iron technology. Lemos has directed excavations at Lefkandi since 2003 and collaborates on projects like the Wiener-Anspach Foundation grant on collective rituals. She teaches courses on Greek and Mediterranean archaeology at Oxford and supervises graduate students. Her publications span excavations, methodologies, and interdisciplinary studies in Aegean archaeology. Her research highlights include the role of Lefkandi as a hub for Bronze Age to Early Iron Age interactions, geoarchaeological studies of coastal landscapes, and the analysis of ritual practices. Recent work examines early Greek social identities and the material culture of the Archaic period. Lemos has contributed to major excavations such as Oropos and has been involved in radiocarbon dating projects to establish chronologies for the Aegean Iron Age. Teaching: Undergraduate courses on the Greeks and Mediterranean World, Archaic and Classical periods, and core classes in Classical Archaeology and Ancient History. Grants/Projects: Collaborative work on collective rituals with Brussels scholars, excavations at Lefkandi and Oropos, and radiocarbon dating initiatives. Labs/Teams: Directs the Lefkandi-Xeropolis excavation project and coordinates fieldwork at Oropos, involving interdisciplinary teams in archaeology and geoarchaeology.

• Mediterranean History and Archaeology
• Greek Archaeology
• Ancient Material Culture
• +3 more

Professor Robert S.G. Fletcher holds dual roles as Professor of History and Kinder Professor of British History at the University of Missouri , and serves as an Honorary Professorial Fellow in the Department of History at the University of Warwick (2015-2020). His academic career spans institutions including the University of Exeter, Nuffield College (Oxford), and Princeton University. Specializing in British imperial history , global history , and nomadic societies , his research examines the intersections of empire-building, desert administration, and maritime frontiers. Recent work (2024-2025) extends to interdisciplinary collaborations with museums like the Royal Museums Greenwich , focusing on colonial expeditions, locust control campaigns, and maritime cultural heritage. His scholarship appears in leading journals including Past and Present , The English Historical Review , and Journal of Historical Geography . Publications include the award-winning monographs British Imperialism and 'The Tribal Question' (OUP, 2015) and The Ghost of Namamugi (AUP, 2019). As Principal Investigator, he led the AHRC-funded Inlands: Empires, Contested Interiors (2024) and Science in Culture projects on desert locust campaigns. Major Awards Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Leadership Fellowship (2015-2018) AHRC Science in Culture award (2018) Key Collaborations Co-edited Connected Empires, Connected Worlds with Benjamin Mountford and Simon Potter (Routledge, 2022) Contributed to The Oxford Handbook of the Ends of Empire (2018)

• Imperial History
• Global History
• Nomadic Societies
• +4 more

Professor Clive Jones is a leading academic in regional security studies, currently holding the Chair of Regional Security (Middle East) at Durham University's School of Government and International Affairs. He specializes in Middle East security dynamics, with a focus on Israeli foreign policy, Gulf security, and intelligence operations. PhD from University of Wales, Aberystwyth (1994) Former Chair of European Association of Israel Studies (2013-2016) Fellow of Royal Historical Society (2011) His research explores Israeli security decision-making , Gulf geopolitical shifts , and intelligence operations in the Middle East , particularly analyzing low-intensity conflicts and historical espionage. Recent work examines emerging security complexes between Israel and Gulf states. Key recent publications address Gulf nuclearization, Anglo-Israeli military cooperation, and intelligence failures in modern conflicts. He has served as editorial board member for journals like Studies in Conflict and Terrorism and Middle Eastern Studies . 2018: Visiting Research Chair at NTNU, Norway 2002: Senior Fellow at University of Haifa Plenary lecturer at global institutions including US Army War College and Royal United Services Institute Professor Jones supervises doctoral students in Middle East security topics and contributes to policy discussions through media appearances, including BBC and ZDF documentaries.

• International Relations
• Middle East Studies
• Security Studies
• +6 more

Dr. Luis da Vinha is a Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at De Montfort University, where he is affiliated with the School of Humanities and Performing Arts within the Faculty of Arts, Design and Humanities. Previously, he served as a Senior Lecturer and Teaching Program Director for the Government department at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, and as a tenured Associate Professor and coordinator of the political science program at Valley City State University in North Dakota, USA. Dr. da Vinha's educational background includes: Ph.D. in International Relations from the University of Coimbra, Portugal M.A. in Geography from the University of Coimbra, Portugal B.A. in Geography from the University of Coimbra, Portugal Dr. da Vinha's research focuses on International Security, International Order, International Political Economy, Foreign Policy Analysis, and Geopolitics/Political Geography. His work particularly examines how geographic mental maps influence foreign policy decision-making, with special attention to U.S. foreign policy across different presidential administrations. He has developed innovative teaching methods using interactive technologies to enhance student learning in international relations. His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on understanding foreign policy decision-making processes, particularly examining how cognitive frameworks and mental maps shape geopolitical perceptions and policy outcomes. His work spans traditional security concerns, digital governance issues in Africa's smart cities, and pedagogical innovations in political science education, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach that bridges political science, geography, and international relations. Dr. da Vinha has received numerous teaching awards recognizing his innovative approaches to education: 2024 National Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (Australia Awards for University Teaching) 2023 Vice Chancellor's Award for Innovation in Teaching Commendation (Flinders University) 2022 CBGL Vice-President and Executive Dean's Teaching and Learning Innovation Award (Flinders University) 2021 Vice-Chancellor's Innovation in Teaching Award (Flinders University) 2021 CBGL Vice-President and Executive Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching (Flinders University) 2016 VCSU Teacher of the Year Award (USA) As an academic advisor, Dr. da Vinha currently supervises several PhD students including Lachlan Poel (principal supervisor) working on electoral disinformation in American and Australian parliamentary committees, Vinícius Guedes Gonçalves de Oliveira (auxiliary supervisor) researching cybersecurity challenges to Australian space infrastructure, and Thomas O'Donnell (auxiliary supervisor) examining AUKUS and the deterrence of grey zone activities. His research has been published with major academic presses including Routledge, Palgrave Macmillan, Springer, and numerous prestigious journals. Dr. da Vinha is affiliated with several research groups including the Institute of Global Challenges and Cultures, the Jeff Bleich Centre for Democracy and Disruptive Technologies, and the Space Power and Policy Applied Research Consortium, where he contributes expertise on geopolitical issues related to space policy and international security.

• International Relations
• International Security
• International Order
• +6 more

Arsham Reisinezhad is an Assistant Professor (Lecturer) in the Department of Economics at the University of Essex since October 2021, and a Visiting Fellow. Previously, he served as an Assistant Lecturer at the University of Paris1 (Panthéon-Sorbonne) from 2020 to 2021. His educational background includes: PhD in Economics from Paris School of Economics & University of Paris 1 (2020) M.Sc. in Economics from Paris School of Economics & University of Paris 1 (2015) M.Sc. in Offshore Engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology (2009) B.Sc. in Marine Engineering from Persian Gulf University (2006) Dr. Reisinezhad specializes in environmental and resource economics, with research interests spanning Dutch disease phenomena, natural resource curse dynamics, carbon emissions analysis, deindustrialization processes, and income inequality impacts. His work integrates rigorous theoretical modeling with empirical validation to address critical policy challenges in resource-dependent economies. His recent publications demonstrate a cohesive research trajectory examining how resource extraction drives environmental degradation and economic structural change. Key themes include the empirical validation of Dutch disease theory, the carbon curse mechanism linking extraction to emissions, and the distributional consequences of resource rents through luxury goods consumption. This body of work establishes significant connections between resource abundance, economic diversification failures, and sustainability challenges.

• Environmental Economics
• Natural Resource Economics
• International Trade
• +3 more

Dr. Mark R. Frost is an Associate Professor of Public History at University College London (UCL), specializing in war, empire, and decolonization in modern Asia, and their intersections with popular memory. He joined UCL in 2020 after roles at the Asia Research Institute (Singapore), University of Hong Kong, and University of Essex. Educated at the University of Oxford (First Class Honours) and the University of Cambridge (PhD, 2002), Frost has pioneered public history initiatives such as the award-winning Singapore History Gallery (2006–2015) and authored Singapore: A Biography (2009), winner of the Asia Pacific Publishers’ Gold Medal. His research explores transnational memoryscapes, wartime legacies, and colonialism’s cultural impacts. Current projects include the War Memoryscapes in Asia Partnership (WARMAP) and Living with Violent Heritage in post-war Sri Lanka. Frost has also produced documentaries like Scene Unseen (2021), examining music and memory, and co-developed historical films such as I Remember the Fall of Singapore (2017). Frost’s academic contributions span colonial governance, humanitarianism, and transnational networks. His awards include the CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title (2010) for his biography and a documentary prize at BKK Docs (2022). He supervises PhD students focusing on public history, war remembrance, and European colonialism in Asia, including notable works on the East India Company in the Persian Gulf and the Special Operations Executive in Malaya. His publications bridge historiography and public engagement, with recent works on Asia’s WWII memory boom and geocultural power dynamics. Frost’s interdisciplinary approach integrates museum curation, film, and scholarly writing to interrogate how historical narratives shape contemporary identities.

• Public History
• War and Memory Studies
• Decolonization in Modern Asia
• +4 more

Simon C. Smith is a Professor of International History at the University of Hull, affiliated with the School of Humanities and the Faculty of Arts, Cultures and Education. He specializes in British imperialism, decolonization in the Middle East and Mediterranean, and post-war Anglo-American relations. His current research focuses on slavery in the Arab world, and he has been associated with the Wilberforce Institute (2023–24). Smith holds a BA and PhD from Royal Holloway, University of London, with his doctoral research examining British relations with Malay rulers. His research outputs include nine books, such as Kuwait, 1950–1965: Britain, the al-Sabah and Oil and British Imperialism, 1750–1970 , both translated internationally. He contributes to journals like Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History and serves on editorial boards, including Middle Eastern Studies . He co-led the British Documents on the End of Empire Project, producing a volume on Malta, supported by the British Academy, Leverhulme Trust, and AHRC. Smith’s recent work analyzes British post-imperial relationships with Gulf states like Bahrain, UAE, and Qatar, emphasizing informal influence post-decolonization. His publications also explore Malta’s transition post-independence and Anglo-American diplomatic dynamics during crises like the Suez crisis and Vietnam War era. He supervises PhD students on topics ranging from 19th-century Anglo-Russian tensions to modern Middle East travel studies. His advisory and grant activities include collaborations with the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, providing historical expertise on Gulf geopolitics. Smith is part of the Centre for Middle East Studies and engages in knowledge exchange through talks and briefings for governmental bodies.

• British imperialism
• Decolonization in the Middle East and Mediterranean
• Post-war Anglo-American relations
• +3 more

Dr. Martin Navias serves as Senior Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Defence Studies within King's College London's Department of War Studies. His research examines critical security vulnerabilities at the intersection of finance and conflict, with specific expertise in anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorist financing (CTF), sanctions regimes, and WMD proliferation dynamics. Research Focus: Dr. Navias investigates economic dimensions of security threats including terrorist financing networks, sanctions evasion tactics, and financial infrastructures supporting weapons proliferation. His geographical expertise focuses on North Korea and Iran's ballistic missile programs and related financing mechanisms. Additional research streams analyze maritime security in the Persian Gulf and compliance frameworks for financial institutions. Professional Background: Combines academic research with practical experience in banking compliance within the City of London. Provides specialized training to government agencies and military units internationally on AML/CTF implementation and sanctions enforcement protocols. Maintains active consultancy practice advising private sector organizations on financial security risks. Publications: Authored multiple scholarly books including Finance and Security: Global Vulnerabilities, Threats and Responses (2019), Nuclear Weapons and British Strategic Planning , and Going Ballistic: The Build-up of Missiles in the Middle East . Regular media commentator on security finance and proliferation issues.

• Financial Security
• Counter-Terrorism Financing
• Sanctions Compliance
• +2 more

Ashley Jackson is Professor of Imperial and Military History at King’s College London, affiliated with Kellogg College. He holds Fellowships with the Royal Historical Society and the Higher Education Academy. His research focuses on British imperial and military history, particularly the Empire’s role during wartime and its regional dimensions in Africa, the Indian Ocean, and the Middle East. He also explores the Empire’s cultural and architectural legacy, including studies of Winston Churchill and the built environment. Jackson completed his master’s (1993) and doctoral studies (1996) at New College, Oxford. His career includes roles as Research Fellow at Mansfield College, Oxford, and Lecturer in Imperial History at Oxford Brookes University. He currently teaches at King’s Defence Studies Department, the Joint Services Command and Staff College, and the Royal College of Defence Studies, while contributing to Oxford University’s Continuing Education Department. His research interests emphasize the intersection of war and empire, with major projects like Superpower Britain (co-authored) and Oxford and the Second World War . Recent publications include Persian Gulf Command (2018) and Of Islands, Ports, and Sea Lanes (2018), analyzing WWII strategies in diverse regions. His awards include prestigious Fellowships recognizing his contributions to historical scholarship. Jackson’s work bridges academic research with military education, reflecting his dual role as a historian and educator.

• Imperial History
• Military History
• British Empire Studies
• +6 more

Alan Hunt is a Senior Teaching Fellow in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton. He holds a BSc in Physiology & Biochemistry (1979) and a PhD in lipid biochemistry (1987) from the same institution. His research focuses on lipid metabolism, coral reef biochemistry under climate change, and biomedical applications. He has established international collaborations in lipid metabolism and coral reef studies. Teaching roles include Deputy Year 2 Lead for BM5/BM6/BMEU programs and expertise in physiology, biochemistry, and research methodologies. He received the Vice-Chancellor's Teaching Award in 2005 for interprofessional learning innovations. Education: BSc Physiology & Biochemistry, University of Southampton, 1979 PhD in lipid biochemistry (part-time), University of Southampton, 1987 Research Interests: Lipid biochemistry, coral reef symbiont stress tolerance, pulmonary surfactant metabolism, and interdisciplinary biomedical research. Notable projects include studying heat tolerance in Persian Gulf corals and lipid dynamics in pulmonary diseases. Awards: 2005 Vice-Chancellor's Teaching Award (Medical Faculty) Teaching & Advising: 30+ years of teaching in medical and biomedical programs, including leadership roles in curriculum design (e.g., 'Research for Medicine & Health' module). Active in interprofessional education and critical appraisal training. No named advisees listed.

• Lipid Biochemistry
• Metabolism
• Coral Reef Biochemistry
• +4 more