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Stuart CroftView profile

Professor

• International Security
• Security Governance
• Constructivist Security Studies
• +5 more

Stuart Croft is Vice-Chancellor & President of the University of Warwick and Professor of International Security in the Department of Politics and International Studies (PAIS). Since joining Warwick in 2007 he has served as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research (Arts & Social Sciences), Provost, and since February 2016 as the University’s chief executive, leading 5,500 staff across all disciplines. Education & Career: 18 years at the University of Birmingham, latterly Professor of International Relations and Head of the School of Social Sciences. Appointed Professor of International Security, University of Warwick, January 2007. Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research (Arts & Social Sciences) 2011-2013. Provost 2013-2016. Vice-Chancellor & President from February 2016. Research Interests: Professor Croft’s scholarship lies at the intersection of security studies and political culture, using constructivist and narrative approaches to analyse how identities and discourses shape security policy. He has published extensively on the War on Terror, NATO transformation, European security governance, and the securitisation of Islam in Britain. His work combines large-scale funded empirical projects with theoretical innovation in International Relations. Publications & Grants Trend: Over the past two decades his output has clustered around three themes—cultural narratives of terrorism and counter-radicalisation, institutional governance of Euro-Atlantic security (NATO/EU), and arms-control regimes—moving from traditional strategic studies toward critical security approaches that foreground identity, discourse and governance. Scientific Awards & Fellowships: Academician, Academy of Social Sciences (2006) Fellow, Royal Society of Arts (2006) International Studies Association – International Security Section Book Award short-list 2007 Doctoral Supervision & Mentoring: He has successfully supervised 21 PhD students at Birmingham and Warwick, examined 25 UK PhDs as external examiner, and currently supervises 6 doctoral researchers. He has mentored 9 ESRC, EU and British Academy post-doctoral fellows. Editorial & Professional Leadership: Editor of the Palgrave ‘New Security Challenges’ book series since 2005; co-editor of Contemporary Security Policy 1989-2004; editorial board member of Critical Studies on Terrorism and Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflict . Chair (2009-2011) and President (2011-2013) of the British International Studies Association.

Michelle BentleyView profile

Professor

• Weapons of Mass Destruction
• International Security
• US Foreign Policy
• +4 more

Michelle Bentley is a Professor of International Relations and Director of the Centre for International Security at Royal Holloway, University of London. She specializes in weapons of mass destruction, US foreign policy, and security taboos. Her work bridges academic research with policy-oriented analysis, particularly focusing on chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons dynamics. Education: BSc SocSci (Hons), PGCert, PGDip, MSc SocSci, PhD Research Interests: Her interdisciplinary research explores how political rhetoric shapes weaponization norms, with a focus on: Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) taboos US foreign policy continuities Terrorism and counter-radicalization strategies Publications: Recent work includes acclaimed books like The Biological Weapons Taboo (2023) and peer-reviewed articles in International Affairs and Security Studies . Her 2024 analysis of chemical warfare in Ukraine highlights strategic ambiguity in modern conflicts. Awards: Recipient of the BISA Teaching Excellence Award (2022) and multiple Royal Holloway teaching commendations for innovative methods like social media engagement in political education. Engagement: Active media contributor with analyses featured in Vox and The Conversation , addressing topics like US-Iran tensions and the political impact of Trump biopics. Leadership: Oversees the Gender Institute and Conflict, Violence and Terrorism Research Centre, fostering interdisciplinary security research.

Thomas RichterView profile

Professor

• Executive Personalization
• Global Political Economy
• Structural Adjustment and Sectoral Transformation
• +3 more

Thomas Richter is a leading academic and Professor at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) , where he serves as Lead Research Fellow and Head of the Research Programme "Accountability and Participation" . His work focuses on the institutional and material determinants of authoritarian rule , executive personalization , and global political economy , particularly in the Middle East and North Africa region. Education: PhD in Political Science (summa cum laude) at the University of Bremen (2008); studies at Eberhard-Karls University Tuebingen and University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. His research explores the interplay of rentier statehood and economic reforms , civil society under authoritarian regimes , and shrinking civic spaces . Recent projects include the Merian Center for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM) and the Monitoring System and Transfer Platform Radicalisation (MOTRA) , funded by BMBF and DFG. Richter has published extensively on topics such as anti-Semitism , executive power dynamics , and public opinion on military service in Germany. He has received notable awards, including the Lijphart/Przeworski/Verba Data Set Award (2017) and the Gero Erdmann-Preis für vergleichende Area-Forschung (2022) . His collaborative work spans institutions like the WZB Berlin and Université de Tunis . Richter is also a co-editor of the Perspectives on the Maghreb series with Amsterdam University Press.

Helen SullivanView profile

Professor

• Public Policy
• Political Science
• Urban Governance
• +4 more

Helen Sullivan is the Dean of the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific and a leading scholar in public policy and political sociology. She holds a PhD from the University of Birmingham and has held senior academic and leadership roles globally, including founding the Melbourne School of Government and directing the Crawford School of Public Policy at ANU. Her research focuses on governance collaboration, state-society relationships, and urban policy, with notable contributions to understanding public participation and policy reform. Education: BA (Modern History & Political Science, University of Birmingham), MA (Women’s Studies, University of York), PhD (Public Policy, University of Birmingham). Research Interests: State-society dynamics, governance collaboration, urban governance, citizen participation, policy innovation, and leadership in complex systems. Her work bridges academia and practice, emphasizing policy impact and translational research through initiatives like MSoGLabs. Key Contributions: Co-designed the University of Birmingham’s Policy Commission Program, led the Commission on Local Public Service Reform, and established the Melbourne School of Government. She has authored/co-authored nine books and over 100 peer-reviewed articles, with her 2022 book Collaboration and Public Policy shortlisted for the WJM Mackenzie Prize. Her work has received international awards, including the Kooiman Award (2008) and the Public Management Research Association Best Paper (2014). Leadership & Engagement: Elected to the Australian Academy of Social Sciences (2024), served on editorial boards of journals like Public Administration and Local Government Studies , and advised governments globally. She chairs the Sir Roland Wilson Foundation Board and has consulted for public, private, and civil society sectors. Grants & Projects: Secured £6M+ in funding from UK and Australian research councils, including projects on radicalisation, infrastructure risks, and social licensing in energy industries. Current projects include managing social risks of major infrastructure and analyzing Australia’s energy sources. Labs & Initiatives: Founded MSoGLabs at Melbourne School of Government to translate research into policy impact. Collaborates internationally on urban governance and austerity’s effects through projects like New Developments in Urban Governance .

• History of International Relations
• Terrorism and Political Violence
• Radicalisation
• +7 more

Beatrice de Graaf is a Professor of History of International Relations & Global Governance at Utrecht University's Department of History and Art History, within the Faculty of Humanities. She serves as Scientific Director of the Adapt! Academy (2025–2035), a consortium funded by a NWO Gravitation grant, focusing on societal crisis resilience. Her roles include core editorships of Terrorism and Political Violence and Journal of Modern European History , and membership in the Netherlands Academy of Sciences (KNAW) and Academia Europaea. She is also a Visiting Fellow at the University of Cambridge and holds fellowships at the Center for Advanced Security Studies in Bonn and George Washington University's Extremism Project. Education: She earned her PhD from Utrecht University (2004) on GDR, Dutch churches, and the peace movement, awarded the Max van der Stoel Human Rights Award. She holds a master's in Modern History and German from Utrecht and Bonn universities. Notable achievements include the NWO Stevin Prize (2018), Arenberg European Prize (2022), Comenius Prize (2022), and Brouwer Trust Prize (2023). Research focuses on security state evolution, counterterrorism, crisis management, and their impacts on democratic values. Key projects include TerInfo (classroom terrorism education), Security History Network, and JISRA’s 'Reimagining Religion, Security and Social Transformation' (2022–2025). Her work bridges historical analysis with contemporary policy, emphasizing resilience and interdisciplinary collaboration. Media engagement includes columns in NRC Handelsblad , international TV/radio appearances, and the Huizinga Lecture (2024).

Peter R. NeumannView profile

Professor

• Radicalisation
• Extremism
• Terrorism
• +6 more

Peter R. Neumann is a Professor of Security Studies at King's College London , where he founded and directed the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR). He also serves as a Research Fellow at the Changing Character of War Programme (University of Oxford) and a Senior Researcher for the European Commission’s Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN-PS). Previously, he held visiting or adjunct roles at Sciences Po (Lyon), Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of St. Gallen. Education: PhD in War Studies (King's College London), MA in Political Science (Free University of Berlin). His research focuses on radicalisation , extremism , terrorism , and counter-terrorism , with a particular emphasis on online extremism , migration and security , and foreign fighter networks . His publications include Radicalized: New Jihadists and the Threat to the West (2016), Bluster: Donald Trump’s War on Terror (2020), and The New World Disorder (2023), an intellectual history of Western foreign policy post-Cold War. Professor Neumann’s academic output spans 15+ years , covering topics such as prison radicalization (2020), hybrid terrorism (2020), bioterrorism during the pandemic (2020), and systemic lessons from European terrorist plots (2019–2020). His work often bridges empirical analysis (e.g., socio-economic drivers of Islamic State recruitment, 2021) and policy-oriented contributions (e.g., CVE strategies in Europe, 2019). He has advised Western governments and international institutions extensively, including a role as OSCE Special Representative on Countering Violent Extremism in 2017. Prior to academia, he worked as a radio journalist in Germany.

Greta Nabbs-KellerView profile

Researcher

• Indonesian Foreign Policy
• China-Indonesia Relations
• ASEAN Centrality
• +3 more

Dr Greta Nabbs-Keller is an academic and researcher at the University of Queensland (UQ), currently serving as Interim Program Director of the Australian Program Office for Advanced Hypersonics (APOAH). She holds a PhD in International Relations from Griffith University (2014) and has extensive expertise in Southeast Asian security, Indonesia's foreign policy, and cyber security governance. Her research bridges domestic and international policy challenges, particularly focusing on Indonesia's strategic positioning in the Indo-Pacific region. Key areas of focus include China-Indonesia relations, ASEAN centrality, and Australia-Indonesia bilateral dynamics. Dr Nabbs-Keller has published widely in prestigious journals such as the Australian Journal of Defence and Strategic Studies and Security Challenges , alongside policy reports and media commentary through platforms like the Lowy Institute and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Her work emphasizes the interplay between domestic political developments and international security frameworks, with recent projects addressing cyber security policy futures in the Indo-Pacific and gender dimensions of radicalization. She has contributed to high-level strategic dialogues, including presentations at the Australian Defence Force Academy and ANU National Security College. Notable outputs include a 2021 report on cyber governance and a 2020 submission to Australia's DFAT on technology engagement strategy. Dr Nabbs-Keller’s research also extends to defense cooperation mechanisms, counter-terrorism strategies, and the evolving role of social media in Southeast Asian politics. She actively engages with both academic and policy communities, delivering seminar papers at institutions like the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and hosting interdisciplinary discussions on strategic futures. Her career reflects a commitment to translating scholarly insights into actionable policy recommendations, particularly in areas of regional stability and Indo-Pacific order.

• Gendered Legal Responses to Terrorism
• Counter-Terrorism
• Criminal Justice System
• +3 more

Chloe Squires is a PhD candidate in the School of International Relations at the University of St Andrews, specializing in gendered legal responses to terrorism. Her research examines court processes in England and Wales, focusing on implicit biases influencing the prosecution of male and female terrorism offenders. She holds an AFHEA certificate and serves as Academic Skills Project Coordinator for International Relations. Her research interests include counter-terrorism, policing, de-radicalisation, and the intersection of gender with criminal justice systems. She has published interdisciplinary work on topics such as barriers to UK criminal justice research, case management interventions for violent extremism, and sentencing disparities in terrorism trials. Education: PhD candidate at University of St Andrews, School of International Relations. Roles: Academic Skills Project Coordinator (International Relations), Researcher in Terrorism Studies. Chloe’s contributions include a systematic review of counter-radicalization case management strategies and analyses of gendered legal outcomes in terrorism prosecutions. Her work addresses systemic challenges in researching terrorism trials and advocates for methodological improvements in socio-legal studies. Her research contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to justice and inclusive societies.

• Democracy and democratization
• Modern state transformations
• Urban policy and cultural planning
• +3 more

Stephen W. Sawyer is the Ballantine-Leavitt Professor of History at the American University of Paris (AUP) and Director of the Center for Critical Democracy Studies. He holds a PhD from the University of Chicago and has held fellowships at institutions including the University of Chicago, Stanford’s Center for Advanced Study, and the Collège de France. His research focuses on democracy, modern state formation, urban policy, and European political theory, particularly in France. Sawyer is the author of Demos Assembled (2018) and La contingence et le pouvoir (2018), with a forthcoming 2025 book, Demos Rising . He serves as Associate Editor of Annales and founded the Tocqueville21 platform. His work bridges intellectual history, political theory, and comparative state studies, emphasizing democratic governance and socio-political change. Research & Publications : Sawyer’s projects explore democracy’s role in shaping modern states, with a focus on 19th-century France and transatlantic comparisons. He has published widely in journals like American Historical Review and edited volumes on Foucault, Rosanvallon, and neoliberalism. His current work examines democratic social contracts and radicalization prevention in France. Awards & Roles : A Neubauer Fellow (2014–15), Kratter Visiting Professor at Stanford (2020), and 2024–25 Harvard Center for European Studies fellow. He directs AUP’s Center for Critical Democracy Studies, hosting projects like the Tocqueville Challenge and De-Radicalisation workshops. His interdisciplinary approach integrates history, political science, and urban studies to address contemporary democratic challenges.

• Terrorism and political violence
• International security
• Societal security and resilience
• +6 more

Monika Gabriela Bartoszewicz is an Associate Professor at the Department of Technology and Security , UiT The Arctic University of Norway. Her research spans terrorism, political violence, international security, and migration policy with a focus on societal security and resilience. Email: monika.bartoszewicz@uit.no Office Location: Teknologibygget Tromsø 4.008 Her research interests include: Religion and politics Political and religious radicalisation Culture and identity in political processes Hybrid threats in Arctic regions Epistemic security and knowledge monopolies Recent publications explore dystopian migration discourses, firearm policy impacts, and NATO’s evolving security strategies. She contributes to interdisciplinary projects like Global Security: North–South Partnership and Cultural Heritage in Crisis .

Josh WalmsleyView profile

Researcher

• International Political Sociology
• Critical Security Studies
• Data Politics
• +2 more

Josh Walmsley is a PhD researcher in the Department of War Studies at King's College London, affiliated with the School of Security Studies. His research examines the interplay between security, law, and social welfare in the context of counter-radicalisation, with a focus on data politics and governance. Supervised by Professor Didier Bigo and Dr Peter Busch, he contributes to debates in international political sociology and critical security studies. Josh holds an MSc in Conflict Resolution and Governance from the University of Amsterdam. He has contributed to reports for the European Parliament and Council of Europe and participated in expert panels with the Academy of European Law and International Commission of Jurists. His publications explore counter-radicalisation policy, classroom strategies, and EU governance of foreign fighters, reflecting interdisciplinary engagement with data politics, intelligence, and social welfare. His research is supported by the London Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership. Josh teaches courses such as Global Politics, Contemporary Security Issues, and The Long View: International Relations Through History, with prior teaching experience at Leiden University. He is associated with the Research Centre in International Relations (RCIR), which investigates security practices and their societal implications.

Maura ConwayView profile

Professor

• Extremism
• Terrorism
• Internet Studies
• +4 more

Dr. Maura Conway serves as Professor of International Security at Dublin City University's School of Law and Government and is the Coordinator of the VOX-Pol research network. She additionally holds a visiting position at CYTREC, Swansea University. Her expertise focuses on the critical intersection of extremism, terrorism, and digital technologies, where she has established herself as a leading global scholar through over 40 publications in premier journals including Studies in Conflict & Terrorism and Media, War & Conflict. Her research program systematically investigates cyberterrorism, online radicalization pathways, and the operational dynamics of violent extremist content across digital platforms. Prof. Conway examines how terrorist organizations exploit internet infrastructure for recruitment, propaganda dissemination, and operational coordination, while simultaneously analyzing counter-terrorism responses in cyberspace. Her work bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical analysis of both far-right and jihadi online ecosystems. Analysis of her recent publications (2021-2025) reveals a strategic evolution from foundational critiques of 'cyberterrorism' hype toward contemporary investigations of platform governance, researcher ethics, and comparative analyses of extremist online behaviors. Her scholarship increasingly addresses the practical complexities of content moderation, researcher safety protocols, and the development of tailored ethical guidelines for high-risk online research environments. Prof. Conway actively engages with global policy institutions, having presented findings to the United Nations in New York, the European Commission in Brussels, and the UK House of Lords. She contributes to international security architecture through her membership on Europol's Counter-terrorism Centre Academic Advisory Board and the Editorial Board of Terrorism and Political Violence, directly influencing counter-terrorism strategies and academic discourse worldwide.

Kevin McDonaldView profile

Professor

• Radicalization
• Extremism
• Digital Social Worlds
• +5 more

Prof Kevin McDonald is a Professor of Sociology at Middlesex University, UK, within the Faculty of Business and Law's Law and Social Sciences Department. He leads the Doctoral Programmes in the faculty and focuses on radicalization, extremism, digital social worlds, and sociological theories of violence. Previously, he held roles at the University of Melbourne (Australia), Goldsmiths (UK), and the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (France). His research explores social movements, embodiment, and contemporary democracy challenges, particularly regarding youth radicalization and violent extremism. Education: PhD from École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (Paris), prior roles include Marie Curie Fellowships and visiting professorships across Europe. Teaching areas include terrorism sociology, criminology, and digital cultures. Research interests span far-right extremism drivers, jihadism, digital mobilization, and academic development for displaced scholars. He contributes to EU Horizon grant evaluations and edits Routledge's 'Social Movements in the 21st Century' book series. Publications include over 40 peer-reviewed works and books like Radicalization (2018). His work bridges theoretical sociology with policy-relevant research on security, democracy, and global social change.

• Peace Policies
• International Conflict Resolution
• Gender and Security
• +5 more

Prof. Lidija Georgieva is a Full Professor at the Institute for Security, Defence and Peace, Faculty of Philosophy, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje. Born in 1960, she earned her PhD in 1997, focusing on collective security mechanisms. She held academic leadership roles including Head of the UNESCO Department of Intercultural Studies and Horizon 2020 project leader (2018–present). Her research spans peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and Balkan social dynamics. She speaks English and has held visiting roles at Open University. Education: Philosophy degrees from UKIM (1984–1994), doctoral work on collective security Key Projects: V4 Fund (2014–2019), TEMPUS coordinator (2009–2013) Teaching: Leads courses on peace theory, European security, and conflict analysis Research interests include gender aspects of security, religion-conflict linkages, and welfare states in Southeast Europe. Over 40 publications include monographs on conflict resolution and NATO-Macedonia relations. Recipient of 2001 Fulbright Scholarship for political science research at University of Maryland. Awards: Fulbright postdoctoral fellowship (2001) Grants: Horizon 2020 (RETOPEA), V4 Fund, TEMPUS Led the Center for Intercultural Studies (2012–2017) and co-authored studies on peace education in the Balkans. Active in defense efficiency analysis using DEA methodologies. Her work integrates quantitative methods with qualitative conflict studies.

Julie NormanView profile

Associate Professor

• Conflict Studies
• Political Violence
• Middle East Politics
• +3 more

Dr. Julie Norman is an Associate Professor (Teaching) in Politics and International Relations at University College London (UCL), specializing in conflict, political violence, Middle East politics, and foreign policy. She holds a PhD from American University and a BA from Duke University. She coordinates UCL's Israel-Palestine Initiative and is a Senior Associate Fellow at RUSI. Her research focuses on protracted conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, using mixed methods to analyze security, rights, and resistance. She has authored/co-authored books such as Gaza: The Dream and the Nightmare (2025), The Palestinian Prisoners Movement (2021), and Understanding Nonviolence (2015). She also leads consultancy projects on conflict sensitivity and resilience for organizations like Christian Aid and UNDP. Dr. Norman is a frequent media commentator on BBC, CNN, and Al Jazeera, and hosts the podcast UCL Uncovering Politics . Her work bridges academia and practice, contributing to policy through expert analysis for governments and international bodies. Education: PhD in International Relations, American University (Washington, DC) BA, Duke University Research Interests: Conflict dynamics, nonviolent resistance, Middle East politics, peacebuilding, political imprisonment, and counterterrorism strategies. Her recent work emphasizes Gaza's political history and public opinion on polarization. Key Contributions: Over 20 years of scholarship on Palestinian resistance, U.S. foreign policy, and humanitarian conflict zones. Her articles span political psychology, security studies, and Middle East policy, with a focus on resilience and grassroots movements. Consultancy & Grants: Led projects on conflict sensitivity for Christian Aid, UNDP Lebanon, and the EU’s Radicalisation Awareness Network. Her work integrates field research in Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Labs/Teams: Coordinates UCL’s Israel-Palestine Initiative and collaborates with RUSI on international security.