Ben Zala

Ben Zala is a Senior Lecturer in Politics & International Relations at Monash University, Australia. He focuses on global security, nuclear weapons management, and great power politics. Previously, he held positions at ANU, Harvard (as a Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow), the University of Leicester, and Chatham House. His research explores the Third Nuclear Age, non-proliferation, and geopolitical dynamics. Zala earned his PhD in International Relations from the University of Birmingham (2013) and a Bachelor's from La Trobe University (2006). He co-authored The Global Third Nuclear Age (2025) and contributed to Oxford's forthcoming Power in International Society. As an Honorary Fellow at Leicester, he collaborates on the ERC-funded Towards a Third Nuclear Age project.

Education:

• PhD in International Relations, University of Birmingham (2013)
• Bachelor of International Relations (Hons), La Trobe University (2006)

Awards & Fellowships:

• Stanton Nuclear Security Junior Faculty Fellow, Harvard University (2018–2019)
• ERC-funded Honorary Fellowship, University of Leicester (2020–2025)

Research Focus: Zala's work combines theoretical analysis with empirical case studies, examining nuclear policy, technological innovation, and geopolitical shifts. His recent publications address AI's impact on deterrence, nuclear entanglement in Northeast Asia, and existentialist critiques of nuclear strategy.