معرفی
Fiona Cunningham is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts & Sciences. She is also a Faculty Fellow at Perry World House and affiliated with the Center for the Study of Contemporary China and the Christopher H. Browne Center for International Politics. Additionally, she holds nonresident affiliations with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the National Security College at the Australian National University.
Education:
- Ph.D. in Political Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 2018
- Bachelor of Arts, University of New South Wales, First Class Honors
- Bachelor of Laws, University of Sydney, First Class Honors
Fiona’s research lies at the intersection of technology and conflict, with a strong empirical focus on China. Her work explores how states leverage information-age military technologies—such as cyber operations, counter-space capabilities, and precision conventional weapons—to achieve coercive aims without triggering nuclear escalation. Her research contributes to broader debates on nuclear strategy, escalation dynamics, and the evolving nature of deterrence in the 21st century.
Her research, which includes her acclaimed book Under the Nuclear Shadow, examines how China uses military force to achieve political objectives while avoiding catastrophic nuclear war. Her publications in top journals like International Security and Security Studies reveal patterns in Chinese strategic behavior, particularly in East Asia and the Indo-Pacific. Themes across her work include coercive diplomacy, crisis stability, and the integration of emerging technologies into military doctrine.
Scientific Awards and Fellowships:
- Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University
- Fellow, Center for International Security and Cooperation, Stanford University
- Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
- Fellow, Yale University
- China Confucius Studies Program Research Fellow
- Research support from Smith Richardson Foundation, Ploughshares Fund, Stanton Foundation, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and others
Fiona has advised and mentored students in political science and international affairs, particularly in security studies. Her research has been supported by major grants from the Smith Richardson Foundation, Ploughshares Fund, MIT Center for International Studies, and the Stanton Foundation. She previously served as an Assistant Professor at George Washington University (2019–2021) and conducted over a year of fieldwork in China (2015–2017), supported by multiple fellowships. Before her Ph.D., she worked as a research associate at the Lowy Institute and was admitted to practice law in Australia.
Labs and Research Groups:
- Security Studies Program, MIT (Research Affiliate)
- Perry World House, University of Pennsylvania (Faculty Fellow)
- Center for the Study of Contemporary China, University of Pennsylvania (Affiliate)
- Christopher H. Browne Center for International Politics, University of Pennsylvania (Affiliate)
