R. Neil Cooper

R. Neil Cooper is a Professor and Director of the School of Peace and Conflict Studies at Kent State University. He specializes in arms trade regulation, post-conflict peacebuilding, and the political economy of civil conflicts. Cooper holds a BA in Politics and Sociology from York University (UK), an MA in International Relations from the University of Kent (UK), and a PhD from Kent University (UK).

His research focuses on historical and contemporary arms trade regulation, military precision cultures, and the intersection of technology and security. Cooper has authored or co-authored over 50 books, edited volumes, and journal articles, including widely cited works like War Economies in a Regional Context and Whose Peace?. His recent projects include a planned 2024 book on disarmament and a monograph on arms trade regulation in imperial eras.

Cooper’s work has been funded by organizations such as the Economic and Social Research Council (UK), the British Academy, and the NATO Public Diplomacy Fund. He previously served as Head of the Division of Peace Studies and International Development at the University of Bradford and held editorial roles at journals including International Peacekeeping and Economics of Peace and Security Journal.

His awards include the University of Bradford’s best publication prize (2018) for his article on arms trade regulation. Cooper advises PhD students globally and has contributed to policy initiatives on arms export controls and peacebuilding through collaborations with academic, campaigning, and policy networks.