Dr Rod Thornton is a Senior Lecturer in Russian Defence and Security Studies at King’s College London, affiliated with the Defence Studies Department and School of Security Studies. He specializes in the Russian military's kinetic and sub-threshold warfare, with a focus on cyber capabilities, space warfare, and UK homeland resilience. His research includes recent British Academy-funded work on UK civil defense capacity during the pandemic, advocating for dedicated civil defense organizations. He has published extensively on Russian military tactics in Ukraine, AI-cyber integration, and space-based deterrence. Russian military cyber operations Space warfare dynamics UK resilience capacity gaps Scientific awards include a British Academy grant (2020). His students focus on asymmetric warfare, AI, cyber, and regional security issues. He teaches at the UK Defence Academy and has collaborated with institutions in Finland, South Korea, and the Freeman Air and Space Institute.
Aleksandra Pomiecko is a Lecturer in Modern History at King's College London, specializing in Eastern European and Soviet history. She has held teaching positions at the University of St Andrews, the University of Manitoba, and the University of Toronto, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies. PhD, University of Toronto MA, Uniwersytet Jagielloński Her research focuses on war and violence in twentieth-century Eastern Europe, particularly paramilitary activity, partisan movements, and local experiences of conflict. She explores topics such as Belarusian nationalism, post-war insurgency, and the role of religious institutions during the Holocaust. Recent publications examine paramilitarism in Polish borderlands, Soviet nation-building policies, and religious resistance in wartime Poland. Her work contributes to understanding the longue durée of paramilitary dynamics and their global implications. Scientific awards: Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies
Sveinung Sandberg is a Professor at the Department of Criminology and Sociology of Law, University of Oslo. His research spans marginalization, illegal drug markets, radicalization, and narrative criminology, combining theoretical frameworks from Bourdieu and narrative analysis. Academic Interests: Marginalisation, Legal & Illegal Drugs, Violence, Radicalization, Bourdieusian Criminology, Narrative Criminology, Latin American Studies, Social Movements Education: PhD from University of Bergen Research Focus includes: Street capital theory in criminology Drug market cultural dynamics Narrative approaches to extremism Latin American criminal trajectories Recent Publications examine pandemic-related crime shifts, gendered drug use patterns, and narrative mechanisms in criminal justice. His 2021-2025 projects Radicalization and Resistance and Crime in Latin America (CRIMLA) involve cross-country life-story analyses. Scientific Awards: Fridtjof Nansen's Award for Young Researchers (2011) The Meltzer Prize for Young Researchers (2010) Editorial Roles include board memberships at Theoretical Criminology , Deviant Behavior , and International Criminal Justice Review . He has conducted fieldwork in Mexico and held visiting positions at institutions including CIDE (Mexico City) and European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (Lisbon).
Richard Steigmann-Gall is an Associate Professor of History at Kent State University's Department of History, within the College of Arts & Sciences. He previously served as Director of the Jewish Studies Program (2004–2010). Holding degrees from the University of Michigan (BA, MA) and the University of Toronto (PhD), his research focuses on religion and Nazi Germany, transatlantic fascism, and antisemitism. His seminal work, *The Holy Reich: Nazi Conceptions of Christianity, 1919-1945*, has been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian, earning widespread academic and public acclaim. His research has been supported by grants from institutions like the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Max Planck Institute, and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Dr. Steigmann-Gall has presented globally, including at Georgetown, NYU, Cambridge University, and the University of Sydney. He is a recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award from Kent State's College of Arts & Sciences (2004) and has been a frequent media commentator on fascism and modern political movements. Research & Education: His expertise spans Nazism’s religious dimensions, comparative fascist ideologies, and the cultural underpinnings of antisemitism. Current projects include a chapter on religion and genocide in pre-WWII American fascist thought for *American Fascism: Past and Present* (Cambridge). He has published in journals like *German History*, *Journal of Holocaust Research*, and *Totalitarian Movements and Political Religions*. Teaching & Outreach: Dr. Steigmann-Gall teaches courses on modern European history, fascism, and the Holocaust. He has mentored students in topics including Nazi Germany and transnational extremism, and his pedagogical approach has been recognized through teaching awards and nominations. He has also engaged with public discourse through media appearances in *The New York Times*, *The Daily Beast*, and documentaries on the History Channel. Awards & Grants: Distinguished Teaching Award (2004) Grants from the Max Planck Institute, SSHRC, and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Collaborations & Networks: He has collaborated on edited volumes and contributed to projects at institutions worldwide, reflecting his commitment to transnational historical inquiry.
Lina Britto is an Associate Professor of History at Northwestern University, specializing in modern Latin America and the Caribbean. Her research examines drug smuggling networks in Colombia and their intersections with U.S. Cold War policies. She co-edited two interdisciplinary volumes on Colombian history ( Histories of Solitude and Histories of Perplexity , 2024), and authored Marijuana Boom (2020), which received an honor from Colombia's National Book Awards. Affiliated with Latin American and Caribbean Studies and Science in Human Culture programs, Britto also contributes to Colombia’s Historical Commission of the Armed Conflict. Her teaching spans courses on drug history, Latin American contemporary history, and oral history. Research interests include transnational drug networks, Cold War dynamics, and U.S.-Latin American relations. Current projects explore transnational marijuana trafficking linking Colombia, Jamaica, and Florida in the 1970s-80s.
Patrick Meehan is a Lecturer in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Manchester’s Humanitarian Conflict Response Institute (HCRI), joining in January 2024. Previously, he held positions at SOAS University of London (PhD and post-doctoral fellowships) and the University of Warwick. His research focuses on drivers of armed conflict, the interplay between violence and development, and conflict resolution strategies, particularly in Myanmar and Southeast Asian borderlands. He combines historical, political, geographical, and anthropological approaches to examine illicit economies, resource politics, and environmental crises. His current project analyzes rare earth mining impacts in Myanmar-China border regions, linking climate policy to uneven development. Education: Doctor of Philosophy, Development Studies, SOAS University of London (2016) Master of Science, Development Studies, SOAS University of London (2009) Bachelor of Arts, History, Oxford University (2007) Research Interests: Illicit drug economies, resource frontiers, climate change responses, and their socio-environmental impacts. Key themes include Myanmar’s borderland dynamics, drug trade impacts on state formation, and sacrifice zones in green energy transitions. His work bridges theory, policy, and practice, emphasizing community resilience in conflict-affected areas. Research Contributions: Over 20 publications since 2011, including studies on Myanmar’s opium economy, paramilitary-drug nexus, and green energy trade-offs. His work highlights how climate policies exacerbate regional inequalities through extractivism in conflict zones. Collaborations: Partnerships with UK Government, UN Research Institute for Social Development, The Asia Foundation, and local civil society organizations in Myanmar. Focus on policy-relevant research to address development and peacebuilding challenges. Labs/Teams: Leads projects on rare earth mining impacts and collaborates with global networks in critical development theory and borderland studies.
Dr. Grzegorz Gil is a Lecturer at the Department of International Security , Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin , Faculty of Political Science and Journalism. Holds a PhD in Political Science (2010) and MA in International Relations (2005) from UMCS. Research focuses on state failure , post-conflict recovery , and international security with regional expertise on Africa , Middle East , and Pacific states . Teaches courses on: International relations Humanitarian operations Australian foreign policy Economic diplomacy Publications (over 15 works) analyze state collapse (Somalia, Yemen, Colombia), military interventions , and regional integration (EU-ASEAN relations). Currently serves as expert for Team Europe Direct (2023–present) and juror in Academic Polish Oxford Debating Championships .
Dr. Michael Flavin is a Professor at King’s College London, holding the position of Reader in Global Education at the African Leadership Centre within the School of Global Affairs. He earned a degree, three master’s degrees, and two doctorates: one in 19th-century literature (University of Kent, 1999) and another in Education with a focus on technology-enhanced learning (Open University, 2014). His work bridges education technology, disruptive innovation, global leadership, and 19th-century literature. Flavin’s research spans technology-enhanced learning strategies, leadership in conflict contexts (e.g., Northern Ireland’s Troubles), and the sociopolitical dimensions of higher education. His 2018 work on technology-enhanced learning was a runner-up in the ALT Research Project of the Year award. He has authored numerous books, including novels like The Voice Hearer (2024) and One Small Step (2022), and edited Research in Learning Technology . He reviews for major publishers like Palgrave Macmillan and Routledge. His recent publications analyze leadership failures in Irish paramilitary groups, neoliberal values in university prospectuses, and the evolution of learning technology research. Flavin’s interdisciplinary approach integrates literary analysis, policy critique, and educational innovation.
Matthew Casey is an Associate Professor and Director of the School of Humanities at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM). He holds a PhD from the University of Pittsburgh (2012) and teaches courses on Latin American and Caribbean history, including HIS 102, HIS 310, and HIS 424. His research focuses on Cuba and Haiti, examining themes of migration, labor, and US imperialism during the early 20th century. Education: PhD in History, University of Pittsburgh (2012) MA in History, University of Pittsburgh (2006) BA in History, University of Texas at Austin (2003) Research interests include transnational migration patterns, colonial and postcolonial governance, and the socio-economic impacts of US interventions in the Caribbean. His 2017 monograph Empire's Guest Workers analyzes Haitian laborers in Cuba during US occupations, while recent articles explore labor conflicts, paramilitary politics in Republican Cuba, and pedagogical approaches to linking African American and Latin American histories. Publications span peer-reviewed journals such as International Labor and Working Class History and Caribbean Studies , reflecting interdisciplinary engagement with labor history, political economy, and cultural studies. Casey is fluent in Spanish and actively contributes to scholarly debates on Caribbean historiography.
Tolga U. Esmer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Historical Studies at Central European University (CEU), where he has been teaching since 2009. He is affiliated with the Doctoral School of History and the Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies. Prior to joining CEU, he taught Islamic and Ottoman history at Northwestern University and Pennsylvania State University in the United States. MA, University of Washington, Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations (2000) Ph.D., University of Chicago, Department of History (2009) His research and teaching focus on Ottoman, Middle Eastern, Balkan, and Mediterranean history, with thematic interests in comparative empire, the history of everyday life, gender and masculinity, crime, corruption, governance, violence, state-building, social rebellion, Muslim-Christian relations, and the history of emotions. He approaches these themes through an anthropological and interdisciplinary lens, emphasizing socio-cultural dynamics in imperial contexts. The 15 most recent articles in his body of work reflect a consistent engagement with the intersections of violence, sovereignty, and social order in the late Ottoman Empire. His publications span journals such as Past & Present and Comparative Studies in Society and History , covering subfields like banditry, emotional communities, borderlands, property practices, and trans-imperial knowledge networks. A central theme across these works is the re-examination of informal power structures and their role in shaping state-society relations during periods of transformation. He is currently completing a major monograph titled Economies of Violence: Tales of Banditry, Corruption, and Sovereignty in the Late Ottoman Empire (1790s–1820s) , which re-conceptualizes banditry as a politicized phenomenon reflecting broader societal tensions and negotiations of power. Flora Ghazaryan – Confessional Relations in 19th-century Ottoman Constantinople Ahmet Bilaloglu – Trans-Imperial Knowledge Networks (co-supervised) Eda Guclu – Social Practices of Property in Istanbul Scott Michael Rank – Christian-Muslim Polemics in the Ottoman Print Sphere Dr. Esmer has participated in academic events such as 'Emotions and Religious Sentiments across Central and Eastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean' (2018) and 'Dangerous Gifts & Pernicious Transactions' (2017), reflecting his interdisciplinary reach. While no scientific awards are listed in the provided text, his publication record and supervisory roles indicate an active and influential scholarly profile.
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 .
Dr Stephen R. Millar is a Lecturer in Anthropology and Ethnomusicology at Queen's University Belfast's School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics. His work explores music's role in power dynamics, conflict, and identity, particularly in Ireland and Britain. He previously held roles at the University of Amsterdam and Cardiff University. Key research interests include Irish republican music, loyalist paramilitary songs, and music's impact on social inclusion and colonial legacies. Education: PhD in Anthropology (Queen’s University Belfast), M.Phil. in Music (University of Cambridge), B.Mus. (University of Glasgow), B.A. in Politics (University of Strathclyde). His monographs include Sounding Dissent: Rebel Songs, Resistance, and Irish Republicanism (2020) and the forthcoming Performing Paramilitarism: Music, Conflict, and Culture War in Ulster Loyalism . He has also co-edited volumes on football and popular culture. Research students include Eoin Kearns (PhD on Irish traditional music communities in China) and others under his supervision. Awards include the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship (2018) and a High Commendation from the British Association for Irish Studies (2021). Grants funded by AHRC, ERC, and the Scottish Government support his projects, including the COOL Music initiative and studies on sectarianism. He contributes to media discussions on music's political role and serves on editorial and advisory boards. Lab affiliations include the Centre for Creative Ethnography. His work bridges anthropology, ethnomusicology, and cultural studies, examining music's role in conflict, identity, and social change.
Andres D. Uribe is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he also holds the 2024-25 Anna Julia Cooper Postdoctoral Fellowship. His research investigates the complex interactions between democracy, violence, and state formation in the Americas, with a particular focus on how armed non-state actors influence electoral politics and governance. Dr. Uribe earned his PhD in Political Science from the University of Chicago in 2023. Prior to joining UW-Madison, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University's Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) during 2023-24. His scholarly work spans several critical areas in political science: democratic resilience against violent interventions, rebel governance in civil war contexts, and strategies of democratic backsliding . Through multi-method research combining large-N statistical analysis with in-depth case studies, Uribe examines how criminal organizations, rebels, and paramilitaries establish governance structures, influence elections, and interact with state institutions. His book project, War on the Ballot Box: How Violent Actors Corrupt and Disrupt Democracy , analyzes electoral interventions by armed groups across Latin America. Uribe's recent publications (2020-2025) reveal a consistent focus on non-state governance and democratic vulnerability. His work on criminal governance in Latin America demonstrates its surprising correlation with state presence, while studies of Colombian civil war dynamics show how rebels opportunistically exploit temporary state weaknesses. Research on Mexican democracy documents how presidential rhetoric can degrade public confidence in institutions—a key mechanism for democratic erosion. Collectively, these contributions illuminate the multifaceted challenges to democratic governance in conflict-affected societies. Dr. Uribe has received significant recognition for his work: Anna Julia Cooper Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2024-25) Postdoctoral Fellow, Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL), Stanford University (2023-24) While specific details about his advising activities and research grants are not provided in the available materials, his collaborative publications with scholars across multiple institutions suggest active engagement in interdisciplinary research networks. His work frequently involves partnerships with experts in criminology, conflict studies, and comparative politics. Though no dedicated research laboratory is mentioned, Uribe's projects often employ innovative methodologies including text-as-data analysis, survey experiments, and spatial analysis of conflict data, indicating sophisticated research infrastructure support at his host institutions.
Sir Richard Evans is a prominent historian holding academic and administrative roles across leading institutions. Currently serving as Provost of Gresham College (2014–present), he previously served as President of Wolfson College, University of Cambridge (2010–2017) and Regius Professor of History at the University of Cambridge (2008–2014). His extensive career includes roles at Birkbeck, University of London (1989–1998) and the University of East Anglia (1976–1989). His research focuses on European and German history, particularly modern periods, historiography, and the intersection of history with legal and medical fields. He has authored seminal works like The Third Reich at War and In Defence of History , challenging historical revisionism and advocating rigorous historical methodology. Evans has received numerous accolades, including the British Academy Leverhulme Medal (2015), Knight Bachelor (2012), and Wolfson History Prize (1988). His academic leadership includes roles at multiple colleges and universities, emphasizing institutional governance alongside scholarly contributions. Research interests span Nazi Germany’s political dynamics, historical counterfactuals, and the social impact of disease. His publications demonstrate expertise in both specialized historical analysis and broader public engagement with historical truth. Grants and advisory roles are not explicitly detailed, but his administrative positions suggest extensive institutional support. Evans is actively involved in academic communities, including the British Academy and Royal Historical Society.
Richard Shultz is the Shelby Cullom Davis Professor of International Security Studies and Director of the International Security Studies Program (ISSP) at The Fletcher School, Tufts University. His work focuses on U.S. national security policy, irregular warfare, special operations, and intelligence strategy. He holds a PhD in Political Science from Miami University. Shultz has held distinguished academic chairs, including at the U.S. Military Academy and Naval War College, and serves as a Senior Fellow at the Joint Special Operations University. His recent research examines military innovation in counterinsurgency, AI’s role in warfare, and security sector reform. Notable publications include *Transforming US Intelligence for Irregular War* (2020) and *Big Data at War* (2020). Shultz’s research emphasizes adapting U.S. security paradigms to non-state threats and 21st-century warfare. His articles analyze Task Force 714’s Iraq operations, AI integration in military strategy, and counterterrorism tactics. Awards include the Bradley Fellowship and Scaife Foundation support. He advises U.S. agencies and teaches courses on intelligence policy, irregular warfare, and crisis management. Grants include funding from the Smith Richardson Foundation and Deloitte for projects on China’s South China Sea strategy and malign influence detection. Shultz leads ISSP, which trains students in national security careers through curriculum development, crisis simulations, and military fellowships. He has conducted fieldwork globally, including in the Middle East and NATO regions, teaching special operations strategies to foreign militaries. Labs/teams include collaborations with SOCOM, JSOU, and the Marine Corps on irregular warfare and AI-driven intelligence systems.
