War, Peace and Security

Caroline Kennedy-Pipe is a leading expert in the study of war. In 2024, she was awarded the Professional Association Award by the British International Studies Association (BISA) for her distinguished contributions to International Studies. Her latest research on Arctic and High North geopolitics, urban warfare, and terrorism continues to make a significant contribution to the understanding of contemporary war. She is a regular adviser to NATO, the UK Ministry of Defence and the House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee, amongst others.

Duncan Depledge is leading research with funding from the ESRC that aims to further understanding of the implications of climate change and the global energy transition for the future character of military operations and war. Duncan has been engaged as a subject matter expert by NATO, the UK Ministry of Defence, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.  He has served as an expert witness to several UK Parliamentary Select Committees and as a Special Adviser to the House of Commons Defence Committee.

Sam Edwards is at the cutting edge of research into the politics of war memory. His book, Allies in Memory: World War II and the Politics of Transatlantic Commemoration (CUP, 2015) was shortlisted for the Royal Historical Society’s Gladstone Prize. Sam’s research has attracted funding and fellowships from the US Army Heritage and Education Center, the US Naval War College, the USAF Academy Library, and the AHRC’s Collaborative Doctoral Partnership scheme. A regular commentator in the international media, Sam has also provided expert commentary to several major anniversary commemorations, most recently for France 24 during the 80th anniversary of D-Day. He is a Trustee of Britain’s national D-Day museum, The D-Day Story (Portsmouth) and co-editor-in-chief of the British Journal for Military History.

Ali Bilgic’s research explores the psychological, emotional, and socio-cultural factors driving insecurity and conflict in the contemporary emerging global disorder. Ali has been involved in international research consortiums funded by the EU, British Academy, and ESRC. His current research focuses on the security and geopolitical impacts of disinformation and resilience-building through trust. His work as the Prince Claus Chair in Development and Equity (2017-19) and his latest book, Positive Security: Collective Life in an Uncertain World, examined how to rebuild collective life within and between states to combat fear and anxiety. Ali edits Bristol University Press’s ‘Gender, Sexuality and Global Politics’ series and advises the UK Cabinet Office and the U.S. Department of State, among others.

Lee Jarvis is producing research into the drivers of terrorism and radicalisation, as well as the strategies that liberal and illiberal states are adopting to counter them. He has received extensive funding from UK and Australian research councils, and his findings have been cited by the International Court of Justice, the UK’s Independent Review of Terrorism Legislation, and in the work of the UK Parliament, amongst others. Lee edits the journal Critical Studies on Terrorism. His most recent book, Radicalisation, Counter-radicalisation and Prevent (Manchester University Press, 2024), investigated citizen conceptions of ‘radicalization’. 

Alex Christoyannopoulos launched The Journal of Pacifism and Nonviolence in April 2023 and continues to serve as its Editor-in-Chief. Published by Brill, and assisted by a prestigious editorial board of scholars based across four continents, the journal publishes pioneering interdisciplinary research that challenges common assumptions about violence, war, militarism, pacifism and the possibilities of nonviolence. 

Giulia Piccolino is conducting impactful research on armed conflict and peacebuilding. In a high-profile collaboration with Universidad del Valle (Cali, Colombia), she has worked with international researchers to launch Trocha De Paz and disseminate the findings of PazAltoCauca across Colombia and the UK and contribute to the restoration of peace in rural Colombia. With funding from the Harry Guggenheim foundation, Giulia is also part of an international research term conducting research on civil-military relations in Côte d’Ivoire, with a view to preventing inter-communal conflicts and counter violent extremism.