Security and defence
Our security and defence research explores ways in which we can reduce the impact of war, encourage peace, improve the lives of citizens around the world, and create a safer, more peaceful world. It deals with some of the most-pressing and damaging global issues of our time.
We have a breadth of knowledge across many area of security and defence, and our collaborative, multidisciplinary research covers a wide range of contemporary security and defence challenges – including 'remote warfare', gender-based violence, nuclear non-proliferation and deterrence.
Our research is regularly published in international peer-reviewed journals, including Contemporary Security Policy, Development Policy Review, Third World Quarterly, Critical Studies on Security, European Journal of International Relations, and the Journal of Contemporary African Studies.
Our researchers also publish monographs with leading academic publishers, such as Cambridge University Press, Palgrave Macmillan and Routledge.
Our research covers the following topics
- The securitisation of development
- Nuclear non-proliferation and deterrence
- Terrorism
- Insurgency
- Strategy
- Gender and security
- Foreign policy
- West African peace and security
- Risk and resilience
Methods
We use a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods, including statistical analysis, social network analysis, document analysis, media discourse analysis, questionnaires, and interviews.
Collaborations and funders
Our research is conducted in collaboration with government departments, including the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and the Department for International Development (DFID).
We also work with other universities, both nationally and internationally, including Ibadan University, Nigeria, and with policy institutes, think tanks and NGOs, such as Chatham House and the Overseas Development Institute. These relationships lead to collaborative research, funding bids, conferences, workshops and student placements.
Recent projects have received funding from major funding organisations, including DFID, the Global Challenges Research Fund, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the British Academy, and EU Horizon 2020 (European Union).
Projects and publication highlights
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Assessing the Shifting Character of Contemporary Intervention in West Africa
A collaborative project that investigates the impact of multinational coalitions in interventions
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Implications of the Security State in Pakistan for Social Inclusion and Access to Justice
A project that identifies key local stakeholders and the impact of state-security apparatuses on groups trying to access justice.
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International Journal of Gender Studies in Developing Societies (IJGSDS), Vol. 3, No. 1 (2019), Tamsin Bradley and Sutirtha Sahariah
Discover our areas of expertise
Research groups
Interested in a PhD in Politics & International Development?
Browse our postgraduate research degrees – including PhDs and MPhils – at our Politics & International Development postgraduate research degrees page.