War Studies

In this episode, Lord John Alderdice and XCEPT’s Dr Nafees Hamid explore the history and future of the rules-based international order, emphasising the importance of relationships, human psychology, and moral values in maintaining global stability. They discuss lessons from history, the impact of hypocrisy, and how genuine human connections can foster peace.

This research is part of XCEPT (Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends), a UK aid-funded programme. King's College London's contribution to XCEPT focuses on the factors that shape violent and peaceful behaviour in conflict-affected populations. Find out more about XCEPT at xcept-research.org.

Following acceptance of his King's Alumni Award, Hermione Dadone, Communications Manager for the School of Security Studies talks to BBC News Presenter Rich Preston about his career in international journalism, his experience of studying at King’s, and the importance of telling complex global stories clearly and accurately.

For more information about our work visit our website at: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/security-studies

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In the seventh edition of the King’s College London War Studies War Stories podcast miniseries, hosted by King’s alumni Rupert Lane and Nick Denning (BA War Studies, 2002–2005), we take to the seas with Andrew Young (BA War Studies 2004-2007, current War Studies PhD candidate).

Andrew was a young naval officer, deployed as a specialist educator, whose ships were re-routed to deal with humanitarian crises in Libya in 2014 and 2015. In 2014, HMS Enterprise, a survey vessel, was on patrol in the Mediterranean when it was sent to evacuate over 100 personnel from Tripoli, and again Andrew found himself as the resident 'expert' when HMS Bulwark was sent to rescue over 4,000 migrants from the sea off Libya, in 2015. The ships and their crews had to rapidly adapt to situations that they were not set-up to do - a superb example of military ‘adapt and overcome’.

Expect to learn:
- What it means to live aboard ship, in cramped conditions
- How to adapt in rapid time to a new mission
- How leadership, training and individual initiative drive success or failure under pressure.

What happens when public health, biology and conflict meet?

In this episode of the War Studies Podcast, Dr Julia Pearce is joined by Dr Filippa Lentzos and Dr Gemma Bowsher from King’s College London to explore the changing landscape of biosecurity, CBRN threats and health security in conflict.

The conversation examines how chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear disinformation is being used as a weapon of war, with a particular focus on Russia’s narratives around biological laboratories in Ukraine. The episode also discusses the CBRN Disinformation Tracker, the challenge of maintaining trust in public health during conflict, and how Ukraine has become a critical case study for understanding health security under pressure.

They also look beyond Ukraine to the Arctic and other regions, introducing the Matryoshka model: a way of understanding how a core disinformation claim is adapted to different local contexts, like Russian nesting dolls, by examining local histories, mistrust and geopolitical narratives.

The discussion then turns to AI, dual-use science, biological weapons governance, and whether existing arms control regimes — including the Biological Weapons Convention — are fit for a rapidly changing world.

Featuring:
Dr Julia Pearce, Reader in Social Psychology and Security Studies
Dr Filippa Lentzos, Reader in Science and International Security
Dr Gemma Bowsher, physician social scientist affiliated with the King’s Centre for Conflict and Health Security

In this episode of the War Studies Podcast, PhD student Charlotte Bascaule speaks with Admiral Carlos Chagas Viana Braga, Commandant of the Brazilian Marine Corps.

They discuss changes to the Brazilian Marine Corps, new technologies, maritime operations, peacekeeping and the challenges facing Brazil’s armed forces today.