On 7 – 10 June 2021 the School of Security Studies, King’s College London, held its second annual online research conference entitled ‘Order and Disorder: Navigating Global Crises’. Panels representing the School’s Research Themes brought together expertise from established academics and emerging voices of PhD students from across the Defence Studies and War Studies Departments.

In the eight panels, scholars explored the nature and implications of the disruptive forces that are reconfiguring our world, and how we can challenge old notions of order, implement lessons learned from past experiences, and utilise technologies to better navigate future crises.

Watch the panel recordings here:

Scholars covered topical issues including the technological innovations affecting surveillance and privacy, democratic governance, the UK government’s Integrated Review, climate change, health security and intelligence, and the impact on policies after Brexit. Discussions and audience questions also explored populism and democracy, post-conflict reconstruction and other challenges which are changing world order(s) and putting considerable strain on the institutions that have been responsible for maintaining peace, stability and prosperity for decades.

The School also held daily internal workshops for PhD students and early career researchers, covering strategies on getting published, postdoctoral funding opportunities, professional coaching on work/life balance, transitioning to careers outside academia and a special film screening of Restless Memories, Elina Lange-Lonatamisvili’s 2020 film on child refugees.