
Professor Wyn Bowen
Professor of Non-Proliferation and International Security
- Co-Director of the Freeman Air and Space Institute
Research interests
- Conflict
- International relations
- Policy
- Security
Biography
Wyn Bowen is Professor of Non-proliferation and International Security in the Department of War Studies and Co-Director of the Freeman Air & Space Institute in the School of Security Studies, King's College London. Between 2016 - 2022 he served as Head of the School of Security Studies. Prior to this from 2014 he was Head of Department/Dean of Academic Studies of the Defence Studies Department, based at the Joint Services Command and Staff College (JSCSC) at the UK Defence Academy. Prior to April 2014, he was Director of the Centre for Science and Security Studies (2007-2014). Bowen has been a Senior Research Associate in the Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Middlebury Institute of International Studies (1995-1997) and a Centre Associate of the Matthew B. Ridgway Centre for International Security Studies, University of Pittsburgh.
Bowen is a William Penney Fellow of the Atomic Weapons Establishment working on issues related to arms control. Bowen was a weapons inspector on several missile teams in Iraq with the UN Special Commission (1997-98) and also worked as a consultant to the International Atomic Energy Agency on nuclear safeguards issues in the Middle East, North Africa and East Asia. Bowen has been a Specialist Advisor to the House of Commons' Foreign Affairs Committee for inquiries into 'The Decision to go to War with Iraq,' (2003) and 'Weapons of Mass Destruction,' (2000), and served on the Royal Society’s Advisory Committee on the Scientific Aspects of International Security and its Working Group on Nuclear Non-Proliferation. He has been a Trustee of the Verification Research, Training and Information Centre (VERTIC).
Research
- Nuclear and missile proliferation and non-proliferation
- Nuclear proliferation behaviour
- Arms control
- Deterrence and strategic stability
- Coercive diplomacy
- US security policy
- International efforts to prevent chemical weapons use in the Syrian civil war
- Global WMD threat reduction
- Libyan nuclear programme (pre-2004)
- Iranian nuclear programme
Teaching and Supervision
- History and Politics of Arms Control (PGT)
- Arms Control Case Studies (PGT)
- Theory and Practice of Deterrence (PGT)
- PhD supervision on issues related to research interests (as above)
Publications
- "The Obama Administration and Syrian Chemical Weapons: Deterrence, Compellence, and the Limits of the 'Resolve plus Bombs' Formula", (with Jeff Knopf and Matthew Moran) Security Studies (2020), Vol.29, Issue 5. Open Access at: https://doi.org/10.1080/09636412.2020.1859130
- Trust in Nuclear Disarmament Verification (with Hassan Elbahtimy, Christopher Hobbs and Matthew Moran) (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018) (ISBN 978-3-319-40987-0), 176pp.
- Living on the Edge: Iran and the Practice of Nuclear Hedging (with Matthew Moran and Dina Esfandiary) (Palgrave Macmillan, May 2016) (ISBN 978-1-137-27308-6), 189pp.
- The Global Partnership against WMD: Success and Shortcomings of G8
- Threat Reduction since 9/11 (with Alan Heyes and Hugh Chalmers) (Taylor and Francis, September 2011), 133pp (ISBN 0855161787).
- Libya and Nuclear Proliferation: Stepping Back from the Brink, (Routledge, 2006), 103pp (ISBN 0-415-41238-2).
- The Politics of Ballistic Missile Non-proliferation (Macmillan Press Ltd, 2000) 276pp (ISBN 0312226187).
- American Security Policy in the 1990s: Beyond Containment (with David H. Dunn) (Dartmouth, 1996) 202pp (ISBN 1855216159).
- ‘Radiological Terrorism: Is There a Role for Deterrence?’ (with Jasper Pandza) in Andreas Wegner and Alex Wilner (eds), Deterring Terrorism: Theory and Practice (Stanford University Press, 2012). (ISBN 10: 0804782490).
- ‘Deterrence and Asymmetry: Non-State Actors and Mass Casualty Terrorism’, Contemporary Security Policy, 25 (April 2004) (ISSN 13523260).
Visit Bowen's PURE Profile for more publications.
Expertise and Public Engagement
Bowen served as a weapons inspector on several ballistic missile inspection teams in Iraq with the UN Special Commission (1997-98) and worked as a consultant to the International Atomic Energy Agency on nuclear safeguards issues in the Middle East, North Africa and East Asia (2001-7). He served as a Specialist Advisor to the House of Commons' Foreign Affairs Committee for inquiries into 'The Decision to go to War with Iraq,' (2003) and 'Weapons of Mass Destruction,' (2000). Bowen has worked extensively with government departments on the provision of security-related education and training, as well as research and advice.
Bowen has served on the Royal Society’s Advisory Committee on the Scientific Aspects of International Security and the Royal Society’s Working Group on Nuclear Non-Proliferation. He was a Trustee of the Verification Research, Training and Information Centre (VERTIC) and a member of the Advisory Board of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) Journal. He was founding co-editor of the journal Defence Studies (Taylor and Francis).
Research

Cyber Security Research Group
CSRG promotes research into cyber security bringing together experts from diverse disciplines.
Status not set
Freeman Air and Space Institute
Freeman Air & Space provides independent, original knowledge and analysis of air and space power issues.
Status not set
Corbett 100
Corbett 100 marks the centenary of the death of historian, philosopher of seapower and maritime strategist Sir Julian Corbett (1854-1922).
Project status: Ongoing

Conflict Records Unit
The Conflict Records Unit specialises in primary sources of contentious, war-related provenance and enduring historical value
Status not set
Centre for Conflict & Health Research
Cross disciplinary initiative studying the intersection of global health, security, and political governance in conflict-affected fragile states and regions.
Status not setNews
RAF needs to adapt as world becomes more unstable, says Chief of the Air Staff
Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, speaking at a recent event at King’s, stated that the RAF needs to be "ready to do more" to combat future adversaries...

Collaboration, innovation and integration: Freeman Institute attends DSEI 2023
In September, members of the Freeman Air and Space Institute (FASI) attended the biennial Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) event.

Freeman Air and Space Institute marks three-year anniversary
The Freeman Air and Space Institute, based in the School of Security Studies, celebrates three years since its inaugural launch.

The Rt Hon Lord Willetts on space, sustainability and what the UK can do next
The Rt Hon Lord Willetts FRS joined the Freeman Air and Space Institute for their summer lecture where he reflected on how the space domain has evolved since...

King's academics publish the definitive book on nuclear security with Oxford University Press
With over 60 contributors spanning six continents, and coverage of historical, current and emerging issues, The Oxford Handbook of Nuclear Security brings the...

Day 2: The London Defence Conference, hosted by King's
Chair of the London Defence Conference, Lord Salisbury welcomed attendees to the second day of insight from policymakers, military experts and academics on...

Day 1: The London Defence Conference, hosted by King's
Security and defence experts and leading political figures from around the world are attending a major two-day conference at King’s, discussing how to better...

Latest edition of the Nuclear Security Briefing Book (NSBB) published
To reflect latest developments in nuclear security, an updated edition of the Nuclear Security Briefing Book (NSBB) has been published.

King's and Reaction co-hosting major conference on the Defence of Europe conference
Leading policymakers, military experts, academics and commentators are gathering to discuss the key defence and security challenges at an exclusive conference...

King's signs Armed Forces Covenant
President & Principal Professor Sir Edward Byrne demonstrates King’s commitment to supporting serving and ex-services personnel and their families by signing...

Events

Conflict escalation risks and scenarios in the evolving strategic environments: Europe, East Asia, and South Asia.
Join us for an online discussion which will examine escalatory risks across a broad geography including Europe, East Asia, and South Asian regions.
Please note: this event has passed.

Adversarial Precision-Strike Regimes Roundtable: Comparing China and Iran
The Freeman Air and Space Institute (FASI), King’s College London (KCL), is pleased to host Dr Nicola Leveringhaus and James (Jim) Lamson in a roundtable...
Please note: this event has passed.

Turkish Perspectives on the Ukraine War
Join us to hear from Professor Dr Mustafa Kibaroğlu give a lecture on Turkish perspectives on the Ukraine war, followed by a Q and A session chaired by...
Please note: this event has passed.

The Language of Nuclear Security
Zenobia will explore the language of nuclear security to discuss the importance of documenting the cultural background of key nuclear security concepts. She...
Please note: this event has passed.

UK Deterrence and Assurance Academic Alliance Conference
The UK DAAA will hold its annual conference in partnership with the Defence Nuclear Organisation and King’s College London.
Please note: this event has passed.

Women, Power, Science & Misinformation – In Conversation with Angela Saini
Join us for a Conversation with award-winning science journalist, author and broadcaster, Angela Saini
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Russian harassment of NATO aircraft and escalation risk
In his examination of Russian behaviour since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Professor Wyn Bowen illustrates how deliberate, accidental and inadvertent moves...

Spotlight
Strengthening global nuclear security
War Studies researchers have played a significant role in supporting initiatives around the world to reduce the risks associated with nuclear weapons.

Research

Cyber Security Research Group
CSRG promotes research into cyber security bringing together experts from diverse disciplines.
Status not set
Freeman Air and Space Institute
Freeman Air & Space provides independent, original knowledge and analysis of air and space power issues.
Status not set
Corbett 100
Corbett 100 marks the centenary of the death of historian, philosopher of seapower and maritime strategist Sir Julian Corbett (1854-1922).
Project status: Ongoing

Conflict Records Unit
The Conflict Records Unit specialises in primary sources of contentious, war-related provenance and enduring historical value
Status not set
Centre for Conflict & Health Research
Cross disciplinary initiative studying the intersection of global health, security, and political governance in conflict-affected fragile states and regions.
Status not setNews
RAF needs to adapt as world becomes more unstable, says Chief of the Air Staff
Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, speaking at a recent event at King’s, stated that the RAF needs to be "ready to do more" to combat future adversaries...

Collaboration, innovation and integration: Freeman Institute attends DSEI 2023
In September, members of the Freeman Air and Space Institute (FASI) attended the biennial Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) event.

Freeman Air and Space Institute marks three-year anniversary
The Freeman Air and Space Institute, based in the School of Security Studies, celebrates three years since its inaugural launch.

The Rt Hon Lord Willetts on space, sustainability and what the UK can do next
The Rt Hon Lord Willetts FRS joined the Freeman Air and Space Institute for their summer lecture where he reflected on how the space domain has evolved since...

King's academics publish the definitive book on nuclear security with Oxford University Press
With over 60 contributors spanning six continents, and coverage of historical, current and emerging issues, The Oxford Handbook of Nuclear Security brings the...

Day 2: The London Defence Conference, hosted by King's
Chair of the London Defence Conference, Lord Salisbury welcomed attendees to the second day of insight from policymakers, military experts and academics on...

Day 1: The London Defence Conference, hosted by King's
Security and defence experts and leading political figures from around the world are attending a major two-day conference at King’s, discussing how to better...

Latest edition of the Nuclear Security Briefing Book (NSBB) published
To reflect latest developments in nuclear security, an updated edition of the Nuclear Security Briefing Book (NSBB) has been published.

King's and Reaction co-hosting major conference on the Defence of Europe conference
Leading policymakers, military experts, academics and commentators are gathering to discuss the key defence and security challenges at an exclusive conference...

King's signs Armed Forces Covenant
President & Principal Professor Sir Edward Byrne demonstrates King’s commitment to supporting serving and ex-services personnel and their families by signing...

Events

Conflict escalation risks and scenarios in the evolving strategic environments: Europe, East Asia, and South Asia.
Join us for an online discussion which will examine escalatory risks across a broad geography including Europe, East Asia, and South Asian regions.
Please note: this event has passed.

Adversarial Precision-Strike Regimes Roundtable: Comparing China and Iran
The Freeman Air and Space Institute (FASI), King’s College London (KCL), is pleased to host Dr Nicola Leveringhaus and James (Jim) Lamson in a roundtable...
Please note: this event has passed.

Turkish Perspectives on the Ukraine War
Join us to hear from Professor Dr Mustafa Kibaroğlu give a lecture on Turkish perspectives on the Ukraine war, followed by a Q and A session chaired by...
Please note: this event has passed.

The Language of Nuclear Security
Zenobia will explore the language of nuclear security to discuss the importance of documenting the cultural background of key nuclear security concepts. She...
Please note: this event has passed.

UK Deterrence and Assurance Academic Alliance Conference
The UK DAAA will hold its annual conference in partnership with the Defence Nuclear Organisation and King’s College London.
Please note: this event has passed.

Women, Power, Science & Misinformation – In Conversation with Angela Saini
Join us for a Conversation with award-winning science journalist, author and broadcaster, Angela Saini
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Russian harassment of NATO aircraft and escalation risk
In his examination of Russian behaviour since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Professor Wyn Bowen illustrates how deliberate, accidental and inadvertent moves...

Spotlight
Strengthening global nuclear security
War Studies researchers have played a significant role in supporting initiatives around the world to reduce the risks associated with nuclear weapons.
