
Dr Sarah Tzinieris
Research Fellow
Research interests
- International relations
- Conflict
- Security
- Policy
- Strategy
Biography
Dr Sarah Tzinieris is a Research Fellow in the Department of War Studies. She holds an MPhil and PhD in International Relations from the University of Cambridge, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. She previously worked at the BBC as a strategist and prior to that in consultancy focusing on political risk, economic development and sustainability. She also served as a UN Security Council advisor for the European Union Delegation to the United Nations.
The nature of Sarah’s research has evolved significantly over the course of her career, enabling her to take an interdisciplinary and synthesised approach. She is based in the Centre for Science and Security Studies (CSSS) at King’s, a multidisciplinary group that conducts scholarly and policy research at the complex nexus of conflict, security and science. She is the Programme Director of the new MA in Security Studies.
Most recently Sarah’s research has concentrated on emerging challenges to world order, with a focus on the Indo-Pacific region and the AUKUS security pact. Related to this, she has been supporting the Security & Defence strand of the PLuS Alliance. She has also been conducting research on the future of global sanctions, in particular China’s sanctions policy. Her other research interests include coercive diplomacy, deterrence, resilience, British foreign policy, the global nuclear order, and CBRN terrorism. One of her recent highlights was co-editing The Oxford Handbook of Nuclear Security, published by Oxford University Press.
Current research Interests
- Grand strategy and world order
- Minilateralism in the Indo-Pacific, especially AUKUS
- Sanctions and coercive diplomacy
- Resilience and supply chains of strategic technologies and critical minerals
- Deterrence, especially by-resilience strategies
- Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) terrorism
- Global nuclear order, especially non-proliferation
- British foreign policy
Teaching
International Affairs MA/PG Dip/PG Cert, Defence Studies Department:
- Sanctions, Strategy and Statecraft
- Conflict in International History
Sarah has delivered occasional lectures for the following modules:
- International Security and Strategy (Advanced Command and Staff Course at the UK’s Defence Academy)
- Non-Proliferation and International Security (Department of War Studies)
- Armchair Intelligence: Open Sources and Online Investigation (Department of War Studies)
- Current Issues in Science and Security (Department of War Studies)
Publications
A list of Sarah’s publications is available on her research profile.
Research

Nuclear Security Culture Programme
The Nuclear Security Culture Programme (NSCP) works in partnership with governments and industry around the world to strengthen nuclear security.
Project status: Ongoing
News
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...

New report analyses nuclear security in academic and research settings
A new case studies handbook has been published that explores how security systems are developed within universities and research institutions to protect...

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.

New research explores the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on nuclear security
The study examines measures put in place in the nuclear sector to mitigate risks from the pandemic.
Events

The A/CPPNM and the international nuclear security regime
Join the March edition of the Nuclear Security Culture Programme webinar series.
Please note: this event has passed.

Event: Nuclear security in times of crisis
A online discussion on how political, economic, environmental events have put pressure on nuclear security systems
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Unravelling the AUKUS Security Pact with Dr Zeno Leoni and Dr Sarah Tzinieris
Ahead of the AUKUS in Context course, we caught up with two King’s academics, Dr Zeno Leoni and Dr Sarah Tzinieris, who are currently carrying out research on...

Research

Nuclear Security Culture Programme
The Nuclear Security Culture Programme (NSCP) works in partnership with governments and industry around the world to strengthen nuclear security.
Project status: Ongoing
News
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...

New report analyses nuclear security in academic and research settings
A new case studies handbook has been published that explores how security systems are developed within universities and research institutions to protect...

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.

New research explores the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on nuclear security
The study examines measures put in place in the nuclear sector to mitigate risks from the pandemic.
Events

The A/CPPNM and the international nuclear security regime
Join the March edition of the Nuclear Security Culture Programme webinar series.
Please note: this event has passed.

Event: Nuclear security in times of crisis
A online discussion on how political, economic, environmental events have put pressure on nuclear security systems
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Unravelling the AUKUS Security Pact with Dr Zeno Leoni and Dr Sarah Tzinieris
Ahead of the AUKUS in Context course, we caught up with two King’s academics, Dr Zeno Leoni and Dr Sarah Tzinieris, who are currently carrying out research on...
