Research Themes

Our School research themes bring together researchers from across the War Studies and Defence Studies Departments to forge partnerships and collaborations around some of the vital issues in the security and defence world.  

Research themes aim to:

• make research and activities more accessible to global audiences by highlighting areas our work focuses on and providing opportunities for collaboration and funding.
• further develop communities of research practice within the School, providing enhanced support and mentoring opportunities for postgraduate students, post-doc and early career researchers. 
• help to bridge geographical distance between King’s College London campuses and the Shrivenham sites, allowing students and staff in War Studies and Defence Studies to connect more closely.
• enhance leadership and professional development opportunities for academic staff and students.

Annual Research Conference

The School of Security Studies, holds an annual 2-day research conference showcasing the latest analysis and research from academics and PhD students from across the eight research themes. 

In 2020, the conference was entitled Global Shocks: Security implications of major worldwide crises and included eight panel events from each research theme offering ethical, technological, historical and diplomatic perspectives on the challenges we face during international crises today, like Covid-19, and during historical shocks such as the end of the Cold War. 

Watch our Global Shocks Conference on Youtube