A lone soldier with a gun stands in a desolate landscape

Peace, Conflict and Security research group

Researching issues of international peace and conflict

‌The Peace, Conflict and Security (PCS) research group is an interdisciplinary forum for sharing research, knowledge, and informed-practice that focuses on the intertwined fields of peace, conflict, and security studies.

Our work explores the changing character of security, contributes to knowledge of issues surrounding peace, conflict and security, and produces policy-relevant research to address them.

We organise internal and external events, offer opportunities for our members to present their research, and engage with external partners through our work.

We are a community that provides support and advice for our members and identifies opportunities for collaboration with internal and external bodies/individuals. We welcome new members, regardless of experience within academia, that are looking for counsel or potential partners in future work.

Our research

As a group, our research is not solely focused on militaries or warfare, in general. Our research topics are broad and multidisciplinary. Some of the themes that our members focus on include:

  • Security and development
  • Military history
  • Air power studies
  • War and film
  • Religious extremism
  • Insurgency and political violence
  • War and the body
  • The nature and character of warfare
  • International relations theory
  • Emotion and terrorism
  • African security
  • Gender and security
  • Multinational warfare and coalitions
  • Cyber security
  • Weapons of mass destruction
  • Socio-technical security
  • Historic and contemporary defence procurement

Publication highlights

  • Chafer, T. (2021) "Beyond Françafrique — the state of relations between France and Africa", Africa South of the Sahara 2022

  • Kirabira, T. R., Jjuuko, D. (2022) "ICC upholds jail term for Ugandan rebel commander Ongwen - why it matters for Africa", The Conversation

  • Lazell, M. (2023) "UK aid to Africa: ‘nationalisation’ and neoliberalism", Canadian Journal of Development Studies

  • Stoddard, E. (2022) "Sahel insurgency: what policymakers need to do differently", The New Humanitarian

  • Powell, M. (2023) “Defence Procurement in Perspective: what the history of the aircraft industry can tell us about UK defence procurement”, Defence and Security Analysis

Project highlights

Our members have collaborated with Chatham House and FCO Research Analysts on insecurity and violent extremism in the Sahel. Our work has already generated input into policy making in Nigeria and the UK, and has further potential for policy impact.

We have strong international links with organisations, such as the West Africa Peace and Security Network, University of Ibadan (Nigeria), Université Libre de Bruxelles (Belgium), Scuola Superiore Sant Anna, Pisa, and the US Embassy in London.

  • This project employs a novel interdisciplinary, comparative approach to assess the interplay between local and transnational influences on these 'jihadist' groups in an effort to boost the conflict sensitivity of local and extra-regional actors. 

  • The West African region remains beleaguered by conflict and is an increasingly pressing concern for the UK government. This project will develop ongoing research trajectories in this area and maintain partnerships with academics in West Africa and policy makers in the UK.

  • This project, which is funded by the Reid Research Fund, Royal Holloway University, will advance our understanding of the nationalist turn in UK policy by bringing together academics, policy makers, and practitioners. 

  • Interviews will be conducted with deterrence experts to unpack how their experiences and backgrounds have shaped deterrence policy. Greater understanding of this will build towards efforts to educate and promote 21st century deterrence.

PhD candidates

  • Sorina Toltica: Remote Warfare in Nigeria
  • Sophie Quintin Adali: Towards African Seapower? The Case of Senegal

We welcome enquiries concerning research degree applications related to the themes of peace, conflict and security. Please contact either Dr Matthew Powell or Dr Dafydd Townley for more information.