About War Studies

The War Studies Working Group continues a long tradition of the study of war, peace, and security from all perspectives within BISA. Founded by James Patton Rogers and Patrick Bury in 2018, we seek to provide a platform for the exchange of ideas, the dissemination of high quality and innovative research, and for member and wider societal/policy networking.

The aims of the War Studies working group are to:

maximise interest and participation in War Studies research
encourage dissemination of War Studies research amongst the BISA community and beyond
provide a platform for establishing links with think tanks, human rights groups, NGOs, the military community, and government sectors
publish a new War Studies journal.

War Studies leadership team

Dr James Patton Rogers is the Executive Director of the Cornell Brooks Tech Policy Institute at Cornell University and a founding member of the BISA War Studies leadership team. A war historian, broadcaster, and policy adviser, James is an expert on drone technologies, weaponry, and the history of war. He currently advises the UN Security Council, UNOCT, and NATO on the global proliferation of high-tech weapons systems. His new book, Precision: A History of American Warfare, is out now.
Professor Caroline Kennedy-Pipe is Professor of War Studies at the University of Loughborough and a member of the BISA War Studies leadership team. Caroline is a former President of BISA, Chair of the BISA from 2004 to 2006, and has published extensively on Russia, the Cold War, and terrorism. She has most recently managed funded research projects on IEDS, suicide bombers, and drone warfare. Currently, Caroline works on Arctic Security, Russia and the High North as well as writing a book urban warfare.

PG Leadership Committee

Marissa Martin is a PhD candidate in the Defence Studies Department, King's College London, a member of the Freeman Air and Space Institute, and a member of BISA's Astropolitics and War Studies working groups. Her research examines how anglospheric middle powers and close allies respond to a shifting security environment, the changing character of conflict, and doubts about the United States' reliability, through the lens of their respective space policies.
Alexandra Ba-Tin is a doctoral candidate at the University of Edinburgh School of Social and Political Science, researching the impact of hybrid threats on global security strategies. Alexandra has also worked in the defence and security sector in the military air and digital intelligence spaces, in roles including compliance and business analysis. Alongside her research, Alexandra is Co-President of the Accessible AI Society whose mission is to educate and empower people of all backgrounds to engage with artificial intelligence.
Joe Murphy is a second-year Politics PhD student at the University of Edinburgh. His research interests particularly revolve around drone warfare, civilian protections, and airpower. Currently, his research investigates the consequences of civilian participation in hostilities in the context of drone warfare during the ongoing war in Ukraine. Looking at the case of civilians building and providing drones for the Ukrainian armed forces, his research has close consideration of the current mechanisms and protections within international humanitarian law and uses normative theory. Previously he has obtained a BA (Hons) in Criminology and MA in International Relations from Leeds Beckett University. His MA dissertation that focused on Western coloniality and the ‘war on terror’ received a special commendation in the BISA ‘New Voices in Cultural Relations Prize.
Tara Zammit is a PhD Candidate in War Studies at King’s College London. She has been awarded the SSHRC-CRSH Department of National Defence MINDS Initiative Doctoral Award to undertake her research. Tara’s research is situated within the fields of ontological security, feminist security studies, and war studies and examines the service experiences of women and LGBTQ+ personnel in the British Armed Forces post-2000. She holds an MPhil in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Cambridge (2019), and a BA (Hons) in Peace, Conflict and Justice and Near and Middle Eastern Civilisations from the University of Toronto (2018). Tara is a member of the Leadership Team for Women in Defence UK, a RUSI NextGen Ambassador, and a volunteer with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. In addition, Tara has extensive experience in podcast production and editing, communications and media strategy development, copywriting, and digital marketing. She also plays for KCLWRFC.
Felix Auboeck is a PhD student in Security Studies at Loughborough University under supervision of Professor Caroline Kennedy-Pipe. His thesis, The German Use of Private Military and Security Companies: A Bourdesian Analysis of the Afghanistan Campaign, examines the use and relationships of private contractors with the German Bundeswehr from 2001 to 2021 in Afghanistan. His primary research interests focus on private sector involvement in warfare, particularly the defence and security industry. Felix holds a BA in History and Political Science from the University of Michigan and an MSc in International Financial and Political Relations from Loughborough University. Outside his studies, Felix serves on the Athletes’ Commission of the Austrian Olympic Team and represents European athletes within the global governing body World Aquatics.