Blog | PaCCS

Telling ‘Noble and Good Men from the Rest’: UAVs and the Prisoner taken at Sphacteria

Tue 22, Sep 2015

The situation of soldiers coming under fire and attack from other soldiers incurring risk of injury or death has, to some degree, been considered to be something of a fair fight. As we look to the ongoing centenary of the Great War, we also look back to a period where that element of fairness characterised, for the most part, the war that was fought.

A humanitarian and diplomatic crisis unfolding on the Colombia-Venezuela border

Mon 14, Sep 2015

While Europe is absorbed by the refugee crisis, another furious border crisis is unfolding in South America, displacing and endangering thousands of people.

Helping researchers break into SBRI calls

Tue 1, Sep 2015

Last week I visited Whitehall for a meeting with the Home Office and InnovateUK, where we discussed the frustrations frequently expressed by academic researchers about one of the schemes used by Government to stimulate innovation: the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI).

ECPR Standing Group on Organised Crime

Mon 17, Aug 2015

Organised crime manifests itself in many forms and stretches across continents. It has a disruptive effect on the functioning of democratic institutions, distorts the free market economy and compromises the very fabric of the civil society at large.

Improving civil preparedness for a CBRN incident in Europe

Tue 11, Aug 2015

Although it is something we never hope to have to experience, it’s important that societies are as well prepared as they can be to respond to a major chemical, biological, radioactive or nuclear (CBRN) incident.

How to embrace technology without dooming humanity to destruction

Thu 6, Aug 2015

The world today is facing some serious global challenges: creating sustainable development in the face of climate change, safeguarding rights and justice, and growing ethical markets, for a start.

Talking about security, religion and radicalisation

Wed 5, Aug 2015

Recently, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Global Uncertainties met to discuss the rise of radicalism in religion, in particular radical Islamism, following an increase in the radicalisation of people in the United Kingdom through social media and other influences.

A Lesson from History: The Dangerous Power of Idealism

Wed 29, Jul 2015

When young people fall prey to adult handlers, or turn away from parents and teachers who ‘just don’t understand’, it is not always because they do not have strong relationships at home.

Extremism plan pushes UK down dangerously illiberal road

Tue 21, Jul 2015

David Cameron has attacked British universities for failing to tackle extremism on their campuses. In a speech setting out a five-year plan to counter extreme views, the UK prime minister accused university leaders of “looking the other way” when Islamist extremists speak on campus. This, he said was “through a mixture of misguided liberalism and cultural sensitivity”.

The Changing Character of War Programme

Mon 20, Jul 2015

The Changing Character of War Programme (CCW) is devoted to the interdisciplinary study of war and armed conflict. It is a policy-relevant research programme based in Pembroke College at the University of Oxford, and enjoying global influence and international partnerships. It is unique in its delivery of high-quality, high-impact research, combined with practice, policy and advisory engagement.