Research centres

A centre of excellence for rigorous, independent-minded, and policy-relevant research in global security, conflict and governance.

The Centre for Global Security and Governance was established in 2024/25 as a research centre at the University of Reading to offer expertise in the fields of international security and international relations. It's dedicated to producing internationally recognised academic work with clear policy focus and practical relevance. Our vision is to bring international relations and security expertise into dialogue with practitioners and policy-makers through knowledge transfer and research impact.  

The Centre’s expertise is organised around three research themes that combine theoretical insights with evidence-based approaches:

• Governance, Legitimacy, and Order - scholarship that challenges conventional wisdom on legitimation of international organisations, and questions issues such as collective identity and nationalism within the context of international security.
• Contemporary Conflict, War and Peace - research into the changes in the conduct of war, rise of new forms of conflict, and puzzles around forms of peace established after negotiated settlements with non-state armed groups.
• Historical Perspectives on Global Politics - the evolution of norms and rules about the use of force, nuclear weapons, and terrorism, in comparative perspective.

Our world-leading expertise shapes our vision to be a leading platform for knowledge exchange and transfer, research impact, and professional and executive education. We accomplish this through combining:

• applied research, robust exchanges of ideas with our community of Visiting Fellows, and the renowned Ways of War Speaker series
• collaborative work with both University and external partners
• leading on executive/professional military education through initiatives such as the Army Higher Education Pathway (AHEP)
• policy-facing work that empowers stakeholders with intellectually diverse mindsets and outcome-oriented skillsets addressing some of the key questions shaping global politics
• the Centre’s annual workshop, Reading Strategic Dialogue.  

The Centre has an extensive network of national and international partners from academia, governmental and non-governmental organisations, and the private sector including:

• Global Law at Reading (GLAR)
• The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS)
• The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

Members

• Dr Vladimir Rauta, Director
• Professor Sarah von Billerbeck 
• Dr Derek Bolton
• Dr Jonathan Golub
• Dr Amanda Hall
• Dr Jakob Hauter
• Dr Adam Humphreys
• Dr Younis Lahwej
• Dr Graham O'Dwyer
• Dr Joseph O’Mahoney
• Dr Geoff Sloan
• Professor Harmonie Toros
• Dr Kenton White

The Centre for Political Behaviour and Policy Analysis brings together leading academics, practitioners and policymakers to tackle the most consequential questions about how citizens think, feel and act in politics – and how institutions and policies shape those choices. Using theory-led research and cutting-edge empirical approaches (quantitative analysis, public-opinion surveys and experiments), we generate evidence that strengthens democratic practice and informs better policy.

We deliver rigorous, policy-relevant research on elections and democracy; emotions, identities and political behaviour; public policy and interest groups; and the role of institutions, parties and civil society in shaping outcomes. We have particular methodological expertise in quantitative methods, public opinion surveys, and experiments. Working in partnership across sectors, we translate research into practical insight, evaluate what works in domains such as public opinion and climate policy, and make our findings accessible to those who design, scrutinise and implement policy.

We envision a healthier democratic ecosystem in which public opinion is understood with nuance and policy is crafted with evidence. As a trusted hub that bridges scholarship and practice, we aim to set the standard for methodological rigour, advance open and impactful analysis of political behaviour and public policy, and equip the next generation of researchers and practitioners to meet emerging challenges.

Members

• Professor David Marshall, Director
• Dr Victor Araújo
• Dr Jonathan Golub
• Dr Matthias Krönke
• Dr Katharina Lawall
• Dr Lawrence McKay
• Dr Miriam Sorace
• Dr Lauren Leek