The Centre for Statecraft & National Security (CSNS) and the Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) research programme are delighted to invite you to the launch of the new book by Dr Nicholas Wright, 'Warhead: How the Brain Shapes War and War Shapes the Brain'.

Why did France’s defenders lose to the Nazis, despite having more tanks, troops, and guns? How did Ukraine stand firm against Russia? How do you know if you can trust an ally? How can we make clearer decisions under pressure?

In his new book, Warhead, Wright journeys through the brain to show us how it shapes human behaviour in conflict and war. Drawing upon his extensive expertise in neuroscience, combined with his strategic advisory role at the Pentagon and the Cabinet Office, Wright provides a bold new framework to explore why global tensions are rising and reveals how our brains are built for conflict, both in the office and on the battlefield. In an increasingly dangerous world that threatens our values and success, we must understand why humans fight, lose, and win wars, so we can build a more peaceful world.

Warhead's interdisciplinary approach has received kind praise from leading thinkers on war such as Sir Lawrence Freedman, Beatrice Heuser, and Sir David Omand, as well as from leading neuroscientists such as Tali Sharot, Karl Friston and Chris Frith.

This event will be moderated by Dr Nafees Hamid, Co-PI / Research & Policy Director of the XCEPT research programme in the CSNS.

About the Speakers:

Dr Nicholas Wright, MRCP, PhD is a neuroscientist and advisor to the Pentagon Joint Staff who researches the brain, technology and security at University College London, Georgetown University, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the National Defense University in Washington DC. He works with governments and the private sector. He was a neurology doctor in London and Oxford, and has published two edited books and many academic papers (e.g. Proc. Royal Soc., J. Neuro., Neuron), which have been covered by the BBC, New York Times, and The Economist. He has appeared on CNN and the BBC, and contributes to outlets like Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, the Atlantic, and Slate. Further details see.

Dr Nafees Hamid is the Co-PI / Research & Policy Director of the XCEPT research programme at King’s College London, based out of the Centre for Statecraft and National Security (CSNS). He is a cognitive scientist of political violence and peace-making. He conducts neuroscience, psychology, and qualitative fieldwork with members and supporters of extremist and armed groups. The research he has collaborated on has spanned Western Europe, the Balkans, Morocco, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, South Sudan, and Colombia. His work has informed policies and practices in counter-terrorism; countering violent extremism; strategic communication; Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration; and peace mediation and negotiation practices. He has advised and briefed on these policies to many organisations including the US State and Defense Departments, the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, UK Home Office, UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, the Global Coalition, NATO, USIP, the EU Commission, and the French Prime Minister's office.