Professor Matthew Moran
Head of the Department of War Studies
- Professor of International Security
Research interests
- Conflict
- International relations
- Policy
- Politics
- Security
Biography
Matthew Moran is Professor of International Security and Head of the Department of War Studies at King’s College London. He also serves as Director of Research for the Department.
Professor Moran’s research spans a number of areas, ranging from the study of collective disorder and rioting to the study of proliferation behaviour as it relates to weapons of mass destruction (WMD). He also has a strong interest in open source intelligence (OSINT) and related technological developments. Professor Moran’s current work is focused on understanding the dynamics of chemical weapons use in Syria.
Professor Moran’s research has been supported by the British Academy, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the MacArthur Foundation, and various national governments. In 2014, he was awarded an honorary lectureship at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa. He is also an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Research
- WMD proliferation and non-proliferation;
- Proliferation behaviour;
- Nuclear security;
- Open source intelligence (OSINT)
- Riots and public disorder
Teaching
- Armchair Intelligence: Open Sources and Online Investigation (MA)
- Proliferation and International Security, (MA)
PhD supervision
I am willing to provide PhD supervision in any of my areas of research interest.
Publications
- Trust in Nuclear Disarmament Verification (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018) [with Wyn Bowen, Hassan Elbahtimy and Christopher Hobbs].
- Living on the Edge: Iran, Nuclear Hedging and Countering Proliferation (Palgrave Macmillan, 2016) [with Wyn Bowen and Dina Esfandiary].
- Riots: An International Comparison (Palgrave Macmillan, 2016) [with David Waddington].
- Open Source Intelligence in the Twenty-First Century: New Approaches and Opportunities (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014) [with Christopher Hobbs and Daniel Salisbury].
- ‘Fusing Algorithms and Analysts: Open-Source Intelligence in the Age of “Big Data”’. Intelligence and National Security 33, no.3 (2018): 391-406, https://doi.org/10.1080/02684527.2017.1406677
- ‘Terrorism and the banlieues: The Charlie Hebdo Attacks in Context’. Modern and Contemporary France 25, no.3 (2017): 315-332, https://doi.org/10.1080/09639489.2017.1323199
Research
Cyber Security Research Group
CSRG promotes research into cyber security bringing together experts from diverse disciplines.
Nuclear Security Culture Programme
The Nuclear Security Culture Programme (NSCP) works in partnership with governments and industry around the world to strengthen nuclear security.
Project status: Ongoing
Conflict Records Unit
The Conflict Records Unit specialises in primary sources of contentious, war-related provenance and enduring historical value
Centre for Conflict & Health Research
Cross disciplinary initiative studying the intersection of global health, security, and political governance in conflict-affected fragile states and regions.
King's Cybersecurity Centre
An EPSRC-NCSC Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR). It provides expertise on most areas of cyber security, it has a critical mass of researchers working on three main research themes and their interrelationship.
News
Alumni celebrate 30 years of War Studies BA programme
The Department of War Studies at King’s College London hosted an alumni reunion at King’s Strand Campus, celebrating 30 years of the War Studies BA programme.
Juliette Pattinson appointed as Professor of War Studies
With over 20 years of experience in academia and having served as the Director of the Division of Arts and Humanities at the University of Kent, Professor...
War Studies students develop solutions to address national security challenges
As part of the 'Hacking Defence Problems' module, MA students worked with the Ministry of Defence in addressing emerging threats and security challenges,...
Latest edition of the Nuclear Security Briefing Book (NSBB) published
To reflect latest developments in nuclear security, an updated edition of the Nuclear Security Briefing Book (NSBB) has been published.
Wargaming the Pandemic's Effects
KCL's Wargaming Network explores how novel wargaming methods can help us understand the short and long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Events
Postdoc Funding Opportunities [INTERNAL EVENT]
A workshop providing an introduction to postdoctoral funding
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
How are digital sleuths making their mark on the Ukraine war?
MATTHEW MORAN: How is open source intelligence affecting the war in Ukraine?
Brexit and beyond: UK Sanctions Policy
Brexit has the potential to significantly undermine the role and reputation of the UK as an international sanctions actor.
Why is the new Global Human Rights Sanctions regime significant?
With Brexit on the horizon, the UK is launching its first major sanctions regime independent of Europe.
Spotlight
Strengthening global nuclear security
War Studies researchers have played a significant role in supporting initiatives around the world to reduce the risks associated with nuclear weapons.
Research
Cyber Security Research Group
CSRG promotes research into cyber security bringing together experts from diverse disciplines.
Nuclear Security Culture Programme
The Nuclear Security Culture Programme (NSCP) works in partnership with governments and industry around the world to strengthen nuclear security.
Project status: Ongoing
Conflict Records Unit
The Conflict Records Unit specialises in primary sources of contentious, war-related provenance and enduring historical value
Centre for Conflict & Health Research
Cross disciplinary initiative studying the intersection of global health, security, and political governance in conflict-affected fragile states and regions.
King's Cybersecurity Centre
An EPSRC-NCSC Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR). It provides expertise on most areas of cyber security, it has a critical mass of researchers working on three main research themes and their interrelationship.
News
Alumni celebrate 30 years of War Studies BA programme
The Department of War Studies at King’s College London hosted an alumni reunion at King’s Strand Campus, celebrating 30 years of the War Studies BA programme.
Juliette Pattinson appointed as Professor of War Studies
With over 20 years of experience in academia and having served as the Director of the Division of Arts and Humanities at the University of Kent, Professor...
War Studies students develop solutions to address national security challenges
As part of the 'Hacking Defence Problems' module, MA students worked with the Ministry of Defence in addressing emerging threats and security challenges,...
Latest edition of the Nuclear Security Briefing Book (NSBB) published
To reflect latest developments in nuclear security, an updated edition of the Nuclear Security Briefing Book (NSBB) has been published.
Wargaming the Pandemic's Effects
KCL's Wargaming Network explores how novel wargaming methods can help us understand the short and long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Events
Postdoc Funding Opportunities [INTERNAL EVENT]
A workshop providing an introduction to postdoctoral funding
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
How are digital sleuths making their mark on the Ukraine war?
MATTHEW MORAN: How is open source intelligence affecting the war in Ukraine?
Brexit and beyond: UK Sanctions Policy
Brexit has the potential to significantly undermine the role and reputation of the UK as an international sanctions actor.
Why is the new Global Human Rights Sanctions regime significant?
With Brexit on the horizon, the UK is launching its first major sanctions regime independent of Europe.
Spotlight
Strengthening global nuclear security
War Studies researchers have played a significant role in supporting initiatives around the world to reduce the risks associated with nuclear weapons.