Sarah Tzinieris

I am a Lecturer in Defence Studies within the School of Security Studies at King’s College London. I hold a PhD and MPhil in International Relations from the University of Cambridge, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. Before taking up an academic position I worked at the BBC as a Strategist, and prior to that in consultancy focusing on political risk and economic development. I also served as a UN Security Council Adviser for the European Union Delegation to the United Nations.

The nature of my work has evolved significantly over the course of my career, enabling me to take an interdisciplinary and synthesised approach. I’m based in the Defence Studies Department, a multidisciplinary group working at the forefront of professional military education internationally through its academic-military partnership with the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. I am the Programme Director of the new MA in Security Studies.

I contribute to the Nuclear Security Capacity Building Programme, a multi-million-pound project funded by the British government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. This academia-industry programme works to strengthen non-proliferation and enhance the security of nuclear and radiological materials around the world.

Most recently my research has concentrated on emerging challenges to world order and great power rivalry. I’m particularly interested in US-China strategic competition, which I examine through the lens of coercion theory. My work focuses on strategic technology partnerships (especially AUKUS), sanctions, and the weaponisation of supply chains. I have also been conducting research on disruptive technologies and critical minerals.

Previous research projects have focused on the global nuclear order, nuclear security, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) terrorism. One of my recent highlights was co-editing The Oxford Handbook of Nuclear Security, published by Oxford University Press. I serve on the Advisory Board of the Compass Journal of the UN Security Council’s 1540 Committee.

Working at King’s has given me the opportunity to be part of a stimulating, collegiate environment, and I enjoy collaborating across academic disciplines.