James Shires
researcher and educator in politics, security and technology
About me:
I speak, write and teach on a range of topics concerning politics, security and technology, especially cybersecurity (cyber threats to individuals, organizations and states, capacity building, resilience, and expertise) and information flows (disinformation, leaks, and new media). A lot of my research focuses on the Middle East, and I spend much of my time in the region. I try to think about security and technology broadly, including human rights, gender and intersectional issues. I do talks and media interviews, and if you would like to contact me please use the website form.
Locations/institutions/affiliations:
The Hague, Netherlands: As of September 2019, I am an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Security and Global Affairs (ISGA - check out their blog here) at the University of Leiden. At ISGA, I am a member of the research group on Cybersecurity Governance and an Associate Fellow of The Hague Program for Cyber Norms. You can find more about my courses on the 'teaching' tab. I am also affiliated with the Cyber Statecraft Initiative at the Atlantic Council.
Cambridge, MA: For the academic year 2018-2019, I was a postdoctoral research fellow with the Cyber Project and Middle East Initiative at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School. I was also part of their China Cyber Policy Initiative, and remain a non-resident fellow with the Cyber Project, contributing to seminars and publications.
Oxford, UK: In 2018, I completed my DPhil in International Relations at the University of Oxford, on cybersecurity in Egypt and the Gulf states (here), with fieldwork conducted in these countries from 2015 to 2017. I am part of the University of Oxford's Centre for Technology and Global Affairs, and am regularly in Oxford and London. Before my doctoral studies, I completed an MSc at Birkbeck College, University of London, and a BA at the University of Cambridge.
