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Defence Research Network
Our apologies, as the last newsletter was sent without key interviews from members of our community on the monthly theme. Please find the updated version attached, and happy reading!

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Monthly Members' Newsletter
For new friends, welcome! We are an interdisciplinary network of Masters, PhD and Early Career Researchers focused on defence, security and military topics concerning policy, strategy, history, culture and society. We hope you find our network interesting, exciting, informative, and supportive.

For old friends, thanks for your continued involvement. It is always worth remembering that we would be nothing without you! After enjoying the summer, we are back with our March newsletter to share thoughts and discussions on 'Recruiting and interviewing the military community'. We have lots to share this month both on and off the theme but there remain numerous researcher spotlights, a reflection on a number of conferences and workshops as well as all our usual features!

Scroll down to get up to date with the news, opinions, events and opportunities from our members...
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Welcome to the Defence Research Network Newsletter!


Hello everyone! This month we have been talking about recruiting and interviewing in military contexts which I'm sure is something many of you have some experience of or are working towards.

We have lots of top tips throughout the newsletter but one of the things I often hear is an anxiety from researchers without a military background about making the first step to reach out to possible military interviewees or conducting their first interview. Whilst it is easy for me - being ex-military and having completed my doctoral interviews a while back - to say reach out and go for it, they don't bite, I think a more practical tip is to try and find other researchers who are also planning to make a similar step. Through our online workshops, I have seen how much confidence and reassurance come out of getting together and hearing the same anxieties and how others have overcome them. We hope that we are able to continue to provide a space for you to find a community so that you are not alone in your research.

Thank you so much to Lucie Pebay for all her hard work on this month's theme, and Georgie Eckersley for her input too, and thanks again to everyone who has been in touch sharing with us their writing, events, experiences and recommendations, we really appreciate it. This month also saw us hold our AGM and we look forward to sharing more about this with you in our April newsletter.

Hannah West 
Chair of the Defence Research Network
News from our community
Edited by Hannah West & Tamiris Santos
It has been great to hear from so many of you with things you have been writing or things you have read. The breadth of the following list is testament to the wonderful cross section of research the DRN community are working on.
Sandhurst Trends in International Conflict (STIC) newest volume: Women, Peace and Security in Military Operations, edited by Andree-Anne Melancon & Max Thompson. Copies available at the Howgate Publishing website.   
Our committee board has increased! 
Have a sneak pick in our new members, their research and how they will contribute to DRN. 
Tegan Harrison (Committee Secretary)

Hi! My name is Tegan Harrison and I have recently joined the DRN committee in the capacity of 'committee secretary'. I will help coordinate with our other members and organise routine check-ups with the committee.

Currently, I am a PhD researcher at Cardiff University, based in the School of Law and Politics. The party version of my research looks at the securitization of outer space through the case of the UN agenda item, ‘the prevention of an arms race in outer space’ (PAROS). In this context, the project focuses on the framing of security since the 1980s and across various PAROS initiatives. My research interests also include the use of satellites for arms control verification and monitoring and the impact of commercial, open-source intelligence for this purpose. In addition, I work as a PGR tutor and take regular undergraduate seminars. This has been a brilliant opportunity and I would highly recommend it to any prospective PGRs!

Outside of Jedi studies, I enjoy running, especially trail and cross-country. The muddier the better! I also love football. I will, however, withhold the details of my particular team for fear of polarising readers from the outset! Other Earth-based activities of enjoyment include playing golf (a lasting lockdown hobby!), cooking, and spending time with my friends and family.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to help out with the DRN and am really excited to start!

Scott Mackie (Website Resources Coordinator)
 
 
 
Scott is a Master's student at the University of Portsmouth conducting research into UK Space Policy and whether the UK possess the capability and re-source to match its ambition in the space operating environment.  More broadly, his research interests include emergent weapons systems, particularly the development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence in combat operations across multiple domains.

We also salute Ann Bajo and Baris Çelik, who also joined recently.
Welcome home, everyone!
International Studies Association Conference 2023 in Montreal

Edited by Hannah West
Ever wondered what it is like to go to one of those absolutely massive conference and hear from all the big names in your field? What is it like to be an Early Career Researcher in the crowd? What is it like to present? 

Well, our DRN community were well represented at the recent ISA conference in Montreal and we have put together this feature based on our reflections of the experience. We hope you find some top tips and it helps you thinking about planning future international conference trips. Thank you so much to Mariah, Eleanor, Alex and Megghi for sparing the time to share their reflections. 
Mariah Loukou, PhD student and Deputy Head of Doctoral College, City, University of London

What are your reflections about ISA?
It was my first in-person ISA. It was wonderful and engaging. I was grateful to have the opportunity to be amongst so many brilliant minds but also disappointed that I did not manage to attend more panels. Overall though, it was a memorable and insightful experience!
 
What was your favourite panel/roundtable or paper and why?
If I have to pick one (which is really hard!), it would be the Women, Peace and Security in Military Operations panel. It is closely related to my research, and it was eye-opening to hear about the topic and the new book. Also, it made me feel less alone to hear about the experiences of other researchers in the same field..
 
What did you present and how did it go?
I presented my peer review article on Military Culture 2.0. The panel was well attended, and the questions were insightful, making me think more about my positionality and self-reflexivity. Also, hearing the discussant’s thoughts and questions, Dan Oberg, was reassuring and made me want to push the envelope even further!
 
What would it be your top tip for any ECRs going ISA2024?
Prepare! Prepare! Prepare! Take notes of all the panels you want to go to in advance. I recommend writing them on your phone or paper. There is an app, but some people required help accessing the information on time. Also, message the researchers you want to talk to in advance and make a coffee/lunch meeting. Those conversations will stay with you!
 
Did you go to any receptions /alternative format sessions and what were they like?
Yes, I went to a few, but I really enjoyed the Early Careers reception. I met some great people, and sharing stories, and experiences was nurturing.
 
How did you find Montreal ?
Montreal was lovely. A quick walk to old Montreal would give you fantastic views of Notre Dame Basilica and Montreal port, so it is worth visiting! Although it was snowing and raining most days, I was there; it somehow did not bother me.
Dr Eleanor Leah Williams, Tutor in Politics and International Relations, Cardiff University

What are your reflections about ISA?
My main reflection on ISA is how fortunate I am. Hundreds of scholars from the Global South could not attend ISA because of visa restrictions or the never-ending wait to get a visa. I do not have any caring responsibilities which meant I could travel freely. I received an ISA travel grant which meant I could afford to attend this world-leading conference. I was fortunate enough to be part of a welcoming and intellectually vibrant section which made my ISA experience one to remember. I was fortunate to have an engaging audience for my presentation who provided invaluable and constructive feedback. I was fortunate enough to meet very generous scholars who took the time to talk to me about my research and career. I was incredibly lucky to be at ISA 2023.
 
What was your favourite panel and why?
My favourite panel was on Intelligence and Humour. I did not know what to expect but I found it fascinating how and why the intelligence community used humour in their work, from highlighting a controversial issue, to making likeminded friends within the field. I found it interesting how different intelligence organisations had different sense of humours too. This got me thinking about my own work in the way that humour was used during the negotiations surrounding the Good Friday Agreement.
 
What did you present and how did it go?
I presented my PhD research which I am now trying turn into a book proposal. The project looks at the ethics of state intelligence during the conflict in Colombia and Northern Ireland. It is a very friendly environment to present in. I found it incredibly valuable to present this research at ISA as I received detailed feedback from our panel chair and interesting suggestions from the audience, which I can incorporate into my book proposal.
 
What would be your top tip for any ECRs considering going to ISA 2024?
My top tip would be to apply for the Travel Grant of ECRs. Whilst the money doesn’t cover the entire cost of the conference, it covers a substantial amount of the flight and hotel costs. Applications for this grant opens in the Autumn as is worth keeping an eye out for! I would also recommend joining a section. This provided me with opportunities to network with the leading and up-and-coming scholars within my field.
 
Did you go to any receptions/ alternative sessions and what were they like?
I went to a few interesting receptions and alternative sessions. I went to the Intelligence Studies Section’s [ISS] Reception which was brilliant. Very rarely are you in a room with a large percentage of the people you have cited for years. The reception was friendly and inviting, and also had complementary nibbles and wine (what more could you want!). I also attended the ISS careers event and the Women in Security careers event. Both were invaluable as I received advice from the leading scholars within the security field.
 
How did you find Montreal?
Montreal was a wonderful city. One of my personal highlights was the architectural and cultural mix of North America meets France. The food was superb, from the local poutine and bagels to the Mexican and Italian restaurants. I was never short of a place to eat. I was fortunate enough to see some sights too. I walked up Mount Royal which has panoramic views over the city. I went to see a Montreal Canadians Hockey game which was definitely an experience! I also visited some more cultural places such as Norte-Dame Basilica of Montreal and the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History. Definitely a city I would be delighted to return to.
Dr Alex Waterman, Postdoctoral Research Fellow (India/Asia), German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA)

What are your reflections about ISA?
I have been coming to ISA since 2018, and although I didn’t actually present this year, I felt like it was my most productive ISA to date!. As Civil Wars co-editor, I was in charge of hosting the journal’s 25 anniversary reception, going to relevant panels to solicit submissions, and to discuss potential paper ideas with prospective authors. I was a discussant for two great papers on a fascinating panel on strategic narratives in conflict and peacebuilding, which forms part of my work exploring World Order Narratives of the Global South at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA). I had some meetings about projects of my own, including two special issues and a book project I’m working on. Finally, I met lots of friends, colleagues and people whose work I admire, which I think is my favourite part of ISA!
What was your favourite panel/roundtable or paper and why?
I went to a fascinating discussion on “Statebuilding, Conflict, and Counterinsurgency in Comparative Perspective.” The panel’s papers complemented one another really nicely and resonated with my own research interests in the emergence of order in counterinsurgency settings.

What did you present and how did it go?
I didn’t actually present anything this year, formally at least! However I did a lot of pitching of article and book project ideas both to colleagues and potential publishers – this is a hugely important part of the conference process that I really wanted to focus my energies on this year. That being said, I’m looking forward to getting back to presenting at the next one!  

What would be your top tip for any ECRs considering going to ISA 2024?
It’s not all about the panels and presentations, and I would definitely warn against 4x panels a day. Often, the exciting stuff – where connections are made and collaborations forged – takes place in the coffee shops, pubs and conversations around the fringes of the conference. Spend plenty of time before the conference finding interesting scholars/papers on the programme (focus on people whose work you find genuinely interesting rather than being overly instrumental). Don’t be afraid to do some “cold emailing” a month or so in advance introducing yourself, explaining why you find someone’s work interesting and that it’d be great to learn more over coffee. People are generally really lovely, and you never know what might come of it in terms of collaborations! Same goes for any publishers/journal editors you might be interested in submitting work to.

Did you go to any receptions/alternative format sessions and what were they like?
I’m a bit biased here, but as co-editor of Civil Wars journal we hosted the journal’s 25 anniversary reception. It was so wonderful to bring together around 150 like-minded scholars researching intra-state conflict. From meeting new exciting up-and-coming researchers to academic rockstars, it truly was a pleasure!

How did you find Montreal?
I enjoyed it a lot! Highlights included regular breakfasts at “Eggspectations,” copious amounts of poutine and a trip to watch Major League Soccer after the conference wrapped up.
How did you find Montreal?
I enjoyed it a lot! Highlights included regular breakfasts at “Eggspectations,” copious amounts of poutine and a trip to watch Major League Soccer after the conference wrapped up.
Megghi Pengili,  PhD Candidate, University of Leeds and Assistant Editor of Civil Wars Journal

What are your reflections about ISA?
 
The purpose of ISA, likewise any other international academic event is to exchange, discuss and clarify knowledge. Conferences are instruments not only to pool knowledge but also to network knowledge for the sake of future collaborations  between ECRs and policymakers.
 
As an attendee, I felt that going to ISA requires attendees and presenters to have a good preparation professionally and culturally and use each opportunity to network. I had the possibility to chat with people, sat in sessions or met during dinner time. This way of interacting gave me the possibility to identify opportunities for future cooperation and design them.
 
On an additional note, it is fascinating to observe and learn how PhDs are structured in the US, UK, Italy, France, Israel, Croatia, Germany and so on. While in some of these countries a lot of time is spent to prepare contingent for the academia, in other countries the same amount of time is devoted to prepare talent for the business/ international organisations market.
 
Did you go to any reception/alternative format sessions and what were they like?
 
As part of the Civil Wars Journal editorship, we organised a reception for the 25th Anniversary of the Journal. It was a great opportunity to thank in person all who contributed to our journal and those who trusted their work to us during these years. Also, I attended a variety of other receptions such as the BISA one, Early Career Research Scholars, Security Studies Association, Foreign Policy Association and others.

Overall, I think that receptions are THE  places where we great past, present and future colleagues. Receptions  play a crucial role in leaving a good impression on one’s future partners.

On another note: I was lucky to have been introduced by the two journal editors, Dr Worrall and Dr Waterman to  great networks which facilitated also communication with many scholars.
 
How did you find Montreal?
 
Montreal is home to a blend of historic and modern architecture: Art Deco architecture, Gothic Revival façades, and historic industrial and financial buildings.

As a Civil Wars Team, we also attended Montreal victory vs Philadelphia at the football match in Saputo stadium. Impressions and football match, altogether drawn within the Saturday afternoon- the only free time we had lol!
Counterinsurgency Forum

Edited by Hannah West
22 February saw the contributing authors of our planned Special Issue, 'Reimagining Counterinsurgency after Afghanistan' meet together at the Land Warfare Centre for our latest Counterinsurgency Forum. This was a special workshop dedicated to the development of the Special Issue and gave each author the opportunity to outline their papers, hear some feedback from their discussant, leading to further discussion of the individual papers. The workshop built on our initial meeting at the National Army Museum in Summer 2022 where we outlined our early ideas for papers. So it was fantastic to see the first drafts of everyone's papers and to really get a sense of the Special issue coming together. 
 
The special issue considers the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan as an inflection point for the study of counterinsurgency, which re-emerged as a sub-field of international security studies during the Global War on Terror. Drawing on a range of cases (such as Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Ukraine) and perspectives (including gendered and spatial approaches), the special issue begins by reflecting on lessons both learned and ignored across recent decades, before turning to ask deeper conceptual questions of counterinsurgency theory and practice in a changing international security environment. We are excited to be pitching our Special Issue to journals in the forthcoming months and finding it a good home! 
 
Thank you so much to everyone who joined us and, in particular, to our discussants, Dr Aaron Edwards, Dr James Worrall, Dr Geraint Hughes, Dr Alex Waterman and Dr Tom Smith who gave up their time to read our papers and give feedback, and, of course, Major Fraser Macpherson at the Land Warfare Centre for hosting us.
What we have been listening to
Edited by Tamiris Santos
Air Power and International Security Podcast
 
Featured again in our newsletter, the podcast is brought  by the University of Portsmouth's Military Education Team (PME). The latest episodes we've been hearing and recommend you are as follows: 
  • Fake news and Security (ep. 19)
  • Chinese Air Power (ep. 20)
  • Keeping Banned Weapons Banned: Deterrence and the WMDs (ep. 21)
  • The Bomber Mafia and the Development of the US Strategic Air Power (ep. 22)
The complete list of episodes is available here.
Do get in touch if you have heard a fascinating podcast or you have been involved in one, we'd love to include it in a future newsletter.
Recruiting and interviewing the military community
Edited by Lucie Pebay & Tamiris Santos
Fieldwork can be a watershed in the construction of research, and, in our area, recruiting and interviewing the military community is crucial most of the time. However, some extra obstacles may occur due to different perspectives between military and civilian personnel, depending on the interviewee's status (a military currently active or a veteran) and the environment (in or out of battlefield scenarios). In either case, check our recommended readings and our community tips to overcome these challenges. 
 
Filiz DOĞAN
Leiden University
My research is about how to explain the problems of establishing a sustainable common security and defence mechanism as the primary research question to discuss how the EU will act as a global security actor in world politics in my PhD research. Accordingly, in explaining the problem with the CSDP, I suggested that institutional gridlock, member states' preferences, and features of the EU strategic culture could simultaneously and interlinked play essential roles in the EU's challenges in common security and defence. In this context, within the minimal theory-testing process tracing method, I used qualitative data collection methods and data triangulation from multiple sources, including official documents, journal articles, academic studies, policy summaries, and 45 elite interviews with relevant people between 2018-2021.
  
DRN: Who did you interview and how did you get access?
I made interviews with EU practitioners and military personal, EU bureaucrats, and academicians.      Firstly, I exchanged ideas about potential names with my advisor. I then created a list based on diversity to minimize potential bias in a selection based on fields such as academics, NGOs, military personnel, and bureaucrats. When compiling the list, I considered the relevant expertise of the people to be interviewed, and I also checked the suitability of the proposed people for the research. Before the interviews, I sent an information sheet and consent form, to their official e-mail addresses or affiliated departments' contact persons/secretaries. Indeed, I was fine in communication since the EU institutions are very transparent. Through the first interviews, I reached other people related to the snowball sampling method, allowing me to interview various people to preserve diversity for my research.
 
DRN: How did you conduct your data collection and/or analysis and why? 
I collected data for my research between 2018 and 2021. Data collection continued when I was conducting my research because of the dynamic nature of the CSDP and the political changes affecting the EU’s collective security. For example, Brexit happened at the time of writing. Accordingly, I conducted interviews as primary data collection tools to help understand the positions and relations of EU institutions and member states and how the mechanism works in practice when an international conflict occurs. As secondary data, I examined several books, journal articles and policy papers on CSDP and EU security policy. I also investigated policy statements, analytical reports, and official reports of various EU bodies such as the Council and Commission Decisions, EP Resolutions and Reports, Council/Commission/Parliament press releases, and other relevant documents, including EEAS and EDA on the CSDP. I also used various newspaper articles to see the progression of events and the actors' explanations. As a result, I reviewed both primary and secondary data, applying information sources such as academic bibliographic databases and online public catalogue systems to test the relevance of my hypotheses.
 
I analysed the data mainly in a qualitative way by using process tracing. Considering that only some evidence types are equally necessary to establish causality, I used triangulation. As part of process tracing, triangulation allows me to check various resources, such as information gathered through elite interviews and official/unofficial documents, knowledge through the media, and information based on independent reports about the field. 

DRN: What have been the challenges of your data collection and how have you overcome these?
First of all, the busy schedule of EU bureaucrats and military personnel was one of the challenges I faced. Sometimes, I had to cancel my travel or interview several people in one day. In addition, some people did not want me to record the interview for security reasons. Therefore, I had to quickly take notes of what was said in the interviews. In that regard, I wanted to know the abbreviation techniques journalists use. Finally, some interviewees did not want to respond to some questions for various reasons, and it was difficult to find alternative queries and manage the interview process.
 
DRN: What programs, tools, sources and/or techniques have you used to help you with your data collection and/or analysis?
I mainly used Audacity for my data analysis. Although it took longer than I expected, I analysed all the data I collected myself because there were only things I remembered during the interview.
 
DRN: What did you wish you knew before starting your data collection? What advice would you give to someone about to start data collection?
I wish I could take more training on how to lead the questions and conversations with professional people. Although they helped me a lot, I can see that I still have some insecurities about asking the questions or how to arrange if somebody does not want to respond some research questions.
Ann Bajo
University of Portsmouth
I examined the decommissioning program of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The MILF is an Islamic insurgency group that fights for the autonomy of the Moro region in the southern Philippines. I did interviews from both sides, the rebel group and the Philippine military, in order to provide policy recommendations and design a more sustainable program to assist the transition of MILF combatants to civilian lives.  
 
DRN: Who did you interview and how did you get access?
I interviewed the chief negotiator and leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Mohagher Iqbal and conducted a focused group discussion (FGD) of some of the combatants of the MILF in Maguindanao, which is conflict-affected area in the Southern Philippines. Someone from the Philippine Army helped by facilitating my access inside the capitol of the Bangsamoro government. In the capitol, I was randomly introduced to the Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro, Murad Ebrahim, and the Chief Negotiator Mohagher Iqbal allowed me to interview him. My contact also helped organized an FGD with the combatant members of the MILF. We have to do it in a safe house for the safety of the rebels.
 
DRN: What have been the challenges of your data collection and how have you overcome these?
 One of the biggest challenge in the data collection is mobility. When it comes to fragile areas, you cannot easily travel around and show up the place where you are going to conduct your field work.  Sporadic violence happens in these types of area and most of the time, people do not go out of their houses without a gun. So, whenever I conduct these interviews I always have a military escort with me and they go everywhere I travel. The only time I get to be alone is when I get safely back to camp.  I am lucky that the Army provides my vehicle and lodging. I always sleep in a military camp. I do not sleep in public lodging. There were instances when hotels in Cotabato City were bombed. I also do not travel at night. So I have limited time to conduct my data gathering. 
 
DRN: What did you wish you knew before starting your data collection? What advice would you give to someone about to start data collection?
Planning and proper coordination should be done with appropriate personnel in confidentiality. Local authorities should be aware of your location, plans and whereabouts. Plan with your field coordinators the appropriate place/time and feasibility of the data collection and interviews to be conducted. Follow their advice, they will be the one protecting you from danger. Also, follow cultural norms in the area. You are a guest but do not assume you are always welcome. 
 
Final remarks 
Field research will give more depth to your research. If you have the opportunity to go to the field and do your data collection and research, by all means, go do it! But always prioritise your safety as well! 
 
Lucie Pebay
University of Bath
I am currently working on my thesis focusing on the contemporary transformation of the French land army. Identifying core drivers and shapers of transformation, my research relies on interview-based qualitative research to offer a better understanding of the contemporary French army model and its recent and ongoing transformations. 
 
DRN: Who did you interview and how did you get access?
I have mostly interviewed French defence and security experts and French army officers. But because my study includes a comparative analysis of French and British army models and transformation, I have also interviewed a number of British experts and officers. 
 
I’ve relied on different approaches to recruit participants and secure interviews. First, I collaborated with the CDEC – the decentralized Army Staff institution under the command of the Army Deputy Chief of Staff – who helped me recruit officers and organise the interviews. Second, I personally reached out to experts and officers inviting them to take part of the project. Finally, building from these interviews, I relied on snowballing to get more participants. 
 
My own data collection showed me the best way to secure interviews is through existing contacts (within and without the force) who were open to be interviewed and/or put me in touch with people who could help. It’s even through an existing contact that I was put in relation with the CDEC. Snowballing was a very valuable way to get participants. But I’ve also discovered through my collaboration with the CDEC that they are very keen on bridging the academic and practitioner divide and further collaborating with academics and PhD students. From my experience, beyond the university’s ethical approval process, conducting research in and with the French army was relatively easy and did not require much administrative procedures. 
 
DRN: How did you conduct your data collection and analysis and why? 
I have conducted semi-structured interviews guided by a flexible interview protocol. I chose this method so the data gathered would fit the central themes I wanted to investigate whilst leaving enough leeway to explore participants thoughts, feelings and beliefs. To explore and make sense of my data, I use thematic analysis. 
 
DRN: What have been the challenges of your data collection and how have you overcome these?
Like many, my first big challenge was the pandemic. Because snowballing was the best way to conduct research not being able to go to France to do my fieldwork very much delayed my progress. The most efficient way to recruit participants for my interviews was snowballing, but without any face-to-face interaction I have been unable to build strong networks and recruit additional participants for a while. Before conducting my fieldwork in France once the restrictions lifter, I interviewed less than 8 participants online. In two weeks on the ground, I conducted almost 30. Because I had to do a large number of interviews, the online approach was not practical and efficient. Yet this approach worked well for the smaller sample of British interviews which were conducted in parallel over months. I initially planned on conducting group interviews, but these were harder to organise between travel restriction and the difficulty to get military personal available at the same time. As a result, I replaced these with more individual interviews. My experience taught me to adapt my plan as I go and be more flexible. 
When it comes to the interviews, military institutions are secretive by nature, and this showed at times, but participants were generally happy and keen to share their thoughts on the topic. 
Another challenge I came across is that of the imposter’s syndrome, being both a civilian and a female conducting research in a military environment. 
 
 
DRN: What programs, tools, sources and/or techniques have you used to help you with your data collection and/or analysis?
For transcription, make sure to get a transcription foot pedal (you should be able to borrow one from your university’s library). This made transcribing much easier and saved me a great amount of time. I also read and re-read transcripts both on screen and on paper. This allows me to get a good grasp of content and sometimes helps me see things that I missed. When it comes to data analysis, NVivo is a great tool to organise ideas and data. 
 
DRN: What did you wish you knew before starting your data collection? What advice would you give to someone about to start data collection? 
Data is the most important part of your research and can completely redefine your work and ideas. Even when you are not 100% sure where you are going, try and collect your data as soon as possible! 
Megghi Pengili
University of Leeds
PhD Title: The challenge of public-private partnerships for the organisational innovation of defence policy: the 5-D epistemic influence of the Italian and Israeli defence industries
 
The study is framed within the theory of dynamic institutional change. The analysis explores organisational innovation through knowledge across three levels of analysis: individual, organisational, and ecosystem. The various methods employed to collect and analyse the secondary data and fieldwork evidence engage anthropology, cognitive neuroscience, system dynamics and qualitative research methods. These approaches are necessary when researching in complex settings as it ‘calls for enhanced sensibility regarding the nuances and degree of access’. Identifying and recruiting the informants for this study requires the researcher to be familiar with the socio-cultural and complex institutional settings, which conditions varieties of tacit knowledge within the partnerships which can only be accessed through anthropological engagement. In other words, before identifying the information we want to collect, it is necessary to understand what Senor and Singer refer to as the ‘social graph’ In Israel and Italy (2009). The ‘social graph’ plays a crucial role in building collective know-how and sheds light on how organisations create the right environment to utilise talented human capital, a knowledge asset. Given this, the design of this specific methodology, driven by the innovative nature of this research, requires the investigator to have interdisciplinary information at hand.

DRN: What have been the challenges of your data collection and how have you overcome these?
Entering the defence ecosystem in a particular strategic context requires the researcher to develop skills when engaging with elite military experts and high-level managers in government organisations and defence industries. A significant challenge- amongst many- was to study the distinct dimensions of the fieldwork and therefore examine some courses of action to mitigate this issue. I want to draw attention to two critical skills: the development of a culture of accessibility of information and the engagement with high-skills informants. 

The culture of accessibility in the Israeli context, for example,  has evolved around the notion of 'shkunah' (transl. the neighbourhood). The shkunah is the norm that affects interaction in most social environments, defence included. Different informants develop three degrees of access to information based on their expertise, position or role: the 'above' access, the 'intermediate' and the 'below' access. Access to any of these degrees adds to your credibility as a researcher and allows you to access the two others. 
 
High-skills informants steer the questions and answers to what benefits them in primis, imposing their opinion on your research. On another note, engaging with high-skills informants might compromise the researcher's positionality- this is true in both the Israeli and the Italian contexts. That said, engaging with experienced professionals helps the researcher gain prestige and develop new strategies to extract the expected empirical evidence. 
 
DRN: What did you wish you knew before starting your data collection? What advice would you give to someone about to start data collection? 
Study the dimensions of your fieldwork and plan your research on time. Also,  if necessary, affiliate with an academic institution, think tank or government agency with the networks you need for your data collection.
 
Final Remarks
 
Three elements: 
  1. In function of your research area, consider if you need clearance to conduct research and that you got all the ethical approvals necessary. The military is considered as a sensitive community to work with them. 
  2. Military personnel are often required to perform complex tasks and make decisions, therefore as a researcher you should know the limits of the conversation when interviewing military participants. 
  3. Keep always a close and open contact with your supervisor. 
 
 
March Twitter Hour: 'Recruiting and interviewing the military community'
Edited by Lucy Robinson
March's #TwitterHour on the theme of 'Recruiting and interviewing the military community' happened on Wednesday 15th March. Thank you very much to all who took part. Below, we share the highlights to the four questions. #DefResChat
 
Q1: Why did you use qualitative research?
  •  As I was researching particular communities, qual research - interviews -  seemed more appropriate to get a better understanding of these communities and their views 
  • I use qualitative research (creative methods) as I'm  researching service children's identity and educational experiences from their perspectives. My choice allows me lots of freedom, depth and creativity to explore topics with the children. 
  • So my participants could discuss their experiences in depth
Q2: What have been the challenges of your data collection and how have you overcome these?
  • Military members are busy and may often be away - increased time available to respond. 
    Consistent computer access really depends upon rank/job. I tried to minimize survey length (10min - might still have been too long) and ensured it worked on internal system 
  • Covid. Moving interviews online when everyone was doing pretty everything online it becomes a bit exhausting [1-Gemma-Carr-and-Karen-Tatham-Hillary-Place-Papers-Issue-6-October-2021.pdf (leeds.ac.uk)]
Q3: How did you conduct your data analysis and why? Have you used any useful tools? 
  • NVivo is a great tool for processing and organising data. (Also: a transcribing pedal changed my life!)  
  • Both interviews I have conducted and official documents. I use thematic analysis and mostly rely on NVivo to organise and classify the data around core themes. 
  • I'm also finding NVivo excellent for organising my data! 
  • Nvivo and spss
Q4:  What did you wish you knew before starting your data collection?
  • To get my fieldwork done as soon as possible as it completely transformed my research, ideas, and outline.
  • Always have a back up plan.

Thank you to all who took part! #DefResChat
 
What we're reading
Edited by Veronika Poniscjakova
The Struggle for Supremacy in the Middle East: Saudi Arabia and Iran
Simon Mabon
 
Although Saudi Arabia and Iran re-established ties last week, they arguably remain rivals. This new book explains the rivalry between these two countries, outlining its history and demonstrating its impact across the Middle East. The book goes beyond the traditional explanations of the rivalry, such as sectarian differences or proxy wars. Instead, the book points out the importance of local groups and shows how regional politics have shaped, and been shaped by the rivalry.

You can get a copy here. 

Iraq: Power, Institutions, and Identities
Andrew J. Flibbert
 
As the last week marked the 20th anniversary of the outbreak of the Iraq war, this new book is quite topical. It looks at Iraq's history from the formation of the state until 2022. Using an analytical approach of three concepts: the pursuit of power, the impact of state institutions, and the transformation of social identities, it outlines Iraq’s unique political, economic, and social dimensions. Moreover, the book examines Iraq’s international relations, for instance, its relation with the United States, China, and Russia.
 
You can buy a copy here.
Events...
Edited by Andre Carvalho
Virtual International Colloquium on Military Sexual and Other Forms of Abuse
The Australasian Services Care Network, together with its partners and supporters extend an Invitation for you to join them for Session 2 in Part A of the “Virtual International Colloquium on Military Sexual and Other Forms of Abuse”. This Colloquium brings together a range of International Thought Leaders to help participants to explore the issue of Military Sexual and Other Forms of Abuse and its impact on Military Service Members, Veterans and their immediate Family across the 5 Eyes Countries. The aim of this conversation is to shine a light on the issue and to share what we know about it and evidence informed responses and interventions to address the issue and support those affected by it.

Session: “Transforming Military Culture: A Critical Canadian Perspective”

(Dr. Maya Eichler, Director, Centre for Social Innovation and Community Engagement in Military Affairs, Mount Saint Vincent University, Canada, Dr. Tammy George, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health Science, School of Kinesiology, York University, Canada, and Dr. Nancy Taber, Professor, Department of Educational Studies, Brock University, Canada)

OUTLINE: Military culture change is currently a key effort across the 5-Eyes countries. As militaries are shifting their demographics to draw on underrepresented populations to compensate for personnel shortages and respond to societal pressures for greater diversity and inclusion, they are grappling with how and whether to engage in organizational culture change. In this presentation by Dr Eichler, Dr George and Dr Taber offer a critical Canadian perspective, examining the limitations and potential of Canadian military culture change efforts, and laying out the promise of an anti-oppression framework, together with trauma-awareness and critical learning, to advance the transformation of the current military culture. The presenters lead the Canadian-based international collaborative network Transforming Military Cultures. More information on their work can be found here: www.msvu.ca/tmc

Date: Monday 3rd of April 2023 (The US, Canada, The UK and The Netherlands) / Tuesday 4th of April 2023 (Australia & New Zealand)

Time: Australia 8.00 am Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and 7.00am Brisbane New Zealand 10.00 am The Netherlands 11.00 pm Amsterdam, Monday 3rd of April 2023 The UK 10.00 pm London, Monday 3rd of April 2023 Canada 5.00 pm Toronto, 2.00 pm Vancouver, Monday 3rd of April 2023 The USA 5.00 pm New York, 2.00 pm Los Angeles, Monday 3rd of April 2023.

The presentations will be followed by an interactive Session that will allow participants to ask questions about points raised in the presentation or other issues related to the topic.

To participate in the Virtual International Colloquium on Military Sexual and Other Forms of Abuse, register here.
When you have registered you will receive information on how to access the webinar online. If you have any queries regarding the Webinars or Registration, Email the ASCN (New Zealand) Secretariat at ascn.nz@gmail.com.

20th April (online) - Registrations open
BISA PGN "Demystifying the academic publishing process"

This interactive workshop aims to demystify the publication process, beginning with a brief introduction to publishing journal articles. The remainder of the workshop takes a dual approach, examining publication firstly from the perspective of the people who review articles and then from the author. The panel will be presented by Dr. Natalie Jester, lecturer at the University of Gloucestershire, based in Cheltenham.

More info on fees and registrations is available here. 
Spykman Center Hybrid Summer School

The Spykman Center was born around a specific mission: to teach how to do geopolitical analysis. The Spykman Center’s first annual hybrid Summer School follows this path and aims to teach students how to build a geopolitical analysis and is divided into two sections concluding with an assessment. Section I will consist of a series of lectures on methodological points (geopolitical analysis as research of the factors conditioning political action), on the stylistic construction of an article addressed to the general public (explained by a journalist from The Economist), and on the possible destinations of the article or essay to an increasingly saturated market but at the same time increasingly in need of serious, accurate and understandable analyses. Section II will involve interactive workshops between students and experienced Spykman Center’s analysts who have already published their work with the Center. It will be a way to move from theory to practice, in a horizontal exchange among students. Assessment: The participating students will be involved in writing a short geopolitical analysis on a topic of their choice.

For more information and how to apply, check this link.
Opportunities...

If you would like to advertise any upcoming opportunities, please let us know via email.
 
Edited by Andre Carvalho 

Call for abstracts - PGN 'Meet the Editors' event 2023
Deadline: Friday 1 April 2023
Receive feedback on your working paper from participating journal editors at the BISA PGN's Meet the Editors one-to-one sessions at the BISA 2023 Conference. Submit your documents by Friday, 1 April 2023 to pgn.group@bisa.ac.uk. 

Successful applications will be matched with one of the following journals:

Review of International Studies
European Journal of International Security
International Affairs
International Political Sociology
Global Policy: Next Generation
Journal of International Relations and Development
European Security
Journal of Global Security Studies
European Journal of Politics and Gender

Click this link for more details.

King’s Doctoral Workshop on Military Innovation and Defence Reform
Call for Presentation (Deadline: 02 April 2023)
 

This two-day Doctoral Workshop aims to discuss military innovation and military reform through a multidisciplinary, pluri-theoretical, and cross-national perspective. It will focus on key explanatory factors such as patterns of civil-military relations, technological advances, advocacy networks, security competition, cultural and ideational aspects, professional networks, and competition among military services. It will also explore how distinct and competing interpretations illustrate how plural, complex, and multidimensional the process of military innovation can be, and how technological advancements in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, hypersonic missiles, and the space realm have moved scholarly discussions of military innovation to the centre stage of international politics.

We welcome submissions on the following areas affecting military innovation:

  • Military diffusion and emulation
  • Procurement and defence economics
  • Defence sector reform and national security strategies
  • International organisations and military alliances
  • New technologies, emerging warfighting domains, and the future of warfare
  • Decolonising military innovation


Authors should send an extended abstract (up to 1,000 words), an entire article (up to 8,000 words), or a thesis chapter (up to 8,000 words plus a 500-word thesis abstract) to militaryinnovationnetwork@kcl.ac.uk. 

Further information on the format of submissions and deadlines are available at this link. 

Submission deadline: 02 April 2023
Event days: 04 - 05 May 2023

Select Committee Area of Research Interest: Artificial Intelligence in Weapon Systems
UK Parliament Call for Research Evidence: An ‘Area of Research Interest’ has been launched by the House of Lords select committee on Artificial Intelligence in Weapon Systems alongside the Call for Evidence. Academics, research institutions and experts with technical and other expertise concerning AI in Weapon Systems are invited to complete a short survey about their research.
Areas of interest include definitions of autonomous weapon systems (AWS), human involvement in the use of AWS, the technical capabilities and limitations of the AI models underpinning AWS, the impact might AWS have on warfare, and the role of international humanitarian law in governing the use of AWS.
Researchers at all career stages are invited to share their research and insights, highlight any evidence gaps and how these could be addressed, and suggest scrutiny questions for the Committee. Those who respond to the ARI survey will be entered onto a database of experts who may be contacted by parliamentary staff in order to help them scrutinise this area of interest.

Click this link to access the survey.
Young Security Conference (YSC) 2023 Fellowship
Dealine: 11 April 2023
Applications for the 2023 YSC Fellowship are now open. The YSC Fellowship is a unique opportunity for young professionals, graduate students, and post-docs to come together with high-ranking officials and experts in the field of European security. To check full details of eligibility and how to apply, click here.

Veterans' Health Priority Setting Partnership Survey
Team supported by the Office for Veterans' Affairs and the James Lind Alliance is looking for veterans, their family & friends and healthcare professionals who work with veterans to answer a new short survey which will influence future research.The Northern Ireland Veterans’ Support Office is part of the Steering Group organising this work, and we want to make sure that as many different perspectives as possible are represented in the survey responses, especially from our veterans here in Northern Ireland.

What needs investigating to help improve care for former service personnel and their families, friends and carers? 

The survey asks for suggestions or comments about all areas of physical and mental health and wellbeing that need further investigation. It’s OK to write as much or as little as you like, about anything you feel is important.

You can take part in the survey by clicking here.

Research Associate to Droned Life: Data, Narrative, and the Aesthetics of Worldmaking

Deadline: 16 April 2023

'Droned Life: Data, Narrative, and the Aesthetics of Worldmaking' invites applications for a postdoctoral research associate to join a research team investigating the politics and ethics of drone proliferation in fields such as war, art, humanitarianism, and ecology. Project themes include: the role of AI, sensors, and simulation in producing new ways of interpreting the world; the place of imaginaries in facilitating the increasing use of intrusive technologies; the role of visual culture in understanding drone technology's relationships to geopolitics and the environment. The perfect candidate must have a PhD in a relevant field and provide strong evidence of potential for research and publication at the highest level. Their disciplinary background might include science and technology studies; sociology; security studies; politics and international relations; literature; digital media; game studies; or AI/digital ethics and governance. Qualitative research experience is desirable. Candidates interested in creative practice or arts-based research methodologies are also very welcome. This is an exciting opportunity to join a multi-year interdisciplinary project on unmanned technologies, culture, and aesthetics funded by UKRI, hosted by the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence at the University of Cambridge. For more details about the application process, click here.
Assistant/Associate Professor of International Affair & Associate Director of the SPS Master's Program
The Security Policy Studies (SPS) Program in the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. invites applications for the position of Assistant/Associate Professor of International Affairs and Associate Director of the SPS master’s program. The initial contract period will be June 1 2023 – May 31 2026, with the potential for renewal. This is a full-time, specialized faculty position. The effort breakdown for the position is 50% teaching, 50% administration/service. The teaching component includes four graduate courses during Fall (2) and Spring (2) semesters, which will include online instruction, in-person classes, or a combination of online/in-person instruction. The courses will cover core SPS curriculum requirements, including IAFF 6161 International Security, and courses on U.S. national security and defense policy. Administrative work and service includes student recruitment, advising and oversight; curriculum design, planning, and management; recruitment and management of part-time faculty; organizing curricular events; and regular reporting and assessment of the program. Applicants must have excellent teaching skills as demonstrated by student evaluations, experience teaching and advising students at the graduate level, and a demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion in the classroom. They must hold a doctorate or equivalent degree in International Relations, International Security, Political Science, or a related field by date of appointment; ABD applicants will be considered but must complete all requirements for the doctorate by date of appointment. For more details and how to apply, click here.
International Network for the Study of War and Religion in the Modern World Thirteenth Annual Conference
28th - 30th June 2023
Call for Papers
The annual Religion and Defence conference is sponsored by the Armed Forces’ Chaplaincy Centre (AFCC), part of the UK Defence Academy, and is hosted at Beckett House within the Defence Academy’s Shrivenham campus. The conference programme will consist of plenary addresses, panel discussions, and the presentation of papers from delegates. Each year the organisers identify themes of topical interest within Defence and academia and we encourage participants to reflect on these in relation to their submissions and contributions throughout the conference. For this year’s conference there will two different formats for the presentation of papers by conference delegates. There will be the opportunity for six main papers to be presented over two sessions plus shorter ‘Lightning Papers’, in a distinct session, which will be delivered following a visit to the Royal Army Chaplains’ Museum – Faith in the Forces. The main papers will be of fifteen minutes’ duration – three in each session followed by fortyfive minutes of discussion. The ‘Lightning Papers’ are five-minute papers, each focused on one item in the collection of the Royal Army Chaplains’ Museum – Faith in the Forces. (Note: for these five-minute presentations a select catalogue of the Museum’s collection can be obtained from the Museum Curator, Mr David Blake: David.Blake@da.mod.uk). Whether they are fifteen-minute or five-minute papers, the Conference welcomes presentations which engage with religious and spiritual traditions understood in the widest sense, and scholars of all relevant disciplines and all traditions of religion and belief (including humanism and atheism) are warmly invited to contribute. There is no constraint on geographical or national range and the conference encourages scholarly discussion of all subjects that can illuminate the conceptual, ethical, pastoral and historical aspects of the relationship between religion and war.

Abstracts (300 words for fifteen-minute papers, 150 words for ‘Lightning Papers’) should be copied, along with a one-page CV, to michael.snape@durham.ac.uk, gina.palmer@usnwc.edu and asl21@cam.ac.uk by Friday 28 April 2023.
As always, keep an eye on our Twitter for new events and opportunities posted/retweeted every day!

Planning a future event?
If you are planning a defence-related event and you would like to reach an audience of like-minded researchers, we'd love to come along! Drop us an email and we can include it in our next newsletter.
 
If you are interested in any of our events but don't want to go alone, or simply want to expand your network, please reach out on Twitter or drop us an email and we can connect you with fellow DRN members who may be planning to attend.
April theme: Researching minority groups in military contexts
We hope you've enjoyed our news, tips and recommendations so far. In case you missed our previous newsletter editions, check out our archive section here!

As usual, we will be looking to showcase some early-career researchers in research spotlights in the newsletter so don't be shy! And we welcome any suggestions for 'in conversation with' pieces with more established academics. And let us know about any relevant events, from book launches to webinars. We'll keep an eye on our Twitter account to keep you posted!
 
Keep an eye on @DefenceResNet for more information and check out the website for a preview of the questions for the next #DefResChat. You can also find all our previous #DefResChats on the Archive section of our website. Make sure to tag @DefenceResNet and hashtag #DefResChat to join the conversation.
 
See you soon and many thanks for being part of our network!
Find Out More
Do you have a blog or publication you would like to promote? Don't hesitate to share it with us via email and we can add it to our newlsetter.
Thank you so much for joining our network.

Have you recently won an award, had your paper published, launched a book or are you organising an event? We want to hear from you! We are always looking for new content for our newsletter and would love to showcase the great work of our members.

For queries, more information, or just to tell us about yourself, don't hesitate to contact us on Twitter @DefenceResNet or at defenceresearchnetwork@gmail.com 

The DRN team 
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