SST-CCW holds a number of Private & Public events
from weekly seminars to study days and conferences
Strategic staff rides and strategic leadership events are a new feature
PUBLIC Seminars
All our seminars are held in person, or as hybrid events on certain occasions. Please email info@ccw.ox.ac.uk if you have any questions.
SST-CCW Lunchtime Seminar Series
Tuesday 13.30, Old Library, All Souls College
The Tuesday lunchtime seminar series reflects the interdisciplinary nature of the Centre: local and international speakers, drawn from a variety of disciplines, present research relating to the changing character of warfare.
Oxford Technology and Security Nexus: Working Group Meetings
Wednesdays 15.00, Nuffield College
Group discussions open to the wider SST-CCW community and interested researchers/postgraduate students. See here for more details.
Strategic Studies Seminar Series
Wednesdays, 17.15, Wharton Room, All Souls College
The bi-weekly Wednesday evening seminar series addresses a particular theme throughout the academic year.
History of War Seminar Series
Wednesdays, 17.15, Wharton Room, All Souls College
The Military History Seminar Series, convened by Professor Peter Wilson.
The Emerging Threats and The Technology Working Group Meetings
Mondays 17.00, Pembroke College
Group discussions open to the wider SST-CCW community and interested researchers/postgraduate students.
Further Information
Annual Lecture
Trinity Term, Date and venue varies.
Our annual public lectures attract audiences of over 400. Lecturers have included soldiers, academics, and statesmen who have had a significant impact on world events. Recent lecturers have included Lord Ricketts, General David Petraeus and Professor David Kilcullen.
Conferences & Study Days
The Centre will stage a conference each academic year. These will generally be by invitation only.
Six of the books in the OUP Changing Character of War series are direct products of SST-CCW conferences – those on the Laws of Armed Conflict, Clausewitz, Pre-emption, Just and Unjust Warriors, the UN Security Council, Prisoners in War, the History of Surrender,the Changing Character of War, and considerations of policy and strategy At The End of Military Intervention. In 2019 we held a conference on “The Conduct of War”, and published an edited volume a year later. Other conferences and workshops have resulted in the publication of new defence doctrine and policy documents; edited or single authored volumes, including one on Combat and Cohesion; and articles or chapters, including the partnering of indigenous forces, in True to Their Salt.
In addition to public events, SST-CCW provides critical engagement for government and military institutions. SST-CCW provides bespoke support to individuals and organisations in government and the armed forces, both in the United Kingdom and internationally. These include lectures and study days, advice and insights, committee support, and connections to international subject specialists.
SST-CCW also convenes a number of international conferences, symposia and workshops, where personnel from academic, government, international organisations and armed forces are brought together to discuss matters of common interest. Many of these are focused on the problems of making strategy.
We stage international conferences on China, Russia, and Nordic-Baltic Defence and Security; military modernisation; operations in an information age (including sub-threshold coercion challenges), and net assessment, measuring effect and change in conflict, and adaptation. We have a proven track record in the delivery of high quality, high impact events like these. We have a close but critical relationship with many defence institutions internationally and we are valued for our ability to generate original thinking drawn from diverse perspectives which informs and shapes their work.
Staff Rides
SST-CCW orchestrates grand strategic and strategic level staff rides. These are different from the usual tactical-operational forms, in that the emphasis is on decision making and resource management at the government and alliance level.
The next Staff Ride will be in Spring 2025. Details will follow in the fall of 2024.
