The Changing Character of War (Strategy, Statecraft, and Technology) Centre (CCW-SST) is an Interdisciplinary research centre for the study and evaluation of and the character and nature of armed conflict, and strategy, statecraft, the impact of technological change. We are part of the University of Oxford, based at Pembroke College. In addition to research projects and visiting fellowships, we offer bespoke policy advice and conduct net assessment studies.

CCW has been generously funded by the Ax:Son Johnson Institute. Specific projects are funded by grants received from the US and UK Governments. We are delighted to announce that new research fellows will be appointed thanks to the generosity of Dr Thomas Kaplan and the formation of the Recanati-Kaplan Minerva Institute.

Founded in 2003 CCW examines the developments of armed conflict, but this is set in the context of strategy, the exercise of state power, international relations, foreign policy, and the impact of technological change. We bring together scholars across disciplines, including History, Politics, International Relations, Law, Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, Economics, Anthropology, Psychology, and Philosophy. SST-CCW is now based in the naturally multi-disciplinary environment of Pembroke College and has built further links with Oxford centres of excellence. We examine change, through the analysis of practice, conceptual development, and theoretical foundations.

CCW has built connections with many institutions around the world who conduct research into diplomacy, deterrence, statecraft, strategy, and war. We further the quality of our research, and our impact, by inviting a selection of academics and qualified practitioners as visiting research fellows. Our non-resident fellows engage in joint research with us in specific projects. We are partnered with individuals and institutions all over the world, including the Netherlands Defence Academy, SAIS at Johns Hopkins, the NATO Defence College, the Norwegian National Defence University and Staff College, Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo, and we are looking for new partners in Australia, the United States, and Europe. SST also contributes to the life of the College and the University by running events that are open to all faculty members and students, by the supervision of several DPhils, the Foreign Service Programme, and contributions to masters’ and undergraduate teaching.

The aspiration of our research is to produce work of the highest quality and greatest rigour, addressing the most significant themes and challenges produced by strategy, statecraft, new technologies, and war. We are particularly focussed on analysing the dynamics of change. We take a comprehensive approach, across disciplines and fields to improve the quality and depth of understanding and develop a ‘net’ assessment.