October Digest

From early career development and new research networks to thematic features on Law and War, Arctic security, counterinsurgency, and global defence politics, October was a busy and wide-ranging month across the Network. Here is your round-up of what happened.

Researcher Development: DRN CV Clinic

We opened the month with our interactive CV Clinic, supporting early career researchers in writing stronger academic and non-academic applications.
The session covered:

• Writing clear, concise, tailored CVs
• The differences between academic and sector CVs
• How to evidence achievements with examples
• How to craft effective cover letters
• Common pitfalls in ECR job applications

The live CV feedback and rewriting exercises were a particular highlight, giving participants practical insight into how to sharpen their materials.

Spotlight on Networks: SPIN — Secrecy, Power, and Ignorance

n October we profiled SPIN, a cross-institutional research network exploring the politics of secrecy and ignorance. Highlights included:

• A new Call for Papers for Secrecy and Society
• Two newly released research method recordings (FOI/A and “Secrecy and Redaction”)
• A forthcoming article by Owen Thomas in Security Dialogue
• New SPIN A–Z entry: F is for Five Eyes
• A featured student essay on silence in US foreign policy

SPIN continues to grow and invites contributions for the next term from across the community.

What We Were Listening To: October 2025

Our October audio round-up spotlighted podcasts and broadcasts on:

• Ukraine’s battlefield endurance
• Europe’s defence posture
• Russia’s nuclear-powered missile
• Diplomatic narratives surrounding Trump–Zelensky
• Wartime news consumption in Ukraine
• First-hand British Army experiences in Iraq

A diverse mix for anyone interested in defence, strategy, and the human dimensions of conflict.

What We Read in October

This month’s reading focused on fighters, ideology, and strategic competition:

• Foreign Fighters and the Extreme Right — Daniel Koehler, Miroslav Mareš
• Power Competition in the Red Sea — Federico Donelli

Both books provide timely insights into contemporary challenges shaping global security. Our post contains links to both.

Theme Feature: Law & War (October 2025)

Marking 25 Years of UNSCR 1325 — Women, Peace and Security

To mark the 25th anniversary of UNSCR 1325, we gathered reporting and reflections on:

• The evolution of the WPS agenda
• Implementation challenges
• Feminist re-imaginings of peace and security
• National Action Plans and regional initiatives

A reminder of the ongoing urgency of gender-inclusive peacebuilding.

Teaching Law and War: Some Reflections on Justice and Pedagogy

Dr Tegan Lily Harrison shared some reflections on teaching in a post that explored how students grapple with the limits and possibilities of international law — from Nuremberg’s legal architecture to contemporary humanitarian crises — and how teaching can hold space for both critique and ethical imagination.

Theme Spotlight: Across Frontiers of Conflict: Arctic Geopolitics, Cold War Legacies, and Counterinsurgency — Insights on the Ethics of War

Our theme spotlight focused on the work of Prof. Caroline Kennedy-Pipe. Caroline offered insights spanning Arctic security, Cold War histories, counterinsurgency, and the moral silences of modern conflict, drawing together decades of research across multiple terrains.

New for ECRs: “Confessions of an Early Career Researcher” Podcast

We highlighted a new British Academy & Leverhulme Trust podcast aimed at demystifying:

• Funding
• Precarity
• Mentorship
• Imposter syndrome
• Academic careers beyond the PhD

All episodes are now available across platforms.

Looking Ahead to November

As we move through November, we’ll be sharing new community spotlights, upcoming research events, and the next theme feature - The Military Body & Mind. If you have research news, publications, or events you’d like included in the next digest, please get in touch with the DRN editorial team.