Spring Update from the Oxford Centre for Geopolitics
With the arrival of blossom and longer days, nature has come alive – and so has our planning for an even more productive period ahead. We at the Oxford Centre for Geopolitics have taken this moment.
Spring has arrived in Oxford with unusual speed this year. Locals say it has been one of the rainiest seasons in memory. Yet with the arrival of blossom and longer days, nature has come alive – and so has our planning for an even more productive period ahead. We at the Oxford Centre for Geopolitics have taken this moment to reflect, recalibrate, and plan for a productive and ambitious period ahead.
So, what exactly have we been doing over the past semester?
Over the past semester, our focus has been on laying the intellectual and institutional groundwork for the year ahead. As global geopolitical dynamics continue to evolve at pace, the need for fresh perspectives and rigorous analysis has never been more pressing.
Our 2026 Research Agenda
This year, the Oxford Centre for Geopolitics will focus on the following three core themes:
Future of AI: Geopolitics and the Global Divide
Exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping global power structures and widening gaps between technological leaders and followers.When Civilian Technology Becomes Strategic Power: The New Era of Dual-Use Innovation
Examining the increasing overlap between civilian and military technologies, and its implications for global competition.Shifting Power: China, Middle Powers & the West
Analysing the evolving balance of power between major and emerging actors in the international system.
These topics reflect the most pressing intersections between technology, power transitions, and international order. Detailed research papers, policy briefs, and events will be rolled out throughout the year.
Launch of Our New Web Platform
We are pleased to announce the launch of our new website ( https://www.oxford-geopolitics.org/ ), alongside a dedicated publishing platform on Substack - https://opinion.oxford-geopolitics.org/. This platform will serve as the primary outlet for our fellows’ work, featuring weekly analysis and commentary on pressing geopolitical issues.
We warmly invite you to subscribe and follow our publications as we expand our intellectual footprint.
Trinity Term Activities
Looking ahead to Trinity Term, we have an exciting lineup of events and engagements planned:
A series of seminars and roundtable discussions hosted in Oxford University
Visits to leading think tanks in London
A forthcoming collaborative event with King’s College London and Cambridge University (details to be announced)
Two joint events with the Oxford International Development Centre
Additional events at Saïd Business School and Pembroke College
A collaborative event with the Oxford Space Initiative
Further details will be shared soon—stay tuned.
Welcoming Our New Fellows
We are thrilled to welcome the 2026 cohort of Research Fellows to the Oxford Centre for Geopolitics. This year’s fellows hail from leading institutions including the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, King’s College London, and the University of Warwick.
These distinguished scholars bring fresh expertise and diverse perspectives. Over the coming months, they will share their research and insights through articles and briefings on our new Substack platform.
We wish them every success and are confident their contributions will greatly enrich our work and the wider policy debate.
As Trinity Term begins and Oxford fills with the energy of spring, the entire team at the Oxford Centre for Geopolitics is energised and ready for what promises to be a dynamic and impactful period.
We look forward to keeping you informed and engaged throughout the term.