Who we are

The Ax:son Johnson Institute for Statecraft and Diplomacy’s (AJI) mission is to foster historically informed statecraft and diplomacy. AJI conducts rigorous empirically based research focusing on description, explanation and interpretation. We believe that applying the lessons of history is fundamental in preserving stable, prosperous and open democratic societies.

AJI is a consortium comprised of the Axel and Margaret Ax:son Johnson Foundation for Public Benefit and four research centres at leading universities: the Centre for Geopolitics at the University of Cambridge, the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington D.C., the Centre for Grand Strategy in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, and the Center for Statecraft and Strategic Communication at the Stockholm School of Economics.

AJI supports the research of emerging scholars, convenes dialogues between policymakers and leading analysts of foreign policy on pressing strategic problems, and builds a growing intellectual community that spans the Atlantic. At the heart of these efforts is AJI’s team of talented doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows.

The Institute Team

Our core team sets AJI’s strategic direction in coordination with its academic partners, develops programming, supports educational initiatives, commissions research, designs policy dialogues, and facilitates the implementation of AJI efforts across its four research centers.

Dr. Mattias Hessérus, Director

Mattias Hessérus is the Director of the Ax:son Johnson Institute for Statecraft and Diplomacy and sits on the committee of the Engelsberg Applied History Programme at the University of Cambridge and King’s College London.

Will Quinn, Deputy Director and Research Fellow

Will Quinn is the Deputy Director of the Ax:son Johnson Institute for Statecraft and Diplomacy (AJI), where he leads strategic planning, coordination, and program development.

Ben Brücher, Project Leader

Ben Brücher is a Project Leader at the Ax:son Johnson Institute for Statecraft and Diplomacy (AJI), where he assists in AJI’s operations, event planning, and programme development.

Advisors

AJI’s founding advisors lead its partner institutions, provide intellectual leadership, and oversee the recruitment, support, and training of its pre- and post-doctoral fellows.

Dr. John Bew, Professor in History and Foreign Policy

John Bew is a Professor in History and Foreign Policy at the Department of War Studies, King’s College London.

Dr. Francis J. Gavin, Director Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs

Francis J. Gavin is the Giovanni Agnelli Distinguished Professor and the inaugural director of the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins SAIS.

Dr. Maeve Ryan, Senior Lecturer in History and Grand Strategy

Dr. Maeve Ryan is a Senior Lecturer in History and Grand Strategy at the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, where she co-directs the Centre for Grand Strategy.

Dr. Brendan Simms, Professor of the History of European International Relations

Brendan Simms is Professor of the History of European International Relations at The Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge.

Dr. Rikard Westerberg, Director The Center for Statecraft and Strategic Communication

Rikard Westerberg teaches economic history, the history of economic ideas and applied history at the Stockholm School of Economics and is the Director of The Center for Statecraft and Strategic Communication.

Dr. Carl Ritter, Senior Research Fellow The Center for Statecraft and Strategic Communication

Carl Ritter is a Senior Research Fellow at, and responsible for the educational program for, the Center for Statecraft and Strategic Communication at the Stockholm School of Economics.

Post-Doctoral Research Fellows

AJI’s post-doctoral fellows span its four academic partner institutions, where they pursue historically informed work on a wide range of subjects in the fields of international relations, political economy, strategy, and public policy. Generous fellowships support their research and completion of ambitious academic projects, including book manuscripts, journal articles, and essays designed to engage and inform the wider public.

Dr. Anahita Arian

Dr. Arian is a Post-doctoral Research Associate at the Centre for Geopolitics at the University of Cambridge. She is a College Research Associate at King’s college.

Dr. Hugo Bromley

Hugo Bromley is an affiliate Post-doctoral Research Associate at the Centre for Geopolitics at the University of Cambridge. He is an Affiliated Research Associate at Robinson College.

Dr. William Figueroa

William Figueroa is a Post-doctoral Research Associate at the Centre for Geopolitics at the University of Cambridge.

Dr. Nick Kaderbhai

Nick Kaderbhai is a Post-doctoral Fellow at the Centre for Grand Strategy at King’s College London.

Dr. William James

William James is an Ax:son Johnson Research Fellow at the Centre for Grand Strategy at King’s College London. He is also a Senior Associate of the Oxford Changing Character of War Centre.

Dr. Oliver Yule-Smith

Oliver Yule-Smith is an Ax:son Johnson Institute for Statecraft and Diplomacy Post-doctoral Fellow at the Centre for Grand Strategy at King’s College London.

Dr. Mary Bridges

Mary Bridges is a Ax:son Johnson Institute for Statecraft and Diplomacy Post-doctoral Fellow at the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs at SAIS John Hopkins.

Dr. Andrew Ehrhardt

Andrew Ehrhardt is a Ax:son Johnson Institute for Statecraft and Diplomacy Post-doctoral Fellow at the Kissinger Center at SAIS Johns Hopkins and a Visiting Fellow with the Centre for Grand Strategy at King’s College London.

Dr. Iskander Rehman

Iskander Rehman is an AJI Post-doctoral Fellow at the Henry A. Kissinger Center at SAIS Johns Hopkins . He is also the founder of the Rochambeau Dialogue.

Dr. Klas A. M. Eriksson

Klas Eriksson is a Post-doctoral Fellow at the Stockholm School of Economics.

Dr. Matthew Hefler

Matt Hefler is an Ax:son Johnson Institute for Statecraft and Diplomacy Post-doctoral Fellow at the Center for Statecraft and Strategic Communication at the Stockholm School of Economics.

Dr. Fredrik Sixtensson

Fredrik Sixtensson is Chair of higher Seminar in Statecraft and Strategic Communication at the Stockholm School of Economics.

Dr. Giulia Garbagni

Giulia Garbagni is an Ax:son Johnson Institute for Statecraft and Diplomacy Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Grand Strategy, King’s College London.

Dr. Robert Cullum

Rob Cullum is a Post-doctoral Research Associate with the Ax:son Johnson Institute for Statecraft and Diplomacy at King’s College London.

Dr. Harriet Aldrich

Harriet Aldrich is a Post-doctoral Research Fellow with the Ax:son Johnson Institute for Statecraft and Diplomacy at King’s College London.

Pre-Doctoral Fellows

AJI’s pre-doctoral fellows receive generous multi-year fellowships and graduate stipends to pursue their PhDs at the universities where the four partner centers are located. Reflecting diverse backgrounds, professional experiences, and research interests centered around statecraft and diplomacy, AJI’s pre-doctoral fellows represent the future of historically informed scholarship and are positioned to pursue their studies and dissertation work with the benefit of a rich intellectual community, mentors, and opportunities to train and collaborate across institutions.

Taif Alkhudary

Taif Alkhudary is a PhD student at the Centre for Geopolitics at the University of Cambridge.

Moez Hayat

Moez Hayat is a PhD student at the Centre for Geopolitics at the University of Cambridge.

Quah Say Jye

Quah Say Jye is a a PhD student at the Centre for Geopolitics at the University of Cambridge.

Jessi Gilchrist

Jessi Gilchrist is an Ax:son Johnson Institute for Statecraft and Diplomacy Predoctoral fellow in the Department of War Studies under the Ax:son Johnson Institute for Statecraft and Diplomacy based in the Centre for Grand Strategy at King’s College London

Scott Fenn

Scott Fenn is an Ax:son Johnson Institute for Statecraft and Diplomacy Predoctoral Fellow at the War Studies Department at King’s College London, and a member of the Centre for Grand Strategy.

Jonathan Esty

Jonathan Esty is an Ax:son Johnson Institute for Statecraft and Diplomacy Predoctoral Fellow at the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins SAIS.

Reja Younis

Reja Younis is a Predoctoral Fellow at the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins SAIS and a Program Manager and Research Associate with the Project on Nuclear Issues at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).