
Dr James Johnson
Lecturer
- About
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Biography
Dr James Johnson is a Lecturer in Strategic Studies in the Department of Politics and International Relations. James is also an Honorary Fellow at the University of Leicester, a Non-Resident Associate on the ERC-funded Towards a Third Nuclear Age Project, and a Mid-Career Cadre with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Project on Nuclear Issues. Previously, James was an Assistant Professor at Dublin City University, a Non-Resident Fellow with the Modern War Institute at West Point, and a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in Monterey, CA. He holds a PhD in Politics and International Relations from the University of Leicester. Before entering academia, James worked in the financial sector, mainly in China, and is fluent in Mandarin.
James's research examines the intersection of nuclear weapons, deterrence, great power competition, strategic stability, and emerging technology – especially artificial intelligence. His work has featured in Journal of Strategic Studies, The Washington Quarterly, Strategic Studies Quarterly, European Journal of International Security, Asian Security, Pacific Review, Defense and Security Analysis, RUSI Journal, Journal of Cyber Policy, War on the Rocks, and other outlets.
James is the author of The US-China Military & Defense Relationship During the Obama Presidency (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018) and Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Warfare: USA, China & Strategic Stability (Manchester University Press, 2021). His latest book project is entitled Artificial Intelligence & the Bomb: Nuclear Strategy and Risk in the Digital Age (under contract with Oxford University Press).
Memberships and Affiliations
- Internal Memberships
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- Co-Director of Strategic Studies
- Social Sciences PG Committee, Member
- Social Sciences Research Committee, Member
- PIR PG Staff Student Liaison Committee, Member
- PIR PG Exam Board Committee, Member
- Personal Tutor
- External Memberships
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- Honorary Visiting Fellow, University of Leicester
- Non-Resident Associate, "The Towards a Third Nuclear Age: Strategic Conventional Weapons and the Next Revolution in the Global Nuclear Order," European Research Council (ERC) funded project
- Mid-Career Cadre, Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), Project on Nuclear Issues
- British International Studies Association, Member
- International Studies Association, Member
Latest Publications
Inadvertent Escalation in the Age of Intelligence Machines: A new model for nuclear risk in the digital age
European Journal of International SecurityContributions to Journals: ArticlesDoes the United States face a multipolar future? Washington's response through the lens of technology
National perspectives on a multipolar order. Zala, B. (ed.). 1st edition. University of Manchester press, 22 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: ChaptersArtificial intelligence and the future of warfare: The USA, China, and strategic stability
Manchester University Press, London, UK. 240 pagesBooks and Reports: Books‘Catalytic nuclear war’ in the age of artificial intelligence & autonomy: Emerging military technology and escalation risk between nuclear-armed states
The Journal of Strategic StudiesContributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01402390.2020.1867541
The US, Indo-Pacific, AI and Emerging Security Technologies
Routledge Handbook of US policy in the Indo-Pacific. Turner, O., Aslam, W., Nymalm, N. (eds.). RoutledgeChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters
- Research
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Research Overview
- Strategic studies
- Artificial intelligence & future warfare
- Great power strategic competition
- Deterrence theory & strategic stability
- Political & cognitive psychology
- Nuclear weapons policy
- Nuclear non-proliferation & arms control issues
Current Research
Latest book project: Artificial Intelligence & the Bomb: Nuclear strategy and risk in the digital age – under contract with Oxford University Press.
Abstract: Will AI make accidental nuclear war more likely? If so, how might these risks be reduced? This research provides a coherent, innovative, and multidisciplinary examination of the potential effects of AI technology on nuclear strategy and escalation risk. The project addresses a gap in the international relations and strategic studies literature that considers how AI might influence nuclear security and future warfare. Its findings will have important theoretical and policy implications for the use of AI in the nuclear enterprise. The research advances an innovative theoretical framework to consider AI technology and atomic risk, drawing on insights from political psychology, neuroscience, computer science, and strategic studies. This multidisciplinary research unpacks the seminal cognitive-psychological features of the Cold War-era scholarship, offering a novel explanation for why these matter for AI applications and nuclear strategic thinking; thus, ensuring the research's policy relevance and contribution to the literature that considers the impact of military force and technological change.
- Teaching
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Teaching Responsibilities
- Co-Director of Strategic Studies
- Nominated for the 2022 Excellence Award for Best Postgraduate Teaching
- Publications
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Inadvertent Escalation in the Age of Intelligence Machines: A new model for nuclear risk in the digital age
European Journal of International SecurityContributions to Journals: ArticlesDoes the United States face a multipolar future? Washington's response through the lens of technology
National perspectives on a multipolar order. Zala, B. (ed.). 1st edition. University of Manchester press, 22 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: ChaptersArtificial intelligence and the future of warfare: The USA, China, and strategic stability
Manchester University Press, London, UK. 240 pagesBooks and Reports: Books‘Catalytic nuclear war’ in the age of artificial intelligence & autonomy: Emerging military technology and escalation risk between nuclear-armed states
The Journal of Strategic StudiesContributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01402390.2020.1867541
The US, Indo-Pacific, AI and Emerging Security Technologies
Routledge Handbook of US policy in the Indo-Pacific. Turner, O., Aslam, W., Nymalm, N. (eds.). RoutledgeChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: ChaptersDeterrence in the age of artificial intelligence and autonomy: a paradigm shift in nuclear deterrence theory and practice?
Defense & Security Analysis, vol. 36, no. 4, pp. 422-448Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14751798.2020.1857911
Delegating strategic decision-making to machines: Dr. Strangelove redux?
The Journal of Strategic Studies, vol. 45, no. 3, pp. 439-477Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] https://doi.org/10.1080/01402390.2020.1759038
- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01402390.2020.1759038
Artificial intelligence: a threat to strategic stability
Strategic Studies Quarterly, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 16Contributions to Journals: ArticlesArtificial intelligence in nuclear warfare: a perfect storm of instability?
The Washington Quarterly, vol. 43, no. 2, pp. 197-211Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0163660X.2020.1770968
Artificial intelligence, drone swarming and escalation risks in future warfare
RUSI Journal, vol. 165, no. 2, pp. 26-36Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] https://doi.org/10.1080/03071847.2020.1752026
- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03071847.2020.1752026