Professor Nick Ritchie
Professor (International Security)

Profile

Biography

Nick researches and teaches in the areas of international relations and international security at the University of York. His particular focus is on nuclear disarmament, proliferation and arms control and US and UK national security. 

After completing his PhD thesis at the University of Bradford in 2007 on the evolution of US nuclear weapons policy after the Cold War, Nick spent four years researching and teaching at Bradford’s Department of Peace Studies before joining York in 2011.

He previously worked for five years at the Oxford Research Group, an independent Non-Governmental Organisation working with policy-makers and independent experts on the challenges of global security and nuclear disarmament.

Research

Overview

Nick’s research examines the global politics of nuclear weapons and nuclear disarmament. He has focused on the international movement since 2010 to ban nuclear weapons culminating in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in 2017. This research agenda has centred on the valuing/devaluing and legitimation/delegitimation of nuclear weapons in national and international politics, and the power politics of nuclear hegemony and the global disarmament movement. He also researches the UK nuclear weapons programme, including the politics of the Trident replacement programme underway since 2006 encompassing options, costs, politics and Scottish independence. His work has been funded by the ESRC, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and Nuclear Education Trust. 

Follow him at twitter.com/DrNickRitchie

Teaching

Undergraduate

US Power and Global Politics after the Cold War (convenor)

Global Politics of Nuclear Weapons (convenor)

Postgraduate

Dr Ritchie would be interested in supervising research students within the field of international security, particularly in the areas of nuclear weapons, arms control, disarmament and proliferation.

External activities

Memberships

Co-opted member, Peace and Security Committee, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust

Member, British Pugwash Group 

Patron, Nuclear Information Service

Nick regularly gives talks and papers at NGO and think-tank events on nuclear disarmament, proliferation and arms control.