Lucas Kello is Professor of Technology and Geopolitics in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford. He is the Director of the Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research, a University-wide initiative sponsored by the UK National Cyber Security Centre and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
He analyses the implications of technological change for international order with a focus on geopolitical competition, state power, and government-industry relations in the development of strategic technologies. His first book, The Virtual Weapon and International Order (Yale University Press, 2017), developed a framework for the study of technological revolution in the international system and examined the effects of cyberspace on interstate rivalry. It has been translated into Korean, Arabic, and Greek. His second book, Striking Back: The End of Peace in Cyberspace and How to Restore It (Yale University Press, 2022), explained why prevailing strategies have struggled to prevent or reduce cyber conflict and presented an alternative approach to achieving order in cyberspace. The Financial Times and Nature named it among the best new books.
Research
International security and strategic studies
Cybersecurity and cyber conflict
Artificial intelligence and algorithmic conflict
Quantum risk and resilience
Space security and governance
Teaching
Department of Politics and International Relations
Undergraduate
International Security and Conflict (PPE/History & Politics) – Co-founder and Co-convenor
International Relations in the Era of Two World Wars (PPE/History & Politics)
International Relations in the Era of the Cold War (PPE/History & Politics)
International Relations (PPE/History & Politics)
Postgraduate
International Relations Core Seminar (MPhil)
Research Design and Methods (DPhil/MPhil)
Thesis Seminar and Workshop (DPhil/MPhil)
Thesis Supervision (DPhil/MPhil)
Saïd Business School
Postgraduate
Smart Space Elective (MBA) – Co-founder and Co-convenor
Cyber Resilience Elective (MBA)
Digital Transformation Elective (MBA)
Publications
Journal Articles
2024
KELLO, L. (2024) “Democracy Marred: The Global Spread of Political Trickery”, Perspectives on Politics [Preprint].
2023
Wheeler, J. et al. (2023) “Space conservation: a plea for urgency”, Astronomy and Geophysics, 64(2), pp. 2.14 – 2.18.
Available at https://doi.org/10.1093/astrogeo/atad011
Wheeler, J. et al. (2023) “Space conservation”, ASTRONOMY & GEOPHYSICS, 64(2), pp. 14–18.
Available at https://doi.org/10.1093/astrogeo/atad011
2021
KELLO, L. (2021) “Cyber legalism: why it fails and what to do about it”, Journal of Cybersecurity [Preprint].
Available at https://doi.org/10.1093/cybsec/tyab014
Kello, L. (2021) “Cyber legalism: why it fails and what to do about it”, Journal of Cybersecurity, 7(1).
Available at https://doi.org/10.1093/cybsec/tyab014
2014
Kello, L. and Richard, T. (2014) “Les cyberarmes : dilemmes et futurs possibles”, Politique étrangère, Hiver(4), pp. 139–150.
Available at https://doi.org/10.3917/pe.144.0139
Kello, L. (2014) “Les cyberarmes : dilemmes et futurs possibles”, Politique étrangère, 79(4).
Kello, L. (2014) “The Virtual Weapon: Dilemmas and Future Scenarios”, Politique étrangère, 79(4).
Kello, L. (2014) “Correspondence: a cyber disagreement”, International Security, 39(2), pp. 181–192.
Available at https://doi.org/10.1162/ISEC_c_00169
Kello, L. (2014) “Correspondence A Cyber Disagreement Reply”, INTERNATIONAL SECURITY, 39(2), pp. 188–192.
Available at https://doi.org/10.1162/ISEC_c_00169
2013
Kello, L. (2013) “The Meaning of the Cyber Revolution: Perils to Theory and Statecraft”, International Security [Preprint].
Available at https://doi.org/10.1162/ISEC_a_00138
2009
Kello, L. (2009) “European States Systems: Small-State Consequences”, Akadeemia: War and Peace, 9.
Books
2022
Kello, L. (2022) Striking Back: The End of Peace in Cyberspace - and How to Restore It. Yale University Press, pp. 1–274.
2017
KELLO, L. (2017) The Virtual Weapon and International Order. JSTOR.
Available at https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1trkjd1
Chapters
2024
Kello, L. (2024) “Digital Diplomacy and Cyber Defence”, in The Oxford Handbook of Digital Diplomacy. Oxford University Press (OUP), pp. 121–137.
Available at https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780192859198.013.7
2023
Kello, L. (2023) “The state in the digital era: Supreme or in decline?”, in Digital International Relations: Technology, Agency and Order, pp. 51–72.
Available at https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003437963-4
Kello, L. (2023) “The State in the Digital Era”, in Digital International Relations. Taylor & Francis, pp. 51–72.
Available at https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003437963-4
2022
Kello, L. (2022) “2 CYBER LEGALISM The Limits of Law and Norms”, in Striking Back. Yale University Press, pp. 45–62.
Available at https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300252538-003
Kello, L. (2022) “10 CONCLUSION A Partial Restoration of Peace”, in Striking Back. Yale University Press, pp. 203–210.
Available at https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300252538-011
Kello, L. (2022) “1 TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTION IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE Lessons for Our Times”, in Striking Back. Yale University Press, pp. 21–44.
Available at https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300252538-002
Kello, L. (2022) “4 RUSSIA AND NEW TECHNOLOGICAL THREATS TO DEMOCRACY”, in Striking Back. Yale University Press, pp. 75–103.
Available at https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300252538-005
Kello, L. (2022) “3 CHALLENGER STATES Revisionism in the International System”, in Striking Back. Yale University Press, pp. 63–74.
Available at https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300252538-004
Kello, L. (2022) “5 CHINA AND CYBERSPACE The Rising Technological Hegemon”, in Striking Back. Yale University Press, pp. 104–123.
Available at https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300252538-006
Kello, L. (2022) “6 THE DIMENSIONS OF CURRENT STRATEGY To Deter or Not to Deter?”, in Striking Back. Yale University Press, pp. 124–140.
Available at https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300252538-007
Kello, L. (2022) “9 DATA EMBASSIES AND STATE CONTINUITY The Return of Denial?”, in Striking Back. Yale University Press, pp. 174–202.
Available at https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300252538-010
Kello, L. (2022) “8 WHAT KIND OF NATO? Punctuated Deterrence in Practice”, in Striking Back. Yale University Press, pp. 160–173.
Available at https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300252538-009
Kello, L. (2022) “INTRODUCTION The Evolving Menace of Technological Aggression”, in Striking Back. Yale University Press, pp. 1–20.
Available at https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300252538-001
Kello, L. (2022) “7 PUNCTUATED DETERRENCE How to Strike Back”, in Striking Back. Yale University Press, pp. 141–159.
Available at https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300252538-008
2019
Kello, L. (2019) “CHAPTER 6. First-Order Cyber Revolution: PRESSURES FROM OUTSIDE THE STATES SYSTEM”, in The Virtual Weapon and International Order. Yale University Press, pp. 160–192.
Available at https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300226294-009
Kello, L. (2019) “CHAPTER 7. The Deterrence Puzzle: DOCTRINAL PROBLEMS AND REMEDIES”, in The Virtual Weapon and International Order. Yale University Press, pp. 195–211.
Available at https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300226294-010
Kello, L. (2019) “CHAPTER 8. Russia and Cyberspace: MANIFESTATIONS OF THE REVOLUTION”, in The Virtual Weapon and International Order. Yale University Press, pp. 212–228.
Available at https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300226294-011
Kello, L. (2019) “CHAPTER 9. Private Sector Active Defense: AN ADEQUATE RESPONSE TO THE SOVEREIGNTY GAP?”, in The Virtual Weapon and International Order. Yale University Press, pp. 229–246.
Available at https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300226294-012
Kello, L. (2019) “Introduction”, in The Virtual Weapon and International Order. Yale University Press, pp. 1–20.
Available at https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300226294-003
Kello, L. (2019) “CHAPTER 2. The Cyber Curse: COMPLICATIONS OF DEFENSE”, in The Virtual Weapon and International Order. Yale University Press, pp. 58–79.
Available at https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300226294-005
Kello, L. (2019) “CHAPTER 10. Cyber Futures”, in The Virtual Weapon and International Order. Yale University Press, pp. 247–257.
Available at https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300226294-013
Kello, L. (2019) “CHAPTER 1. The Quest for Cyber Theory”, in The Virtual Weapon and International Order. Yale University Press, pp. 23–57.
Available at https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300226294-004
Kello, L. (2019) “CHAPTER 5. Second-Order Cyber Revolution: THE PROBLEM OF THE REVOLUTIONARY STATE”, in The Virtual Weapon and International Order. Yale University Press, pp. 143–159.
Available at https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300226294-008
Kello, L. (2019) “CHAPTER 4. Third-Order Cyber Revolution: PROBLEMS OF INADVERTENT CONFLICT”, in The Virtual Weapon and International Order. Yale University Press, pp. 119–142.
Available at https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300226294-007
Kello, L. (2019) “CHAPTER 3. Technological Revolution and International Order”, in The Virtual Weapon and International Order. Yale University Press, pp. 80–116.
Available at https://doi.org/10.12987/9780300226294-006
2018
Kello, L. (2018) “Cyber defence”, in The Handbook of European Defence Policies and Armed Forces, pp. 658–672.
Available at https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198790501.003.0039
Kello, L. (2018) “European Cyber Defense”, in H. Meijer and M. Wyss (eds.) The Handbook of European Defence Policies and Armed Forces. Oxford University Press.
Kello, L. (2018) “Private-Sector Cyberweapons: An Adequate Response to the Sovereignty Gap?”, in H. Lin and A. Zegart (eds.) Bytes, Bombs, and Spies. Brookings Institution Press.
2017
Kello, L. (2017) “Cyber Security: Gridlock and Innovation”, in D. Held and T. Hale (eds.) Beyond Gridlock. Polity Press, pp. 205–228.
2014
Kello, L. (2014) “Security”, in J. Krieger (ed.) The Oxford Companion to International Relations. Oxford University Press.
2012
Kello, L. (2012) “The Advantages of Latitude: Estonia’s post-Communist Success Story”, in Democratization and Security in Central and Eastern Europe and the Post-Soviet States. Nomos Verlag, pp. 23–54.
Available at https://doi.org/10.5771/9783845234595-23
2011
Kello, L. (2011) “The advantages of latitude: Estonia’s post-communist success story”, in D. Bosold, P. Drulak, and N. Hynek (eds.) Democratization and Security in Central and Eastern Europe and the Post-Soviet States. Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft Mbh & Co, pp. 23–53.
Available at https://doi.org/10.5771/9783845234595
2008
Kello, L. (2008) “Cyber Threats”, in T. Weiss and S. Daws (eds.) The Oxford Handbook on the United Nations. OUP Oxford.
