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Ian Shields

Associate Lecturer in International Relations, Anglia Ruskin University

In the RAF Ian was a navigator, initially on the Vulcan bomber but later on the Hercules transport aircraft. He commanded a front-line squadron and saw service in the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan among other places. He entered an academic stream towards the end of his career, gaining two master’s degrees, and ended his career in an MoD think-tank looking forward 40 years to gauge security threats broadly, and the roles of air and space power in particular.

Since leaving the RAF he has lectured at a number of UK Universities in the fields of International Relations and Security, and presently is the coordinator for the MA in International Relations at Anglia Ruskin University, where he also lectures in Criminology and Working in the Public Services. He maintains his MoD links, and has written for both MoD and wider, defence publications.

Ian’s prime research area is the relationship between the Government and the Media over the use of military force, but he is also researching the International Order and challenges it is facing, as well as broader issues within the International Relations and Security fields.

Having helped establish the MA in International Relations at ARU, Ian continues to deliver modules on Conflict and Communication and on War, Peacekeeping and Military Intervention, as well as continuing to help develop the degree. He also delivers modules on Leadership and on Terror as a Crime.

Global Geopolitics Series

Trump NATO strategy awaited with increasingly frayed nerves in eastern Europe

Jan 18, 2017 16:14 pm UTC| Insights & Views

While America celebrates the inauguration of its 45th president, there is widespread concern about his potential approach towards NATO, his relations with Russia and whether Russian president Vladimir Putin will try to...

Global Geopolitics Series

Special forces should be at the heart of Britain's military planning

Oct 21, 2016 09:52 am UTC| Insights & Views

What sort of military does the UK need to deal with a rapidly changing set of potential threats? Conventional military thinking still holds that the UK needs to retain what the Americans would describe as full-spectrum...

Global Geopolitics Series

Cool heads needed as investigation into downing of MH17 points blame at Russia

Sep 29, 2016 14:42 pm UTC| Insights & Views

The findings from the Dutch-led investigation into the downing of Malaysian Airways flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014 offer a compelling case that the missile used was fired from territory controlled by pro-Russian...

Briferendum Aftermath Series

Brexit is not the beginning of a global security crisis

Jul 03, 2016 02:48 am UTC| Insights & Views

Now its people have decided to back out of the EU, Britains future place in the world order is more unclear than it has been for decades but that still doesnt mean that the world is less safe because of the British...

Economy

Iran-Israel War Sparks Global Oil Crisis as Tankers Burn in Gulf Waters

An escalating conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel has sent shockwaves through global energy markets, with oil prices surging past $100 per barrel and Iranian forces attacking multiple tankers and oil...

Asian Markets Retreat as Oil Prices Surge Toward $100 Amid Middle East Tensions

Asian stock markets reversed two days of gains on Thursday as crude oil prices spiked sharply, driven by fresh supply disruptions linked to an escalating conflict in the Middle East. U.S. stock index futures also retreated...

Dollar Strengthens Amid Oil Price Surge and Inflation Fears

The U.S. dollar extended its winning streak Thursday, hovering near its highest levels of the year as skyrocketing crude oil prices intensified inflation concerns and prompted traders to anticipate more aggressive central...

Nations will release an extra 400 million barrels of oil to the market. All we need to do now is not panic at the pump

Despite being one of the worlds top exporters of fossil fuels (coal and gas), Australia has little left of its own oil. Neither does New Zealand. Both Australia and New Zealand sit at the end of a long supply chain for...

ANZ and Westpac Forecast Two RBA Rate Hikes in March and May 2026

ANZ has joined Westpac in predicting that the Reserve Bank of Australia will raise interest rates at both its March and May 2026 meetings. Analysts cite persistent inflation and a resilient labor market as the primary...

Politics

After the Iran war, Persian Gulf nations face tough decisions on the US – a former diplomat explains

When the US-Israeli war on Iran finally ends, the Middle East will be even less predictable than it was before it started. The decision by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to go to...

Trump Doubts Iran Mining Reports as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Escalate

President Donald Trump cast doubt Wednesday on reports that Iran had placed naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the worlds most critical oil shipping routes. When pressed by reporters, Trump responded simply, We...

Venezuela Names Paula Henao as New Oil Minister Amid U.S.-Led Industry Overhaul

Venezuelas acting President Delcy Rodriguez has appointed Paula Henao as the countrys new oil minister, marking a significant leadership shift as the South American nation undergoes a sweeping transformation of its energy...

IEA Releases Record 400 Million Barrels of Oil Amid U.S.-Iran War

The International Energy Agency has approved an unprecedented release of 400 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves held by its 32 member nations, marking the largest coordinated stockpile drawdown in the agencys...

Bipartisan Housing Bill Advances in Senate, Aims to Tackle U.S. Affordability Crisis

In a rare show of bipartisan cooperation, Republican and Democratic lawmakers are rallying behind sweeping legislation designed to address Americas growing affordable housing shortage. The Senate voted 84-10 in favor of a...

Science

SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed a significant shift in the companys near-term space exploration strategy, announcing that SpaceX is now prioritizing the development of a self-growing city on the Moon rather than focusing...

SpaceX Prioritizes Moon Mission Before Mars as Starship Development Accelerates

Elon Musks SpaceX is shifting its near-term space exploration strategy, choosing to prioritize a return to the Moon before pursuing missions to Mars, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report citing sources familiar...

NASA and SpaceX Target Crew-11 Undocking From ISS Amid Medical Concern

NASA has confirmed that the agency, in coordination with SpaceX, is targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. Eastern Time (2200 GMT) on Wednesday, January 14, for the undocking of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission from the International...

Neuralink Plans High-Volume Brain Implant Production and Fully Automated Surgery by 2026

Elon Musks brain-computer interface company Neuralink is preparing for a major expansion, announcing plans to begin high-volume production of its brain implant devices and transition to a fully automated surgical procedure...

Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency

The U.S. Senate has officially confirmed billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman as the new NASA administrator, making him the 15th leader in the agencys history. The confirmation, which took place on Wednesday, marks...

Technology

Pokemon Pokopia Sells 2.2 Million Copies in Four Days, Boosting Nintendo Switch 2 Momentum

Nintendo has announced that its newly released life simulation game, Pokemon Pokopia, surpassed 2.2 million copies sold within just four days of launch a strong debut that is helping ease investor concerns surrounding the...

UK Regulators Demand Social Media Platforms Strengthen Children's Age Verification

Britains media and privacy regulators are turning up the heat on major social media companies, demanding stronger measures to prevent children from accessing platforms that were never designed for them. Ofcom and the...

Alphabet's GFiber Merges with Astound Broadband to Build Major U.S. Internet Provider

Alphabets fiber internet subsidiary GFiber is joining forces with Astound Broadband in a landmark merger set to reshape the U.S. broadband landscape. Astound, backed by infrastructure investment firm Stonepeak, will hold a...

Big Tech Turns to Debt Markets to Fund AI Infrastructure Boom

The worlds largest technology companies are increasingly tapping debt markets to bankroll their artificial intelligence ambitions, signaling a notable departure from Silicon Valleys traditional reliance on cash reserves....

Anduril Industries Acquires ExoAnalytic Solutions to Bolster Space Defense Capabilities

Anduril Industries has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire ExoAnalytic Solutions, a national security firm specializing in space situational awareness and missile defense technology. The move signals Andurils...