Staff profile

Dr Bleddyn Bowen is Associate Professor of Astropolitics at the School of Government and International Affairs (SGIA) at Durham University and an expert in space warfare and astropolitics. He is the author of two monographs: Original Sin: Power, Technology, and War in Outer Space (Hurst, 2022) and War in Space: Strategy, Spacepower, Geopolitics (Edinburgh University Press, 2020); and multiple peer-reviewed articles (list below). His research focuses on spacepower and strategic theory; space policy and politics; military space history; technology and modern warfare; international relations, security, and intelligence in space. He is recognised by bestselling author and journalist Tim Marshall as "Britain's leading thinker on astropolitics" and "a leading expert on the politics of space" in the pages of Politique étrangère. Dr Bowen is usually available for comment for media/news stories related to his academic expertise - see details below.

Dr Bowen has advised, presented, and briefed for many government agencies and offices, including the UK Prime Minister’s Policy Unit, the US National Space Council, the US Space Force, the European Space Agency, UK Ministry of Defence, UK Space Agency, the UK Parliament, and the Japanese Cabinet Office. Prior to joining Durham University, Dr Bowen taught and researched at the University of Leicester, King’s College London, and Aberystwyth University.

In addition to his academic role at SGIA, Dr Bowen holds the following roles:

Co-Director Space Research Centre, Durham University

Founder and Co-Convenor, Astropolitics Working Group, British International Studies Association

Member, Durham Global Security Institute

Editorial Board Member, RAF Air and Space Power Review

Project Associate, Third Nuclear Age Project, University of Leicester

Associate Fellow, Royal United Services Institute

Select Publications

2024     Bleddyn E. Bowen, ‘NATO, Space, and Deterrence’, in Nicolo Fasola et al, ed. Space: Exploring NATO’s Final Frontier, Italian International Affairs Institute, 2024

2024     Bleddyn E. Bowen and Cameron Hunter, ‘We’ll never have a model of an AI Major-General: Artificial Intelligence, Command Decisions, and Kitsch Visions of War’, Journal of Strategic Studies, 47:1

2022/3 Bleddyn E. Bowen, Original Sin: Power, Technology, and War in Outer Space (Hurst/Oxford University Press)

2021     Bleddyn E. Bowen and Cameron Hunter, ‘Chinese Fractional Orbital Bombardment’, Asia-Pacific Leadership Network Policy Brief No. 78.

2020     Bleddyn E. Bowen, ‘The Integrated Review and British Spacepower: The Search for Strategy’, Freeman Air and Space Institute.

2020     Bleddyn E. Bowen, War in Space: Strategy, Spacepower, Geopolitics (Edinburgh University Press)

2020     Bleddyn E. Bowen, ‘Neither a silver bullet nor a distraction: Economic warfare in seapower theory’, in David Morgan-Owen and Louis Halewood, eds. Economic Warfare and the Sea: Grand Strategy for Maritime Powers, 1650-1945 (Liverpool University Press)

2020     Bleddyn E. Bowen, ‘British Spacepower: Context, Policies, and Capabilities’, in Kai-Uwe Schrogl, ed. Handbook of Space Security: Policies, Applications, and Programs (Springer)

2020     Bleddyn E. Bowen, and Andrew Futter, ‘A Perfect Storm? Coronavirus, Brexit, the Integrated Review, Scottish Separatism and the Future of Trident’, RUSI Journal, 165:5-6

2019     Bleddyn E. Bowen, ‘From the sea to outer space: The command of space as the foundation of spacepower theory’, Journal of Strategic Studies, 2019, 42:3-4

2019     Bleddyn E. Bowen, ‘Space Oddities: Law, War, and the Proliferation of Spacepower,’ in Ernst Dijxhoorn and James Gow, ed., Routledge Handbook of War, Law, and Technology (Routledge)

2018     Bleddyn E. Bowen, ‘British security strategy and outer space: A missing link?’ British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 20:2

2018     Bleddyn E. Bowen, ‘The RAF and Space Doctrine: A Second Century and a Second Space Age’, RUSI Journal, 163:3

2014     Bleddyn E. Bowen, ‘Cascading Crises: Orbital Debris and the Widening of Space Security’, Astropolitics: The International Journal of Space Politics & Policy, 12:1

Media and Public Speaking

Dr Bowen has extensive experience as a public speaker and contributor to news items as a subject matter expert, and is open to media queries for comments on news items. He can comment as an academic expert on the fields below in Welsh and English:

• Space policy and security
• Military and intelligence space activities
• International relations, geopolitics, and history in space
• UK defence/security, particularly with regard to modern warfare and space technologies

Dr Bowen has previously featured in these select outlets:

• BBC Radio 4's Today Programme
• BBC Radio 4's The Patch
• BBC Radio 5 Live
• BBC Radio Cymru
• BBC Radio Wales
• Newyddion S4C
• Sky News
• British Forces TV/Radio
• Le Monde
• The Times
• The Financial Times
• The Economist
• The Washington Post
• Space News

Dr Bowen has been active in public speaking for many years, with highlights including:

• Guest lecture to the Gwynedd Scientific Society (forthcoming 2025)
• Keynote lecture to the RAF Museum Conference, 2024
• Guest lecture for the African Space Leadership Institute, 2024
• Expert Panellist at the Japanese Cabinet Office 9th National Space Policy Secretariat Symposium, 2024
• Guest lecture to the Joint Services Command and Staff College, 2024
• Expert Panellist at the Future Space Threats Conference, Wilton Park, 2023
• Guest lecture to the Australian War College, 2023
• Speaker at the Oxford Literary Festival, 2023
• Expert Panellist at the UN's Open-Ended Working Group on Space Threats, 2022
• Guest lecture to the UK Ministry of Defence Chief Scientific Adviser's Lecture Series, 2021
• Guest lecture to the Royal Netherlands Air Force, 2021
• Guest lecture to the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 2019
• Addressing the NATO Engages Summit, London 2019
• Guest lecture to the Nene Valley Astronomical Society, 2018

• Astropolitics
• Space Warfare
• Space Security
• Space Policy
• Technology and War
• Strategic Theory