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James Johnson

Dr

Contact Details

Assistant Professor In Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy

C1118
Glasnevin Campus

T: 01 700 8572
E: james.johnson@dcu.ie
W: www.jamesjohnsonphd.com

Biography

Dr James Johnson is an Assistant Professor in Chinese Politics and Foreign Policy in the School of Law & Government at DCU and a Non-Resident Fellow with the Modern War Institute at West Point. Dr Johnson was previously a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in Monterey, California. He holds a PhD in Politics and International Relations from the University of Leicester and is an Honorary Visiting Fellow with the School of History, Politics & International Relations. Dr Johnson is also a Mid-Career Cadre Class of 2020 with the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) Project on Nuclear Issues.

Dr Johnson'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 The Journal of Strategic Studies, The Washington Quarterly, Strategic Studies Quarterly, Asian Security, Pacific Review, Defense and Security Analysis, RUSI Journal, The Journal of Cyber Policy, War on the Rocks, The Modern War Institute, and other outlets.

Dr Johnson is the author of The US-China Military & Defense Relationship During the Obama Presidency. His latest book is entitled, Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Warfare: USA, China & Strategic Stability.

Books

  Year Publication
2021 Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Warfare: USA, China, & Strategic Stability.
Johnson J. (2021) Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Warfare: USA, China, & Strategic Stability. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press. [Details]
2018 The US-China Military and Defense Relationship during the Obama Presidency.
Johnson J. (2018) The US-China Military and Defense Relationship during the Obama Presidency. London, UK: Palgrave Macmillan. [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
2021 '‘Catalytic Nuclear War’ in the Age of Artificial Intelligence & Autonomy: Emerging Military Technology and Escalation Risk Between Nuclear-armed States'
Johnson J. (2021) '‘Catalytic Nuclear War’ in the Age of Artificial Intelligence & Autonomy: Emerging Military Technology and Escalation Risk Between Nuclear-armed States'. Journal of Strategic Studies, [DOI] [Details]
2021 'Deterrence in the Age of Artificial Intelligence & Autonomy: A Paradigm Shift in Nuclear Deterrence Theory and Practice?'
Johnson J. (2021) 'Deterrence in the Age of Artificial Intelligence & Autonomy: A Paradigm Shift in Nuclear Deterrence Theory and Practice?'. Defense and Security Analysis, 36 (4):422-448 [DOI] [Details]
2020 'Artificial Intelligence in Nuclear Warfare: A Perfect Storm of Instability?'
Johnson J. (2020) 'Artificial Intelligence in Nuclear Warfare: A Perfect Storm of Instability?'. Washington Quarterly, 43 (2):197-211 [DOI] [Details]
2020 'Delegating Strategic Decision-Making to Machines: Dr. Strangelove Redux?'
Johnson J. (2020) 'Delegating Strategic Decision-Making to Machines: Dr. Strangelove Redux?'. Journal of Strategic Studies, [DOI] [Details]
2020 'Artificial Intelligence: A Threat to Strategic Stability'
Johnson J. (2020) 'Artificial Intelligence: A Threat to Strategic Stability'. Strategic Studies Quarterly, 14 (1):16-39 [DOI] [Details]
2020 'Artificial Intelligence, Drone Swarming and Escalation Risks in Future Warfare'
Johnson J. (2020) 'Artificial Intelligence, Drone Swarming and Escalation Risks in Future Warfare'. Strategic Studies Quarterly, 165 (2):26-36 [DOI] [Details]
2019 'The AI-Cyber Nexus: Implications for Military Escalation, Deterrence, & Strategic Stability'
Johnson J. (2019) 'The AI-Cyber Nexus: Implications for Military Escalation, Deterrence, & Strategic Stability'. Journal of Cyber Policy, 4 (3):442-460 [DOI] [Details]
2019 'Artificial Intelligence and Future Warfare: Implications for International Security'
Johnson, J (2019) 'Artificial Intelligence and Future Warfare: Implications for International Security'. Defense and Security Analysis, 35 :147-169 [DOI] [Details]
2019 'The End of Military-Techno Pax Americana? Washington’s Strategic Responses to Chinese AI-enabled Military Technology'
Johnson J. (2019) 'The End of Military-Techno Pax Americana? Washington’s Strategic Responses to Chinese AI-enabled Military Technology'. Pacific Review, [DOI] [Details]
2018 'Chinese Evolving Approaches to Nuclear “War-Fighting”: An Emerging Intense US–China Security Dilemma and Threats to Crisis Stability in the Asia Pacific'
Johnson J. (2018) 'Chinese Evolving Approaches to Nuclear “War-Fighting”: An Emerging Intense US–China Security Dilemma and Threats to Crisis Stability in the Asia Pacific'. Asian Security, 15 (3):215-232 [DOI] [Details]
2018 'China’s Vision of the Future Network-Centric Battlefield: Cyber, Space and Electromagnetic Asymmetric Challenges to the United States'
Johnson J. (2018) 'China’s Vision of the Future Network-Centric Battlefield: Cyber, Space and Electromagnetic Asymmetric Challenges to the United States'. Comparative Strategy, 37 (5):373-390 [DOI] [Details]
2017 'China's “Guam Express” and “Carrier Killers”: The Anti-Ship Asymmetric Challenge to the US in the Western Pacific'
Johnson J. (2017) 'China's “Guam Express” and “Carrier Killers”: The Anti-Ship Asymmetric Challenge to the US in the Western Pacific'. Comparative Strategy, 36 (4):319-332 [DOI] [Details]
2016 'Washington's Perceptions and Misperceptions of Beijing's Anti-Access Area-Denial (A2-AD) ‘Strategy’: Implications for Military Escalation Control and Strategic Stability'
Johnson J. (2016) 'Washington's Perceptions and Misperceptions of Beijing's Anti-Access Area-Denial (A2-AD) ‘Strategy’: Implications for Military Escalation Control and Strategic Stability'. Pacific Review, 30 (3):271-288 [DOI] [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
2021 'The Incumbent Unipole and its Allies: Multipolar Challenges to US Dominance in Artificial Intelligence'
Johnson J. (2021) 'The Incumbent Unipole and its Allies: Multipolar Challenges to US Dominance in Artificial Intelligence' In: Interrogating a Multipolar Order: The Use of Multipolar Narratives in National Context. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press. [Details]
2021 'The US, Indo-Pacific, AI and Emerging Security Technologies'
Johnson J. (2021) 'The US, Indo-Pacific, AI and Emerging Security Technologies' In: Oliver Turner, Nicola Nymalm, Wali Aslam (eds). Routledge Handbook of US policy in the Indo-Pacific. London, UK: Routledge. [Details]
2020 'Emerging Technologies and Chinese Challenges to US Innovation Leadership'
Johnson J. (2020) 'Emerging Technologies and Chinese Challenges to US Innovation Leadership' In: Reuben Steff, Simone Soare, Joe Burton (eds). Emerging Technologies and International Security: Machines, the State and War. London, UK: Routledge. [Details]
2017 'China’s Nuclear Modernisation: The Evolution of Chinese Nuclear Doctrine, Strategic Ambiguities & Implications for Sino-U.S. Relations'
Johnson J., Futter A. (2017) 'China’s Nuclear Modernisation: The Evolution of Chinese Nuclear Doctrine, Strategic Ambiguities & Implications for Sino-U.S. Relations' In: Nuclear Politics in Asia. London, UK: Routledge. [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
2019 The 2019 UK PONI Papers
Johnson J. (2019) The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Strategic Stability, Escalation, and Nuclear security . In: Sam Dudin, Chelsey Wiley eds. The 2019 UK PONI Papers London, UK, , pp.43-49 [Details]

Discussion Paper

  Year Publication
2021 Artificial Intelligence, Autonomy, and the Risk of Catalytic Nuclear War.
Johnson J. (2021) Artificial Intelligence, Autonomy, and the Risk of Catalytic Nuclear War. Discussion Paper [Details]
2021 Rethinking Nuclear Deterrence in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.
Johnson J. (2021) Rethinking Nuclear Deterrence in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. Discussion Paper [Details]
2020 Artificial Intelligence and the Bomb: Nuclear Command & Control in the Age of the Algorithm.
Johnson J. (2020) Artificial Intelligence and the Bomb: Nuclear Command & Control in the Age of the Algorithm. Discussion Paper [Details]
2020 AI, Cyberspace, and Nuclear Weapons.
Johnson J., Krabill E. (2020) AI, Cyberspace, and Nuclear Weapons. Discussion Paper [Details]
2019 Is the US Losing the Artificial Intelligence Arms Race?.
Johnson J. (2019) Is the US Losing the Artificial Intelligence Arms Race?. Discussion Paper [Details]
2018 High-Tech China-US Arms Race Threatens to Destabilise East Asia.
Johnson J. (2018) High-Tech China-US Arms Race Threatens to Destabilise East Asia. Discussion Paper [Details]
2017 China’s Anti-Ship Missiles Threaten an Arms Race in the Western Pacific.
Johnson J. (2017) China’s Anti-Ship Missiles Threaten an Arms Race in the Western Pacific. Discussion Paper [Details]
2017 China Missiles Threaten New Arms-Race.
Johnson J. (2017) China Missiles Threaten New Arms-Race. Discussion Paper [Details]
2017 China's Evolving Approach to Nuclear War-Fighting.
Johnson J. (2017) China's Evolving Approach to Nuclear War-Fighting. Discussion Paper [Details]
2017 China’s Vision of the Future Networked Battlefield: Cyber, Space and Electronic Warfare Challenges to the US in the Western Pacific.
Johnson J. (2017) China’s Vision of the Future Networked Battlefield: Cyber, Space and Electronic Warfare Challenges to the US in the Western Pacific. Discussion Paper [Details]
2017 Is China Moving Towards a Nuclear ‘Warfighting’ Posture?.
Johnson J. (2017) Is China Moving Towards a Nuclear ‘Warfighting’ Posture?. Discussion Paper [Details]
2017 If Trump is Bluffing on North Korea, the Results Could be Catastrophic.
Johnson J. (2017) If Trump is Bluffing on North Korea, the Results Could be Catastrophic. Discussion Paper [Details]
2016 Nuclear No First Use and President Obama’s Legacy.
Johnson J., Futter A. (2016) Nuclear No First Use and President Obama’s Legacy. Discussion Paper [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2020 Non-Resident Fellow The Modern War Institute at the US Military Academy at West Point
2020 Honorary Visiting Fellow School of History, Politics & International RelationsUniversity of Leicester

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
British International Studies Association Member /
International Studies Association Member /

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2017 University of Leicester PhD Politics and International Relations
2011 University of Leeds MA Asia-Pacific Studies
1997 University of Bristol BA History

Languages

  Language Reading Writing Speaking
Mandarin Chinese Fluent Fluent Fluent

Enterprise Engagement

  Year Engagement Type Organisation Description

2020		 Continuous Professional Development/Training Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) Project on Nuclear Issues Mid-Career Cadre

Research Interests

  • Artificial intelligence, deterrence, escalation, and strategic stability
  • Emerging technology and modern warfare
  • Great power competition
  • US-China military and defence relations
  • Nuclear non-proliferation and arms control

Modules Coordinated

  Term (ID)) Title Link Subject
2021 Independent Study Project LG218Independent Study Project
2021 Politics and Foreign Policy of China LG5050Politics and Foreign Policy of China
2020 Description of 2020_LG392 LG392Subject of 2020_LG392