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Alex Burns

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Senior Research Officer, The University of Melbourne

I'm a Senior Research Officer at the University of Melbourne's Graduate School of Education, and a political scientist researcher. Monash University conferred my political science PhD 'The Development of Strategic Culture in Terrorist Organisations' on 29th April 2020.

I use causal inference and process tracing methods to investigate how extremists, terrorist organisations, and nuclear weapon equipped nation-states develop beliefs and capabilities about the use of force to target defence, government, and civilians. In particular, I explore the role of three interrelated causal mechanisms: cultural transmission, social learning, and folklore. I situate these developments in a neoliberal political economy that creates the dynamics for contestation, stratification, and different visions for a possible post-capitalist world.

Experience

  • 2019–present
    Senior Research Officer, The University of Melbourne

Education

  • 2020 
    Monash University, Doctor of Philosophy (Political Science)
  • 2006 
    Monash University, Master of Arts, Counterterrorism Studies
  • 2004 
    Swinburne University of Technology, Master of Science, Strategic Foresight
  • 2001 
    La Trobe University, Bachelor of Arts

Publications

  • 2021
    Foundation Professor of Foresight: Richard Slaughter's Scholarly Contributions to Futures Studies and Strategic Foresight, Futures 132 (September)
  • 2014
    Australia's Strategic Culture: Constraints and Opportunities in Security Policymaking, Contemporary Security Policy 35(2), 187-210
  • 2012
    Australia's Potential Internet Futures, Journal of Futures Studies 16(4), 33-49
  • 2011
    Doubting the Global War on Terror, M/C Journal 14(1) (March)
  • 2010
    'Catastrophic Failure' Theories and Disaster Journalism, Media International Australia 137 (November), 90-99
  • 2010
    Boom and Bust in Australian Screen Policy, Media International Australia 136 (August), 103-118
  • 2010
    Oblique Strategies for Ambient Journalism, M/C Journal 13(2) (May)
  • 2009
    Journalists As Investigators and 'Quality Media' Reputation, Record of the Communications Policy & Research Forum, 281-297
  • 2009
    Twitter Free Iran, Record of the Communications Policy & Research Forum, 298-310
  • 2008
    A Challenging Conversation on Integral Futures, Journal of Futures Studies, 13(2): 69-86
  • 2008
    Select Issues with New Media Theories of Citizen Journalism, M/C Journal 11(1) (April)
  • 2008
    Event Modelling for Policymakers and Valuation Analysts in Disruptive Innovation Markets, Record of the Communications Policy & Research Forum, 155-175
  • 2005
    The Future of the Internet: The Smart Internet 2010 Project, Communications Research & Strategy Forum Proceedings
  • 2005
    Smart Internet 2010 Report, Sydney: Smart Internet Technology CRC
  • 2005
    Seven Wonders: End Users and the Internet of the Future, Telecommunications Journal of Australia 55(4): 13-22
  • 2003
    The Worldflash of a Coming Future, M/C Journal 6(2) (April)
  • 1999
    This Machine Is Obsolete, M/C Journal 2(8) (December)

Professional Memberships

  • Australian International Political Economy Network

Research Areas

  • Political Science (1606)

Honours

Co-recipient of 2006 TSA Rothwell Prize from the Telecommunications Society of Australia