Dr Alessandro Arduino, with over two decades of experience in China, has honed his expertise in government policy research, crisis mitigation, private military companies, and cyber deterrence. His extensive field research has spanned across Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Horn of Africa regions. Alessandro is an affiliate lecturer at the Lau China Institute, King’s College London, a member of the Advisory Group of the International Code of Conduct Associations (ICoCA) and the International Institute of Humanitarian Law. 

Dr Arduino is recognised as a foremost expert on Chinese private security and the author of the reference book on China’s Private Army. Protecting the New Silk Road.  

He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and contributed chapters to academic volumes. His latest book, Money for Mayhem: Mercenaries, Private Military Companies, Drones, and the Future of War (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023), forecasts what the future of war looks like in a world dominated by private armies.  

Dr Arduino’s research explores how the state’s monopoly on violence is transforming through the rise of drone mercenaries, cyber-mercenaries, and intelligence-for-hire operations, reshaping the landscape of security and conflict. His wargaming design and implementation as a simulation and forecast tool have been used by the military and civilians. 

Dr Arduino has been appointed a Knight of the Order of the Italian Star by the President of the  Italian Republic.