Introducing Dr Zeno Leoni

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I am Dr Zeno Leoni, a lecturer in Defence Studies with the Defence Studies Department at King’s College London, where I contribute to courses on understanding warfare and strategy, in addition to my own teaching on China and the Americas. I moved to the UK in 2011, and King’s has been central to my journey in this country.

The online MA in International Affairs was conceived about a decade ago by the Defence Studies Department and sits at the intersection of three broad disciplines: Military History, Strategic Studies, and International Relations. These areas reflect the department’s expertise, ranging from research on the First and Second World Wars, the Cold War, and contemporary international politics, to specialised perspectives on the likes of maritime, land, and air power, mainstream and critical approaches to international relations, proxy warfare, great power competition, and military innovation, among others.

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I completed my PhD in International Political Economy at King’s, focusing on theories of globalisation and empire and applying these to analyse US–China relations during Obama’s “pivot to the Asia-Pacific.”

Since then, my research has increasingly concentrated on US-China relations, Chinese grand strategy, and the changing international order.

I became involved in the International Affairs programme soon after, contributing to modules at the intersection of strategy, geopolitics, and international security.

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This is a postgraduate taught programme, and in the British system that means a strong emphasis on independent learning.

Students are expected to engage autonomously with readings and conduct their own research beyond core materials. Analytical essay writing is central. Many students – especially those based overseas – find this style of writing new or challenging at first, but developing this skill is one of the major strengths and outcomes of the programme.

The programme is structured around three ‘carousels’, each made up of a set of modules. Students must complete carousel one before progressing to two, and two before progressing to three, before undertaking the dissertation. This ensures a clear developmental path from foundational concepts to advanced analysis.

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Each module carries 15 credits, and students can study up to six modules per academic year.

Students participate in three live webinars led by an academic tutor, and they have access to learning materials and reading via our online platform KEATS.

In the final assessment phase, students complete an essay or equivalent assignment.

Throughout the modules, students engage in online forums where they debate conceptual and empirical issues with academic tutors and peers.

Most assessments currently take the form of traditional essays, although some modules include policy papers and video presentations. Students also have the opportunity to submit a formative assignment midway through each module for feedback. This is an important step of the learning journey, enabling students to put their best foot forward for their final assessment.

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The programme enables students to critically and analytically engage with contentious global issues, enhancing their ability to think laterally and approach problems from multiple perspectives.

This not only deepens their understanding of international affairs but often reshapes how they interpret the world around them.

Additionally, the programme offers valuable networking opportunities: our students come from across the globe and from a wide range of professional backgrounds, many of whom are already on significant career pathways.

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The School of Security Studies – which houses the Defence Studies Department – not only delivers academic teaching and research but actively engages with policymakers.

The school maintains strong and multifaceted relationships with several areas of the UK Government as well as with international governmental bodies. As a result, a substantial portion of our academic staff are policy-minded scholars who can connect historical, theoretical, and contemporary issues to real-world policy debates.

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I particularly enjoy teaching the Introduction to Strategy module, especially the resulting discussions about the land, sea, and air domains.

I also enjoy International Security Studies, particularly when we explore the New Cold War and the perspectives of the Global South.

Additionally, I value the check-in sessions with students, which give me the opportunity to meet and engage with them directly. Along the same line, I enjoy getting to read some of the applicant personal statements and understanding their interest and desire to study the programme.

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One thing I have come to deeply appreciate over the years is just how internationally recognised our School truly is. This is not something I have gauged from official rankings, but through direct engagement with our students and alumni across platforms like LinkedIn.

When students from the other side of the world reach out with thoughtful questions about the programme, or when I see them engaging with my colleagues online, the global reach and connectedness of our community becomes strikingly clear.

That sense of international engagement and relevance is a rewarding aspect of being part of this programme.

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