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Applications are invited for a self-funded, 3 year full-time or 6 year part-time PhD project.

The PhD will be based in the Faculty of Humanities and Social sciences, and will be supervised by Dr Patricia Shamai, Professor Sara Hadleigh- Dunn and Dr Melita Lazell. 

The use of chemical weapons (CW) has historically been seen as morally reprehensible and illegitimate, forming the basis of a strong international taboo. This perception led to the creation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in 1996, which prohibits the development and use of such weapons and has gained widespread international support. Traditionally, the taboo focused on state-to-state warfare; however, in the 21st century, conflict dynamics have evolved, involving non-state actors and asymmetric warfare. Incidents like the use of CW in Syria since 2013 and the 2018 Salisbury poisoning raise questions about the continued strength of this taboo.

This research aims to assess whether chemical weapons still carry the same moral and political stigma today. It has two key objectives. First, it addresses the lack of clear data on the prevalence and acceptance of CW use in modern conflicts. By collecting open-source information, the project will compile a comprehensive record of CW use and attempted use since 2000, providing crucial insight into how often and in what contexts the norm has been violated. Second, the research will undertake a comparative study using open sources and elite interviews with policy experts and academics. It will examine how the CW taboo is understood and has evolved across different conflict settings—particularly in assassination, terrorism, civil war, and asymmetric warfare.

Through this analysis, the project seeks to evaluate the robustness of the chemical weapons taboo in contemporary international relations. Its findings will contribute to academic debates on norm formation and enforcement while offering practical insights for policymakers working to prevent the use of CW and other weapons of mass destruction. The research is significant for both scholarly and policy communities, providing timely and original data on a critical global security issue

Fees and funding

Visit the research subject area page for fees and funding information for this project.

Funding availability: Self-funded PhD students only or funding from the Chinese government/university.

PhD full-time and part-time courses are eligible for the UK  (UK and EU students only – eligibility criteria apply).

Bench fees

Some PhD projects may include additional fees – known as bench fees – for equipment and other consumables, and these will be added to your standard tuition fee. Speak to the supervisory team during your interview about any additional fees you may have to pay. Please note, bench fees are not eligible for discounts and are non-refundable.

How to apply

We’d encourage you to contact Dr Patricia Shamai (patricia.shama@port.ac.uk) to discuss your interest before you apply, quoting the project code.

When applying please quote project code: ASH10011026