Meghan Conroy wins inaugural CST dissertation prize

Meghan Conroy, an MA student in International Security and Terrorism, has won the inaugural Centre for Conflict, Security and Terrorism (CST) postgraduate dissertation prize. Her thesis explored the evolution and organizational learning undergone by the ISIS terror network since the early 2000s.

Meghan employed social network analysis of network topography and the examination of socio-cognitive quantum mechanics to elucidate the evolution of the group and its resulting resilience. Using this analysis, this study concluded that targeted drone strikes are not an effective foreign policy strategy to counter a group that has organized itself to be resilient to this style of attack through delegation of power.

CST co-director Dr Andrew Mumford said: “Meghan’s dissertation was one of the most impressive pieces of postgraduate work I have read. It provided a timely and penetrating insight into the spread of ISIS and its underpinning social networks.”

Since finishing her MA in September, Meghan now works in Washington DC.