About
Leif Monnett is a first year PhD student in the Department of International Relations at LSE. His research examines the effects of emerging technologies on transnational diplomacy, international law, and policy. More broadly, his research interests centre on emerging threats to international peace, security, and human rights, including both cyber technologies and climate change.
He holds a Masters of International Affairs, with a dual specialisation in International Security and in Environment, Resources, and Sustainability from the Institut de hautes études internationales et du développement (IHEID), Geneva. He earned his BA from Tufts University, with a double major in Peace and Justice Studies and Science and Technology Studies.
While at IHEID, Leif conducted collaborative research on autonomous weapons systems in support of the UN Special Rapporteur (SR) on extrajudicial killings. Since that time, he has continued to conduct research in support of the SR, with a focus on AWS proliferation, human rights issues, and related international policy. This work has directly informed input to the UN Human Rights Council and the UN Secretary General’s call seeking and inviting views from relevant stakeholders. He has first-hand experience with UN bodies, UN delegates, and international NGOs concerned with human rights and the regulation of technology.
Leif has also conducted research on New Zealand’s climate-related development aid policy to examine how it protected human rights in support of the UN Association of New Zealand.
His research was published by the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights and has been presented at ISA West and REAIM.
Research topic
Evaluating the Introduction of AI Technologies into the Practice of Interstate Diplomacy
Academic supervisors
Research cluster affiliation
Security and Statecraft research cluster
International Institutions, Law and Ethics research cluster
Expertise
International security; diplomacy; human rights; international organisations; impacts of technology on international relations and human rights; climate impacts on international security and human rights; autonomous weapons systems