Understanding war in a hyperconnected world

Why do military organisations often prepare for the wrong wars? And how does digital technology change the way we experience and understand armed conflict? These are some of the questions that drive Matthew Ford, Professor of War Studies at the Swedish Defence University since 1 October 2026.

Matthew Ford's research focuses on military innovation, organisational change and the impact of digital technology on warfare. He is particularly interested in why military organisations struggle to adapt to changing circumstances.

“I wanted to understand why armed forces consistently prepare for the wrong war”, he says.

More recently, his research has explored how hyperconnectivity – the constant connection between people, devices and digital platforms – is changing the way wars are fought, experienced and represented.

His interest began with a simple observation: war was appearing on his smartphone.

“I wanted to understand why war appeared on my smartphone in the way that it did. By tracing that digital pathway, I learnt a lot about how wars are represented and conducted.”

But studying war through digital media also raises questions about what we can actually know.

“I learnt a lot about the limits of what you can know about war just from war's digital traces.”

A life-changing decision

Matthew Ford's path into academia was not straightforward. Before becoming a researcher, he spent five years working in the City of London. A serious illness in his twenties prompted him to reconsider his future.

“I had cancer when I was in my twenties. It made me think carefully about what I wanted to do with my life.”

His wife, who holds a doctorate from the University of Oxford, encouraged him to consider an academic career.

“She told me I reminded her of the PhD students she knew from her days doing a doctorate.”

With her support, he left his career in management consulting and began a PhD.

An inspiring research environment

Matthew Ford joined the Swedish Defence University in September 2022. He describes Sweden as a beautiful country and the university as a particularly stimulating place to study war.

“There's an enormous amount of intellectual energy at the Swedish Defence University”, he says.

For a researcher interested in how war is understood in different parts of the world, the university offers an ideal environment.

Understanding war is a civic responsibility

Looking ahead, Matthew Ford hopes his research will encourage more people to question and critically examine war as a form of political violence.

“Understanding war is a civic responsibility.”

For him, research is not only about developing academic knowledge. It is also about helping students and the wider public think more critically about armed conflict.

“If I can do something to help students, Swedes or my fellow Brits question this form of political violence, then I figure my research ambitions will be realised.”