On 27 June, SOAS University of London will host a free symposium on one of the world’s most shadowy and influential industries: the arms trade. From 2pm to 7pm, Investigating the Arms Trade will bring together leading journalists, scholars, campaigners and students to scrutinise the political, economic and human cost of this powerful sector. Attendance is free, but registration is essential.
The event could hardly be more timely. As geopolitical tensions rise, so too do arms sales – and Britain remains one of the world’s largest exporters. From the licensing of weapons to regimes with troubling human rights records, to the revolving door between Whitehall and the defence industry, the British arms trade is never far from controversy. Yet it often escapes thorough scrutiny.
The day will be opened by Iain Overton of Action on Armed Violence and Professor Justin Schlosberg, who will set the tone for a critical conversation about transparency, accountability, and the urgent need to expose abuses in the arms trade. The keynote will be delivered by Andrew Feinstein, acclaimed author of The Shadow World, who will draw on decades of experience investigating corruption and power in the defence industry.
A series of panels will feature voices who have spent years exposing the harms of the arms trade, including:
- Emily Tripp (Airwars), who tracks civilian casualties and exposes the impact of armed violence through data-driven research.
- Rachel Taylor (Every Casualty Counts), highlighting the human cost of the arms trade and the need for accountability.
- Sam Perlo-Freeman (Campaign Against Arms Trade), analysing the UK’s role in global conflict through its arms exports.
- Roy Isbister (Saferworld), who will explore policy approaches to improve arms control and tackle opacity.
- Martin Butcher (Oxfam), who will discuss humanitarian harm and the push for stricter global arms regulation.
- Emily Apple (CAAT), who will share insights into grassroots campaigns against militarism in the UK.
- Jinsella Kennaway and Carmen Wilson (Demilitarise Education), who will reveal how universities are complicit in militarism and how to challenge this.
This event will delve into the hidden networks of profit and power, and ask hard questions about who benefits from war and who pays the price. Participants will also explore how investigative journalism, legal advocacy and activism can expose these links and hold decision-makers to account.
Whether you’re a journalist, student, academic, or activist, this is your chance to learn from those on the frontlines of this crucial work. Apply for your free ticket here and be part of a movement to challenge the global arms trade and advocate for a more peaceful world.
Join us in London for this essential gathering of voices, ideas and actions that aim to shine a light on an industry too often hidden in the shadows.
