profile

Dr. Alessandro Arduino is recognized as a foremost expert on Chinese private security and the
author of the reference book on the subject ‘China’s Private Army’, recently translated into the
Chinese language. Alessandro is known for his unique access to Chinese private security
companies and the main actors in the private military world ranging from practitioners, United
Nations, and regulators based in Geneva and the private military lobbyist in Washington DC.
His book Money for Mayhem: Mercenaries, Private Military Companies, Drones, and the Future
of War (Rowman & Littlefield) forecasts what the future of war looks like in a world dominated by
private armies. His Podcasts ‘Boots off the Ground. Security Transformation in the Middle East
and Beyond’ and ‘Making Risk Better’ lead the discourse on contemporary security architecture
transition. Alessandro is a member of the Advisory Group of the International Code of Conduct
Associations for private security companies and an affiliate lecturer at Lau China Institute, King’s
College London.

Previously Alessandro served as a China expert for the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the
Italian Consulate General in Shanghai, co-director of the Security and Crisis Management
International Center at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS), and principal
research fellow at the Middle East Institute – National University of Singapore (NUS).
Alessandro has been awarded several senior fellowships including Johns Hopkins University
School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS CARI), and S. Rajaratnam School of
International Studies (NTU).

As a native Italian speaker, and fluent in English and Mandarin Chinese, he contributed to
several publications including Foreign Policy, Jane’s Intelligence, South China Morning Post, the
National Interest, War on the Rocks, the Diplomat, Think China SG, and Nikkei Asia.
His reputation as a Belt and Road Initiative security expert has led him to work with international
organizations, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the
United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the European Union, OSCE, and NATO. His
interviews appear on the pages of renowned media outlets, including the Financial Times, New
York Times, The Economist, BBC Worldwide, CNBC Live, and Washington Post.