Stephan Blancke is a political scientist and analyst, whose research focus is on international state and non-state intelligence structures. His doctoral dissertation examined counterintelligence and espionage activities of non-state actors, such as terrorist groups, religious cults and organized crime. His other areas of expertise are North Korean and Chinese espionage activities, their intelligence agencies, these countries' international clandestine networks, and their use of front companies to evade sanctions. Blancke also looks into the activities of non-state actors in the Dark Web, especially focusing on the trade of conventional and non-conventional weapons and material, mercenaries, contract killing and espionage. Among other journals and newspapers, he writes for Jane’s Intelligence Review and Intelligence Online. He can be contacted via his website stephan.blancke.de