Michael Clarke's research covers current security policy in the broadest sense, dealing with UK policing, counterterrorism, military defence and security and various aspects of ongoing intelligence and security policy.

He is a Fellow of King's College London (KCL) and was founding Director of the Centre for Defence Studies, and Deputy Vice-Principal for Research Development. In addition to his visiting role at KCL he is also a Visiting Professor at the Universities of Exeter and Aberystwyth.

He was Director General of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) from 2007-2015 and is now a Distinguished Fellow at RUSI. He has been a Guest Fellow at the Brookings Institution, Washington DC, and a Fellow in Foreign Policy Studies at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) in London.

Michael was a Specialist Advisor to the House of Commons Defence Committee from 1997-2019 and is now Specialist Advisor to the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy. He has served on the Prime Minister's Security Forum and the Chief of Defence Staff's Strategic Advisory Panel.

His recent publications include Britain's Persuaders: Soft Power (2021) and Great British Military Commanders (2024).

Michael is an Honorary Member of the Keele World Affairs Advisory Panel.