Dr Blancke is a political scientist and analyst whose research focuses on international state and non-state intelligence. He holds a diploma in administrative law as well as a diploma in political science. His doctoral dissertation examined counterintelligence and espionage activities of non-state actors. He has researched Cyber Warfare in Geneva and worked in an Intelligence & Analysis unit at the UK Home Office in London. For some time, he worked at the Centre for Science & Security Studies (CSSS) at King's College London in the field of proliferation and illicit procurement networks. Since November 2022, he has been an Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London. Dr Blancke writes for Jane's Intelligence Review, Intelligence Online, NK News and others. He has published on Chinese and North Korean espionage, extremism and terrorism, as well as illegal trade on the dark web.