War Studies

Alumni PhD researcher of the Laughton unit, Dr John Brooks discusses elements of the Battle of Jutland to mark the centenary of the Battle. It was held at JSC Shrivenham in conjunction with a First World War research group in 2016.

“The Battle of Jutland 31st May – 1st June 1916” By Professor Andrew Lambert. Hosted by the First World War Research Group.

Laughton Occasional Paper, James W.E. Smith details discussions points over the challenges naval historians faced post 1945 when attempting to communicate the value of the study of history when considering future defence policy and maritime strategy. DISCLAIMER: Any information, statements or opinions contained in these podcasts are those of the individual speakers. They do not represent the opinions of the Department of War Studies or King's College London.

Kings Maritime Seminar Series 2017-2018. Helen Sellers presents on the topic of 'Australia and India at Sea: The Contemporary Security implications of Two Maritime Histories from ancient to modern times.'. The seminar took place on the 7th December 2017 in the Department of War Studies, Kings College London.

Professor Andrew Lambert and Professor Eric Grove discuss the development of discipline of naval history and its relationship with military history, Kings College London and War Studies.

Date of publication: 22/06/2018 Description: On the 9th of July, Prof. 'Funmi Olonisakin will give her inaugural lecture on "Leadership and 'Conversation' in Dialogue: Securing Peace in the Unromantic Context." This lecture will argue for new thinking and approaches to building peace that places “Leadership” and “Conversation” at its core. These seemingly simple, every day buzzwords mean something profound and transforming in the hardheaded context of recurring violence. Conversation can become a compass for leadership and a barometer for peace. In turn, this compels a shift in emphasis away from an idealized approach to the harsh realities of conflict-torn societies. In the run-up to Prof. 'Funmi Olonisakin's inaugural lecture, Bisi Olulode had the opportunity to interview 'Funmi about what she will be discussing on the 9th of July. _________________________ Bio: ’Funmi Olonisakin is Vice-President/ Vice-Principal (International) and Professor of Security, Leadership & Development at the African Leadership Centre (ALC) in the School of Global Affairs at King’s College London. She established and acted as the founding director of the ALC, which aims to build the next generation of African scholars and analysts generating cutting-edge knowledge for conflict, security and development in Africa. ______________________ For more news and information on our upcoming events, please visit www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/departments/warstudies/events

Date of recording: 30/05/2018 Summary: Nuclear deterrence rests on the survivability of nuclear arsenals. For much of the nuclear age, “counterforce” disarming attacks—those aimed at eliminating an opponent’s nuclear forces—were nearly impossible because of the ability of potential victims to hide and protect their weapons. Technological developments, however, are eroding this foundation of nuclear deterrence. Advances rooted in the computer revolution have made nuclear forces around the world considerably more vulnerable. Specifically, two key approaches that countries have relied on to ensure arsenal survivability since the dawn of the nuclear age—hardening and concealment—have been undercut by leaps in weapons accuracy and a revolution in remote sensing. Various methods, evidence, and models demonstrate the emergence of new possibilities for counterforce disarming strikes. In short, the task of securing nuclear arsenals against attack is far more difficult than it was in the past. The new era of counterforce challenges the basis for confidence in contemporary deterrence stability raises critical issues for national and international security policy and sheds light on one of the enduring theoretical puzzles of the nuclear era: why international security competition has endured in the shadow of the nuclear revolution. Speaker: Keir A. Lieber is Director of the Center for Security Studies and Security Studies Program at Georgetown University and Associate Professor in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. He also holds a joint appointment with the Department of Government. Lieber’s research and teaching interests include nuclear weapons, strategy, and deterrence; the causes of war; U.S. foreign and national security policy; and international relations theory.

Date of publication: 08/06/2018 Description: This week we are going to hear from Dr Christine Cheng, lecturer in the Dept of War Studies, about the "Elite Bargains and Political Deals Project". This project was initiated by the UK Stabilisation Unit to look into political deal-making in societies affected by armed conflict and instability. As a reminder, the UK Stabilization Unit is the cross-governmental unit tasked with supporting UK government efforts to address instability overseas. In collaboration with the Stabilization Unit, Christine and two academics from SOAS produced a report based on the findings of the Elite Bargains and Political Deals Project. Their report breaks down the findings of 21 case-studies, commissioned by the Stabilisation Unit and written by country experts, in order to explore the relationship between elite bargains, the dynamics of armed conflict, and the effects of external interventions. In doing so, this report calls into question the use of traditional, internationally backed peace processes to stabilize armed conflicts and calls for a greater consideration of internal power dynamics in establishing sustainable agreements.

22/05/2018 The Pursuit of World Order in Anglo-American Statecraft Description: The pursuit of world order has been an almost ever-present feature of Western — more specifically, American and British — statecraft for over a century. It is embedded in a discourse about international affairs that can be traced back to the late 19th century, when Britain became increasingly conscious of the fragility of its empire, and the United States began to recognise the full extent of its potential power. Since that time, “world order” has been used as shorthand for a vast range of potential scenarios: from a unified “world state,” governed by a single supranational institution (envisaged by H.G. Wells), to a balance of power between different civilisational blocs (an idea more commonly associated with Henry Kissinger). Either way, the historical record suggests that one’s view of world order is inseparable from one’s worldview. It reveals the beholder’s hope for how the world should or could be, rather than simply how it is. Viewed over the long-term, as Professor Bew will argue, the yearning for world order has provided a sense of higher purpose and an explanatory spine to the story of American and British foreign policy. Find out more about the speaker, Professor John Bew, Department of War Studies (School of Security Studies): https://www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/departments/warstudies/people/professors/bew.aspx ____________________________ For information on our upcoming events, please visit www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/departments/warstudies/events or follow @warstudies on Twitter.

Description: In this edition of the War Studies podcast, you will first hear from Prof. Wyn Bowen, Head of the School of Security Studies at King's College London, about the purposes and aims of the School, as well as the Understanding Complex Conflict research event. On 13 June, the Understanding Complex Conflict event will consist of two panels, each respectively dedicated to the First World War and the conflict in Syria. In the second segment of this podcast, you will hear from several of our academics from both the Defense and War Studies Departments who will be presenting their research at the Understanding Complex Conflict event. Interviewees: Professor Wyn Bowen, Head, School of Security Studies Helen McCartney: ‘Commemoration and the First World War in Britain’. Bill Philpott: 'A Complex Security Challenge: Resolving the First World War'. David Whetham: 'Choosing sides: exploring the ethics of alliances and third party support in Syria' Reinoud Leenders: ‘With Friends like These: Iran and the outsourcing of state violence in the Syrian war’ ____________________________ Event details: Understanding Complex Conflicts 13 June, 1:00pm | Strand | RSVP: bit.ly/2IJfXZQ As the seven-year war in Syria continues, and the centenary of the First World War approaches a close, the School of Security Studies, King’s College London, invites you to hear from our academics about the complexities of the two conflicts. Whether you are a current or prospective student at King’s, from Whitehall, the media or the wider public, this event will expand your knowledge and understanding of two of the most complex conflicts in history. The event will comprise panels on the First World War and the Syria conflict addressing a range of topics from military innovation, ethics, the use of chemical weapons and commemoration, to the impact of social media, the outsourcing of violence, and war’s end. The event will also encompass a concurrent and more broadly focused poster session on understanding the complexities of conflict and security.

Recorded: 10/05/2018 Speaker: Benjamin W. D. Redding, University of Warwick Abstract: Between the 20th and 30th of August 1546, Claude d’Annebault, Admiral of France, visited London as an honorary ambassador following the signing of the Treaty of Ardres. After a major French naval invasion attempt in the previous year, it was appropriate that d’Annebault’s entrance via the Thames was planned to include a ceremonial presentation of England’s naval resources. Bio: Dr Redding defended his doctoral thesis at the University of Warwick in March 2017. The project assessed the relationship between navy and state in the early modern period and argued that naval advances should always be considered within their broader international context. His article ‘English Naval Expansion under the French Threat, 1556-64’ was published in November 2016 in the International Journal of Maritime History. Current research interests include the role of visual culture in early modern naval developments and a reassessment of the fall of Calais in January 1558. ____________________________________ This event is being hosted by the Sir Michael Howard Centre for the History of War. ____________________________________ Upcoming events: "An incomparable influence upon every shore: Conceptions of naval power and world order on the eve of the Great War" On the eve of WWI, what alliances formed between France, Britain, and the United States? Between 1890 and 1914, strategic thinkers and policy makers in Britain, France, and the US engaged in debates over the prospect of war, the role of maritime power, and the maintenance of peace. These arguments explored the importance of co-operation in the international system and produced rudimentary ideas about collective security. Join Louis Halewood, DPhil student at Merton College, for his lecture on the conception of naval power and world order between 1890 and 1914. His lecture will take place on 24 May at 5:15 pm on KCL's Strand Campus. "The New Era of Counterforce" Nuclear deterrence rests on the survivability of nuclear arsenals. For much of the nuclear age, “counterforce” disarming attacks—those aimed at eliminating an opponent’s nuclear forces—were nearly impossible because of the ability of potential victims to hide and protect their weapons. Technological developments, however, are eroding this foundation of nuclear deterrence. Join Keir Lieber, Director for the Center for Science and Security Studies at Georgetown University, for this discussion on the 31 of May at 12:30 pm on KCL's Strand Campus. "Wargaming Future Conflict between NATO and Russia" On the 31 of May at 3:30 pm on KCL's Strand Campus, The Centre for Science and Security Studies at King’s College London will present the results of two unclassified strategic gaming events held at the UK Defence Academy in May 2017 and February 2018. These games, originally intended to examine missile defense and nuclear risks, pose urgent analytical and policy questions about deterrence and defense in a new era of major power strategic competition. For a full listing of our upcoming events please visit www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/departments/warstudies/events or check out the War Studies Twitter page.

Description Cyber operations are becoming increasingly important in contemporary statecraft, as they provide new means through which states may threaten or act against one another. The cases of Estonia, Saudi Aradia, Iran, and the 2016 US Presidential elections demonstrate that cyber operations can be used to compromise critical infrastructure, damage economies, undermine democracy, and can even amount to formal state conflict. However, according to Dr. Brandon Valeriano, "cyberconflict", defined as the use of computational means for malicious or destructive purposes in order to influence diplomatic or military interactions, has not necessarily opened a door to new conflicts in the international system. His research also provides that cyberconflict is neither as frequent or damaging as other forms of conflict. How does cyberconflict fit into the continuation of international rivalries and conflicts today? In this edition of the War Studies Podcast, we are going to dive into the domain of Cyberconflict with Dr. Brandon Valeriano, the Donald Ben Chair of Armed Politics at the Marine Corps University, and Dr. Tim Stevens, Lecturer in Global Security in the Dept. of War Studies and Convenor of the Cyber Security Research Group. If you are interested in learning more about this topic, check out our recording of Dr. Brandon Valeriano's lecture, "Cyber Strategy: The Evolution of Cyber Power and Coercion."

Speaker: Dr Brandon Valeriano, Donald Bren Chair of Armed Politics, Marine Corps University Chair: Dr Tim Stevens, Lecturer in Global Security and Convenor, Cyber Security Research Group Description: Dr Valeriano will discuss the development of strategy in the cyber domain, particularly the coercive potential of cyber operations, which are neither as novel nor as effective as often claimed. His research suggests that cyber operations usually fail to produce political concessions. When states achieve strategic outcomes through cyber means, these operations occur alongside traditional coercive instruments like diplomacy, sanctions and military threats. This suggests that foreign policy and diplomacy aimed at countering strategic cyber threats needs to take proper account of the coercive aspects of cyber operations, rather than being developed in a strategic vacuum. Biography: Brandon Valeriano is the Donald Bren Chair of Armed Politics at the Marine Corps University. He has published widely on cybersecurity and statecraft, including Cyber War versus Cyber Reality (2015) and Cyber Strategy (2018), both with Oxford University Press. Dr. Valeriano is Cyber Security Senior Fellow at the Niskanen Center and Senior (Non-resident) Fellow at the Atlantic Council. ____________________ Hosted by the Cyber Security Research Group.

Event recorded on 12/04/2018 Senior Colonel Zhou Bo is a Senior Colonel in the Chinese PLA and Director of the Center for Security Cooperation at the Office for International Military Cooperation in China’s Ministry of National Defence. Currently, his responsibility is multilateral cooperation which includes peacekeeping, counter-piracy, counter-terrorism and various security-related institutions in the Asia-Pacific. He spoke on the subject of ‘Protecting China’s Interests, Shouldering International Obligations: The Current and Future Role of the Chinese Armed Forces.’ Upcoming events: Cyber Strategy: The Evolution of Cyber Power and Coercion 2 May 2018, 17:00 to 18:30 Pageantry and Representation in the late-Henrician Navy 10 May 2018, 17:15 to 19:00 Inaugural Lecture: Professor John Bew 22 May 2018, 18:00 to 21:00 Wargaming Future Conflict between NATO and Russia 31 May 2018, 15:30 to 17:30 Understanding Complex Conflicts 13 June 2018, 13:00 to 18:30 Follow this link to access all of our upcoming events and RSVP: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/departments/warstudies/events/index.aspx

Event recording from 27/03/2018. The Eritrean National Service: Servitude For The Common Good and the Youth Exodus - Book Launch by Professor Gaim Kibrea. Summary: The Eritrean National Service (ENS) lies at the core of the post-independence state, not only supplying its military, but affecting every aspect of the country's economy, its social services, its public sector and its politics. Over half the workforce are forcibly enrolled into it by the government, driving the country's youth to escape national service by seeking employment and asylum elsewhere. Yet how did the ENS, which began during the 1961-91 liberation struggle as part of the idea of the "common good" - in which individual interests were sacrificed in pursuit of the grand scheme of independence and the country's development - degenerate into forced labour and a modern form of slavery? And why, when Eritrea no longer faces existential threat, does the government continue to demand such service from its citizens? Biographies: Speaker: Gaim Kibreab is Professor of Research and Director of Refugee Studies, School of Law and Social Science, London South Bank University. He is the author of Eritrea: A dream deferred (James Currey, 2009) and People on the edge of the horn (James Currey, 1996).He earned a PhD degree from Uppsala University, Sweden, Faculty of Social Sciences/Institute of Economic History. Discussant: John Campbell has worked extensively overseas in various research teaching and development capacities and He has have undertaken consultancies in development for international organization. Prof Campbell has also been directly involved in development projects and programs, particularly in Ethiopia, where he devised and managed a major slum-upgrading project in Addis Ababa. Chair: Dr Flavia Gasbarr