Papers by Dr. Chris Murray
The Journal of Slavic Military Studies, 2024
The decision processes behind the formation of Britain’s wartime policies represented the interse... more The decision processes behind the formation of Britain’s wartime policies represented the intersection of multiple, sometimes competing variables, from political to military and from immediate to long-term. There remain unanswered questions that arise from these competitions and contradictions within the British government’s, oftentimes multi-track policies, which hold far-reaching implications for understanding events. Britain’s policies of support for resistance movements in occupied Yugoslavia during the Second World War serve as a striking example. The historical understanding of how British policy developed concerning Yugoslavia, its motivations, objectives, and how these were defined and prioritized by the individuals and agencies involved with these processes, represents a small but deeply contentious corner of Second World War literature, wherein much remains unresolved. This article, based on doctoral research carried out at the Defence Studies Department of King’s College London, analyses the forces that shaped British policy concerning Yugoslavia in the light of what Graham Allison has called ‘the essence of decision.’ That is, by looking to the British government as a policy arena and examining the ‘official mind(s)’ of the policy community in that context, highlighting the multiple overlapping forces, both internal and external, that interacted in shaping the evolution of British policy. By resurveying various British archives, it has been possible to resolve many longstanding historiographical disputes, as well as present new alternative approaches to viewing British policy development concerning Yugoslavia. Those findings, presented here, suggest a view of Britain’s Yugoslav policy that was far more reactive and constrained than previously presented. The reality of the British government, its policy development, and its chosen course is far more chaotic and disjointed than the ‘all behind you, Winston’ myth, and when viewed with this appreciation present British policy development as less sensation, but far more remarkable.
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King's College London, 2023
Thesis submitted and approved for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Defence Studies Department
... more Thesis submitted and approved for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Defence Studies Department
King’s College London
Embargoed pending publication
Abstract:
The decision processes behind the formation of Britain’s wartime policies were an exceedingly muddied affair. Policy outputs represented the intersection of multiple, oftentimes-competing variables, from political to military and from immediate to long-term. There remain unanswered questions that arise from complications, contradictions, and competitions within the British Government’s oftentimes multi- track policies, which hold far-reaching implications to understanding events. The historical understanding of the motivations, aims, and governmental negotiations behind Britain’s policies of support for resistance movements in occupied Yugoslavia during the Second World War serve as a striking example. In coming chapters this thesis will engage in a survey of the archival record exploring what motivations, overarching objectives, and wartime forces influenced the formation and course of British policies towards support of Yugoslav resistance movements. The aim of this thesis is to challenge existing historiographical narratives surrounding Britain’s Yugoslav policies, by considering the forces that shaped government attempts at co-opting resistance forces in occupied Yugoslavia in the light of what Graham Allison has called "the essence of decision." That is, by looking to the British government as a policy arena and examining the 'official mind' and policy community in that context. This will highlight the multiple overlapping forces, both internal and external, that interacted in shaping the evolution of British policy.
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NATO Defence Against Terrorism Review, 2019
Abstract: The enemy of my enemy: Strategies aimed at co-opting irregular forces. Chris Murray1Abs... more Abstract: The enemy of my enemy: Strategies aimed at co-opting irregular forces. Chris Murray1Abstract: Conflicts change rapidly and present challenges to long-term strategies aimed at confronting them. Despite their fluid nature, addressing conflicts requires nuanced understanding and a long-term in-depth approach. Demands for rapid action and rapid results hold tremendous implications for the formulation and execution of strategies. These demands create a focus on short-term strategies that are inherently reactionary and can, in fact, be counter to long-term interests. Political forces are motivated to seek low-impact solutions, such as co-opting local rebels as proxies to address immensely complex international issues such as civil wars, terrorism, resource competition, and the power vacuum of failed states. These local proxies are poorly understood and the result is often underdeveloped short-term strategies. These strategies lack the required knowledge base to adequately appreciate the situation and develop sound long-term policies necessary to obtain goals and ensure they remain sustainable. The crux of the problem is that when these local proxies are sought out, they are assessed primarily on short-term military effectiveness and immediate needs with long-term consequences often overlooked. Successful engagement with local partners and long-term stability requires a nuanced understanding of local culture, politics, language, and history. All of this must be supported by a deep knowledge base. Currently, NATO countries are engaged in a cycle of engagement and disengagement on this front. There is a need to develop a larger emphasis on the social knowledge required for both immediate military and long-term political success. With this emphasis in place, there is a need to establish a permanent physical commitment to the development of and preservation of this social knowledge in the context of conflict.
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During the Second World War British support to occupied Yugoslavia’s resistance underwent an inex... more During the Second World War British support to occupied Yugoslavia’s resistance underwent an inexplicable and controversial about face that saw His Majesty’s Government (HMG) pivot support from Draža Mihailović’s Royalist Četniks to Josip Broz Tito’s Communist Partisans. This about face in policy has fomented a lasting debate, still very much alive in the current historical literature. This thesis will explore various explanations for this apparent shift in British policy by examining the principal historiography in the light of more recently declassified records. By taking a view of HMG policy evolution that focuses on influence and context this thesis will examine the evolution of British Yugoslav policy. The intention is to fill gaps in the literature and illustrate that previous narratives have been problematic due to archival limitations and issues of approach. This examination provides a new narrative by which to frame HMG Policy in Yugoslavia that has yet to be considered and which provides very different and intriguing explanations.
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Canada's Halifax-class fleet risks being inoperable by the time that the Canadian Surface Combata... more Canada's Halifax-class fleet risks being inoperable by the time that the Canadian Surface Combatant-class is ready. DND appears to be only upgrading weapons and communications systems at the end of the Halifax-class operational life with deliveries to end around 2035.
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Book Reviews by Dr. Chris Murray
Defence Report , 2017
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With the recent flare up in the intensity of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the ongoing joint Geo... more With the recent flare up in the intensity of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the ongoing joint Georgia-US military drills and overall NATO-Georgia relationship I found myself going back to the bookshelf for a refresher on some old questions about the region. Particularly, the question of what the foundations were for US policy in the region came to mind. This brought me to Christoph Bluth's US Foreign Policy in the Caucasus and Central Asia: Politics, Energy, and Security. Although a lot has happened in the last couple years, since its publication, it still holds water and in some respects provides new insights because of its date and what has since occurred. It reads as a little dated, concerning Ukraine and Iran in particular, but it would also seems that what Bluth laid out has been consistent with what has happened since publication. He doesn't make predictions per se but the directions things are discussed as moving in are consistent with what has played out. Besides, the past hasn't changed. In using it to get some idea of the foundation of US policy in the region it still remains very useful and totally relevant. Bluth brings up multiple conceptual frameworks, looking in part to Graham Allison, for approaching and understanding US foreign policy in the region. He highlights their strengths and weaknesses while seamlessly keeping it clearly rooted in the subject matter, not allowing it to become an abstract exercise. With this done, Bluth utilizes these frameworks to approach to the subject, laying out multiple considerations to weigh in explaining US policy. Bluth asks:
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Papers by Dr. Chris Murray
Defence Studies Department
King’s College London
Embargoed pending publication
Abstract:
The decision processes behind the formation of Britain’s wartime policies were an exceedingly muddied affair. Policy outputs represented the intersection of multiple, oftentimes-competing variables, from political to military and from immediate to long-term. There remain unanswered questions that arise from complications, contradictions, and competitions within the British Government’s oftentimes multi- track policies, which hold far-reaching implications to understanding events. The historical understanding of the motivations, aims, and governmental negotiations behind Britain’s policies of support for resistance movements in occupied Yugoslavia during the Second World War serve as a striking example. In coming chapters this thesis will engage in a survey of the archival record exploring what motivations, overarching objectives, and wartime forces influenced the formation and course of British policies towards support of Yugoslav resistance movements. The aim of this thesis is to challenge existing historiographical narratives surrounding Britain’s Yugoslav policies, by considering the forces that shaped government attempts at co-opting resistance forces in occupied Yugoslavia in the light of what Graham Allison has called "the essence of decision." That is, by looking to the British government as a policy arena and examining the 'official mind' and policy community in that context. This will highlight the multiple overlapping forces, both internal and external, that interacted in shaping the evolution of British policy.
Book Reviews by Dr. Chris Murray
Defence Studies Department
King’s College London
Embargoed pending publication
Abstract:
The decision processes behind the formation of Britain’s wartime policies were an exceedingly muddied affair. Policy outputs represented the intersection of multiple, oftentimes-competing variables, from political to military and from immediate to long-term. There remain unanswered questions that arise from complications, contradictions, and competitions within the British Government’s oftentimes multi- track policies, which hold far-reaching implications to understanding events. The historical understanding of the motivations, aims, and governmental negotiations behind Britain’s policies of support for resistance movements in occupied Yugoslavia during the Second World War serve as a striking example. In coming chapters this thesis will engage in a survey of the archival record exploring what motivations, overarching objectives, and wartime forces influenced the formation and course of British policies towards support of Yugoslav resistance movements. The aim of this thesis is to challenge existing historiographical narratives surrounding Britain’s Yugoslav policies, by considering the forces that shaped government attempts at co-opting resistance forces in occupied Yugoslavia in the light of what Graham Allison has called "the essence of decision." That is, by looking to the British government as a policy arena and examining the 'official mind' and policy community in that context. This will highlight the multiple overlapping forces, both internal and external, that interacted in shaping the evolution of British policy.
6 December 2014 – Kingston, CA
http://defencereport.com/book-watch-the-caucasus-emirate-mujahedin-global-jihadism-in-russias-north-caucasus-and-beyond-by-gordon-m-hahn/
Forgotten Fronts