News, Articles and Comment

Ed. Written in 1991, the author explored the stark implications of peak oil in the aftermath of the First Gulf War. A 30 minute read.

Ed. A warm welcome to 2026! What a year, already, which may bring a new world order. The Chairman has outlined the current global challenges, but the current pace of events is such that with a turnaround time of three weeks for the hardcopy there may well be more. As we stand away from the map as far as it is possible, one can see and feel the paradigm shift of global reality underway, probably the biggest and most significant movement in over 100 years.

Ed. The author argues against the prevailing binary view of deterrence, favouring instead a grey zone or limited conflict model that places the RN as escalation manager, with nuclear Continuous At-Sea Deterrent (CASD) playing a vital deterrent role. A 15 minute read.

Ed. The expert author continues his ongoing survey [113/1, p. 61] of the Ukraine War, providing updates on the conflict’s military, economic, and geopolitical developments, with the resulting implications for the Royal Navy. A 30 minute read.

Ed. The expert author, at the invitation of the Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre (RNSSC), provides a sweeping overview of the condition of British shipbuilding and makes direct recommendations for improvement. A 25 minute read.

Ed. The author comments on Cdre Steve Jermy’s recent article regarding the imperative for a negotiated solution to the Ukraine War.

Ed. Utilising econometric analysis, the author contends that the Covid pandemic may have represented the dénouement of a long period of post-war western decline. A 20 minute read.

Ed. In October 1938, in the aftermath of the Munich conference, Admiral Sir Reginald Plunkett-Drax argued that the international situation necessitated radical defence measures, including national service. Reprinted from the NR’s Archive [26/4, p. 595]. A 15 minute read.

Ed. The author, seeking explanatory narrative frameworks in the tradition of Hobsbawm’s ‘Short Twentieth Century’, applies the geopolitical lens of Halford Mackinder to draw parallels between the world at the turn of the 20^th century and our world today. Originally published in The Article. A 10 minute read.