|
The intention behind the conference is to take advantage of the centenary of Admiral Sir John Fisher’s becoming First Sea Lord in 1904, to explore issues of strategic change from the platform of Fisher’s famous revolution in naval affairs. To this end, the selection of papers has been designed to present a balance between an appreciation of Fisher’s own strategic challenges and solutions, and those with which the West has been grappling since the end of the Cold War and, more especially, since 11 September 2001. The speaker list includes, therefore, historians distinguished for deep research into Fisher’s life and times, contemporary academic and military strategists, and a few speakers of more general or ‘niche’ noteworthiness.
The conference will avoid some of the deep ‘naval’ subjects surrounding Fisher’s controversial work, but rather focus on issues which have a discernible modern ‘pull through’ to the doubts and dilemmas facing strategists today. Fisher has recently been studied very seriously on both sides of the Atlantic, and the project is particularly timely given the transformational security choices which seem to be facing the West one hundred years after him. It may be expected that the conference, as planned, will attract much interest among those responsible for formulating modern security policy and defence doctrine.
Conference dates: 29 & 30 September 2004
Venue: Joint Services Command and Staff College, Shrivenham, Wiltshire, UK
|
