KEITH NEILSON
- Published in print:
- 1995
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198204701
- eISBN:
- 9780191676369
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198204701.003.0004
- Subject:
- History, European Modern History
This chapter discusses British defence planning in Russia. The prominent Russian newspaper, Novoe vremia characterized the nineteenth century as one full Anglo-Russian quarrels, and termed them ‘the ...
More
This chapter discusses British defence planning in Russia. The prominent Russian newspaper, Novoe vremia characterized the nineteenth century as one full Anglo-Russian quarrels, and termed them ‘the great struggle between the bear and the whale’. Russia was Europe's most formidable land power for much of the nineteenth century and represented the greatest threat to Britain's largely sea-based global pre-eminence. Much of the British defence planning in the century after Waterloo can be interpreted as an attempt to discover a way to check the burgeoning Russian menace. The essential point is that Anglo-Russian relations were never far from matters of defence.Less
This chapter discusses British defence planning in Russia. The prominent Russian newspaper, Novoe vremia characterized the nineteenth century as one full Anglo-Russian quarrels, and termed them ‘the great struggle between the bear and the whale’. Russia was Europe's most formidable land power for much of the nineteenth century and represented the greatest threat to Britain's largely sea-based global pre-eminence. Much of the British defence planning in the century after Waterloo can be interpreted as an attempt to discover a way to check the burgeoning Russian menace. The essential point is that Anglo-Russian relations were never far from matters of defence.
John Baylis
- Published in print:
- 1995
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198280125
- eISBN:
- 9780191684357
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198280125.003.0003
- Subject:
- Political Science, International Relations and Politics
Several proposals were made regarding the modifications on defence planning and the utilization of nuclear weapons. These undertakings led to divided feedback from the military personnel (which ...
More
Several proposals were made regarding the modifications on defence planning and the utilization of nuclear weapons. These undertakings led to divided feedback from the military personnel (which refers to the Navy and Air Force) and conflicts on bureaucratic interest in terms of the employment of the materials, the dilemma of the defence process of Britain during the two world wars (that was centralized on the continental commitment and maritime/air strategy), and the usage of either supervised weapons or nuclear weapons. Although there are steps to eliminate rivalry in the policy-making bodies, the differences in the concentration and perspectives that each one pursues give rise to an unsuccessful execution of their nuclear blueprints and more importantly, national security. Indeed, nuclear abstractions, no matter how brilliant they can be, will only be useless until they are applied.Less
Several proposals were made regarding the modifications on defence planning and the utilization of nuclear weapons. These undertakings led to divided feedback from the military personnel (which refers to the Navy and Air Force) and conflicts on bureaucratic interest in terms of the employment of the materials, the dilemma of the defence process of Britain during the two world wars (that was centralized on the continental commitment and maritime/air strategy), and the usage of either supervised weapons or nuclear weapons. Although there are steps to eliminate rivalry in the policy-making bodies, the differences in the concentration and perspectives that each one pursues give rise to an unsuccessful execution of their nuclear blueprints and more importantly, national security. Indeed, nuclear abstractions, no matter how brilliant they can be, will only be useless until they are applied.
L. V. SCOTT
- Published in print:
- 1993
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198204213
- eISBN:
- 9780191676154
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198204213.003.0009
- Subject:
- History, British and Irish Modern History, Military History
This chapter focuses on the views, conflicts between defence requirements, and economic constraints as the Cold War developed. Opposition to the government’s policy from within the Labour Party ...
More
This chapter focuses on the views, conflicts between defence requirements, and economic constraints as the Cold War developed. Opposition to the government’s policy from within the Labour Party concentrated on its costs and social implications rather than its logic or its assumptions. Sentiment against conscription was powerful, but public opposition on the issue had declined as the Cold War intensified from 1948. Abolishing conscription would have required bold and radical action to achieve a fundamental recasting of defence planning. With the rearmament programme under way, that was politically unthinkable for government and party alike.Less
This chapter focuses on the views, conflicts between defence requirements, and economic constraints as the Cold War developed. Opposition to the government’s policy from within the Labour Party concentrated on its costs and social implications rather than its logic or its assumptions. Sentiment against conscription was powerful, but public opposition on the issue had declined as the Cold War intensified from 1948. Abolishing conscription would have required bold and radical action to achieve a fundamental recasting of defence planning. With the rearmament programme under way, that was politically unthinkable for government and party alike.
Ray Barman
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- September 2011
- ISBN:
- 9789622099760
- eISBN:
- 9789882207363
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Hong Kong University Press
- DOI:
- 10.5790/hongkong/9789622099760.003.0001
- Subject:
- History, Asian History
This chapter provides details of the defence plan of Hong Kong in the event of an all-out attack by the Japanese. It describes that it was impossible for the Japanese to launch a surprise attack upon ...
More
This chapter provides details of the defence plan of Hong Kong in the event of an all-out attack by the Japanese. It describes that it was impossible for the Japanese to launch a surprise attack upon the New Territories and Hong Kong, as British observation posts established on the hills overlooking the river plain were able to observe any significant concentration of enemy troops. It notes that the total defence strength on 8 December 1941 was approximately 14,000 men with no modern Air Force or Navy allotted to the defence of the colony and faced with a ground force of 60,000 experienced Japanese troops, together with a modern air force and navy. In a telegram to the commander-in-chief and governor of Hong Kong, Sir Mark Young, Winston Churchill said, “We expect you to resist to the end. The honour of the empire is in your hands”.Less
This chapter provides details of the defence plan of Hong Kong in the event of an all-out attack by the Japanese. It describes that it was impossible for the Japanese to launch a surprise attack upon the New Territories and Hong Kong, as British observation posts established on the hills overlooking the river plain were able to observe any significant concentration of enemy troops. It notes that the total defence strength on 8 December 1941 was approximately 14,000 men with no modern Air Force or Navy allotted to the defence of the colony and faced with a ground force of 60,000 experienced Japanese troops, together with a modern air force and navy. In a telegram to the commander-in-chief and governor of Hong Kong, Sir Mark Young, Winston Churchill said, “We expect you to resist to the end. The honour of the empire is in your hands”.
Anit Mukherjee
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- January 2014
- ISBN:
- 9780198092384
- eISBN:
- 9780199082674
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198092384.003.0008
- Subject:
- Political Science, International Relations and Politics
This chapter looks into India’s civil-military relations and its impact on India’s military effectiveness. It discusses the theory of civil-military relations and identifies that while Huntington’s ...
More
This chapter looks into India’s civil-military relations and its impact on India’s military effectiveness. It discusses the theory of civil-military relations and identifies that while Huntington’s ‘objective control’ best describes civil-military relations in India, it does not, contrary to Huntington’s claim, maximize military effectiveness. Borrowing from Risa Brook’s approach, the author analyses Indian military effectiveness by examining its four crucial determinants—weapons procurement, defence planning, integration and human resource development. He argues that the current structure of civil-military relations, more accurately described as an ‘absent dialogue’, has an adverse impact on its military effectiveness. While the Indian state has acknowledged some of these problems and has made some attempts at defence reforms, more forceful political intervention is required.Less
This chapter looks into India’s civil-military relations and its impact on India’s military effectiveness. It discusses the theory of civil-military relations and identifies that while Huntington’s ‘objective control’ best describes civil-military relations in India, it does not, contrary to Huntington’s claim, maximize military effectiveness. Borrowing from Risa Brook’s approach, the author analyses Indian military effectiveness by examining its four crucial determinants—weapons procurement, defence planning, integration and human resource development. He argues that the current structure of civil-military relations, more accurately described as an ‘absent dialogue’, has an adverse impact on its military effectiveness. While the Indian state has acknowledged some of these problems and has made some attempts at defence reforms, more forceful political intervention is required.
Austin Gee
- Published in print:
- 2003
- Published Online:
- January 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199261253
- eISBN:
- 9780191717543
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199261253.001.0001
- Subject:
- History, British and Irish Early Modern History
This book provides a full view of the social, political, and military aspects of the volunteer movement of the French Wars: the volunteer infantry, yeomanry cavalry, and the armed associations in ...
More
This book provides a full view of the social, political, and military aspects of the volunteer movement of the French Wars: the volunteer infantry, yeomanry cavalry, and the armed associations in England, Scotland, and Wales from 1794 to 1814. It considers the antecedents of voluntary military forces, and the government planning that led to the formation and development of the volunteers and yeomanry. It shows how the administration of volunteering fitted into the existing system of county administration and central government. It analyses the geographical spread and concentrations of volunteering in relation to the apparent threats from popular radicalism and French invasion. It considers the type of men who joined the volunteers and their motivation for doing so, and those who promoted and organized the corps and the incentives they offered to recruit them. It analyses the social structure of volunteer membership and compares it with other mass organizations. It looks at the ways in which volunteering affected existing social relations, and examines the allegedly democratic aspects of corps' internal organization. The book examines the political affiliations of volunteers and the implications they had for the behaviour and use of the force. It considers criticisms of volunteering, in particular the alleged political and constitutional dangers of an armed population able to challenge the existing order. It shows how volunteering fitted into national defence planning, in particular for preparations against invasion, for evacuation and maintaining internal order. It examines in detail how the volunteers were used in policing roles.Less
This book provides a full view of the social, political, and military aspects of the volunteer movement of the French Wars: the volunteer infantry, yeomanry cavalry, and the armed associations in England, Scotland, and Wales from 1794 to 1814. It considers the antecedents of voluntary military forces, and the government planning that led to the formation and development of the volunteers and yeomanry. It shows how the administration of volunteering fitted into the existing system of county administration and central government. It analyses the geographical spread and concentrations of volunteering in relation to the apparent threats from popular radicalism and French invasion. It considers the type of men who joined the volunteers and their motivation for doing so, and those who promoted and organized the corps and the incentives they offered to recruit them. It analyses the social structure of volunteer membership and compares it with other mass organizations. It looks at the ways in which volunteering affected existing social relations, and examines the allegedly democratic aspects of corps' internal organization. The book examines the political affiliations of volunteers and the implications they had for the behaviour and use of the force. It considers criticisms of volunteering, in particular the alleged political and constitutional dangers of an armed population able to challenge the existing order. It shows how volunteering fitted into national defence planning, in particular for preparations against invasion, for evacuation and maintaining internal order. It examines in detail how the volunteers were used in policing roles.
Huw Dylan
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- December 2014
- ISBN:
- 9780199657025
- eISBN:
- 9780191773730
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199657025.003.0003
- Subject:
- History, Military History, British and Irish Modern History
One of the JIB’s ancestor agencies was the Inter-Service Topographical Department; its role was to gather topographic evidence for British soldiers, sailors, and airmen. This chapter examines how the ...
More
One of the JIB’s ancestor agencies was the Inter-Service Topographical Department; its role was to gather topographic evidence for British soldiers, sailors, and airmen. This chapter examines how the JIB continued with this adopted task, focusing on the secretive and largely inaccessible Soviet Union. It examines how the agency utilized the wealth of material available in occupied Germany to chart the USSR’s civil and military infrastructure, and how this material contributed to British defence planning. In particular, it examines how monitoring the development of the Soviet railway network revealed their preparedness for war, and how the JIB’s intelligence factored into British atomic targeting plans.Less
One of the JIB’s ancestor agencies was the Inter-Service Topographical Department; its role was to gather topographic evidence for British soldiers, sailors, and airmen. This chapter examines how the JIB continued with this adopted task, focusing on the secretive and largely inaccessible Soviet Union. It examines how the agency utilized the wealth of material available in occupied Germany to chart the USSR’s civil and military infrastructure, and how this material contributed to British defence planning. In particular, it examines how monitoring the development of the Soviet railway network revealed their preparedness for war, and how the JIB’s intelligence factored into British atomic targeting plans.
