Will Reynolds
@warstudent.bsky.social
Lecturer in Defence Studies Education at KCL, @dsdkings.bsky.social | Doctor in War Studies, @warstudieskcl.bsky.social | Associate @csns-uk.bsky.social | Anglo-Japanese grand strategy post-45 🇬🇧🇯🇵 | Views my own
Time to do some archive-based teaching!
September 16, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Time to do some archive-based teaching!
I suspect folks aren't going to like the suggestive nature of the document (it is an external 'suggesting' document after all).
Lots of room for interpretation and re-interpretation from all involved from policy through to implementation.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/683d89...
Lots of room for interpretation and re-interpretation from all involved from policy through to implementation.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/683d89...
June 2, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I suspect folks aren't going to like the suggestive nature of the document (it is an external 'suggesting' document after all).
Lots of room for interpretation and re-interpretation from all involved from policy through to implementation.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/683d89...
Lots of room for interpretation and re-interpretation from all involved from policy through to implementation.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/683d89...
Happy Easter folks!
April 20, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Happy Easter folks!
A thoroughly enjoyable Staff Ride (my first on the teaching side) with the U.K. Defence Academy. Great colleagues and great course members. Hope to see some of the latter on the Advanced Staff Course.
March 15, 2025 at 1:17 PM
A thoroughly enjoyable Staff Ride (my first on the teaching side) with the U.K. Defence Academy. Great colleagues and great course members. Hope to see some of the latter on the Advanced Staff Course.
That being said, the difficulty of 'penetrating' Japanese culture and language meant that the specialists continued to hold much sway. Individuals like Sir Hugh Cortazzi could and did bring greater expertise and cohesion to Britain's approach to Japan. 7/
February 21, 2025 at 1:59 PM
That being said, the difficulty of 'penetrating' Japanese culture and language meant that the specialists continued to hold much sway. Individuals like Sir Hugh Cortazzi could and did bring greater expertise and cohesion to Britain's approach to Japan. 7/
Margaret Thatcher, for example, was willing to simultaneously ignore her angry back bentchers on Nissan investment in Sunderland and berate the Japanese mercilessly for tariffs on Whiskey exports. This state of affairs would not begin to die down until the late-1980s. 5/
February 21, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Margaret Thatcher, for example, was willing to simultaneously ignore her angry back bentchers on Nissan investment in Sunderland and berate the Japanese mercilessly for tariffs on Whiskey exports. This state of affairs would not begin to die down until the late-1980s. 5/
British policymakers did actively strategise towards Japan, aiming to balance the tensions between the economic/domestic imperatives of safeguarding industry and jobs *against* the Japanese Phenomenon, whilst simultaneously not pushing Japan out of the Western orbit. 3/
February 21, 2025 at 1:59 PM
British policymakers did actively strategise towards Japan, aiming to balance the tensions between the economic/domestic imperatives of safeguarding industry and jobs *against* the Japanese Phenomenon, whilst simultaneously not pushing Japan out of the Western orbit. 3/
Whilst much scholarly attention has focused on the inflection point of the 1970s for Britain and the West as a whole, little has looked at Britain's view of the "third pillar of the West", Japan. 2/
February 21, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Whilst much scholarly attention has focused on the inflection point of the 1970s for Britain and the West as a whole, little has looked at Britain's view of the "third pillar of the West", Japan. 2/
Not all the recommendations may be agreed with - three-star Chiefs anyone? - but it provides tangible reform options based off a thorough exploration of Defence.
Also, notably, Sir Richard Barrons - one of the SDR Triumvirate - wrote the foreword.
Also, notably, Sir Richard Barrons - one of the SDR Triumvirate - wrote the foreword.
February 17, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Not all the recommendations may be agreed with - three-star Chiefs anyone? - but it provides tangible reform options based off a thorough exploration of Defence.
Also, notably, Sir Richard Barrons - one of the SDR Triumvirate - wrote the foreword.
Also, notably, Sir Richard Barrons - one of the SDR Triumvirate - wrote the foreword.
Interesting little commemoration for the 75th year since VJ Day from @gwr.com
Commemorates Tulbahadur Pun, 3rd Battalion, 6 Gurkha Rifles, who reached a bridge at Mogaung in Burma (now Myanmar), on his own, after his section was wiped out on the charge. Awarded the VC.
Commemorates Tulbahadur Pun, 3rd Battalion, 6 Gurkha Rifles, who reached a bridge at Mogaung in Burma (now Myanmar), on his own, after his section was wiped out on the charge. Awarded the VC.
January 27, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Interesting little commemoration for the 75th year since VJ Day from @gwr.com
Commemorates Tulbahadur Pun, 3rd Battalion, 6 Gurkha Rifles, who reached a bridge at Mogaung in Burma (now Myanmar), on his own, after his section was wiped out on the charge. Awarded the VC.
Commemorates Tulbahadur Pun, 3rd Battalion, 6 Gurkha Rifles, who reached a bridge at Mogaung in Burma (now Myanmar), on his own, after his section was wiped out on the charge. Awarded the VC.
Christmas comes early for some
December 22, 2024 at 11:07 AM
Christmas comes early for some
“America will not be made great again by those who are content to manage our decline…” - Mitch McConnell
Managing decline you say?
Britain:
www.politico.com/news/2024/12...
Managing decline you say?
Britain:
www.politico.com/news/2024/12...
December 8, 2024 at 10:34 AM
“America will not be made great again by those who are content to manage our decline…” - Mitch McConnell
Managing decline you say?
Britain:
www.politico.com/news/2024/12...
Managing decline you say?
Britain:
www.politico.com/news/2024/12...
The white heat of technology shall save us!
December 8, 2024 at 8:48 AM
The white heat of technology shall save us!
Teaching prioritisation of resources next week. Would've been really nice if MoD had waited until Friday!
November 20, 2024 at 4:36 PM
Teaching prioritisation of resources next week. Would've been really nice if MoD had waited until Friday!
Nope…not connecting to that
November 19, 2024 at 9:50 AM
Nope…not connecting to that
Ultimately, this is a product of wanting a full-spectrum force with a semi-global posture. We could just about do that at 3-4% of GDP. We’re currently at 2.3%… End/
November 16, 2024 at 11:51 AM
Ultimately, this is a product of wanting a full-spectrum force with a semi-global posture. We could just about do that at 3-4% of GDP. We’re currently at 2.3%… End/
In an era where review after review has had big geopolitical appetites but a pauper’s resources, big ticket items - that often warp the services’ budgets - will always be at the public centre of the debate of cuts and re-prioritisation. 3/
November 16, 2024 at 11:51 AM
In an era where review after review has had big geopolitical appetites but a pauper’s resources, big ticket items - that often warp the services’ budgets - will always be at the public centre of the debate of cuts and re-prioritisation. 3/
The Carriers - much like combat air for the RAF and heavy metal for the Army - do elicit strong emotions when it comes to debate on their cost effectiveness. It’s a debate that’s come up in the 60s, early-80s, 90s and much of the 21st century 2/
November 16, 2024 at 11:51 AM
The Carriers - much like combat air for the RAF and heavy metal for the Army - do elicit strong emotions when it comes to debate on their cost effectiveness. It’s a debate that’s come up in the 60s, early-80s, 90s and much of the 21st century 2/
I'm not saying memes feature heavily in my teaching, but...
November 14, 2024 at 12:38 PM
I'm not saying memes feature heavily in my teaching, but...
Thanks to Dr Hillary Briffa (KCL) for pointing me to this. May or may not feature heavily in the ol' HEA application now....
November 14, 2024 at 12:37 PM
Thanks to Dr Hillary Briffa (KCL) for pointing me to this. May or may not feature heavily in the ol' HEA application now....
“Government leaders can substantially disturb, but not substantially control, the behaviour of large organizations.” - Graham Allison (1968)
November 11, 2024 at 4:55 PM
“Government leaders can substantially disturb, but not substantially control, the behaviour of large organizations.” - Graham Allison (1968)
Is it even a Will thesis without a 'Yes Minister' quote?
September 7, 2024 at 2:20 PM
Is it even a Will thesis without a 'Yes Minister' quote?
Was a lovely opportunity to get to go aboard the JS #KASHIMA for a Japan Embassy, @kclcgs.bsky.social and NATO Maritime Command roundtable on ‘European-Japanese security cooperation’.
Great speakers including Rear Admiral Nishiyama, Prof Alessio Patalano and Prof James Bergeron.
Great speakers including Rear Admiral Nishiyama, Prof Alessio Patalano and Prof James Bergeron.
September 6, 2024 at 5:43 PM
Was a lovely opportunity to get to go aboard the JS #KASHIMA for a Japan Embassy, @kclcgs.bsky.social and NATO Maritime Command roundtable on ‘European-Japanese security cooperation’.
Great speakers including Rear Admiral Nishiyama, Prof Alessio Patalano and Prof James Bergeron.
Great speakers including Rear Admiral Nishiyama, Prof Alessio Patalano and Prof James Bergeron.
The British Government has published the Terms of Reference of Sir Stephen Lovegrove's appointment as the UK Government’s AUKUS Adviser."
"“The impact of introducing new partners into Pillar 2 projects beyond the U.K., US and Australia.”
Hmm…. 🗾
"“The impact of introducing new partners into Pillar 2 projects beyond the U.K., US and Australia.”
Hmm…. 🗾
August 29, 2024 at 12:00 PM
The British Government has published the Terms of Reference of Sir Stephen Lovegrove's appointment as the UK Government’s AUKUS Adviser."
"“The impact of introducing new partners into Pillar 2 projects beyond the U.K., US and Australia.”
Hmm…. 🗾
"“The impact of introducing new partners into Pillar 2 projects beyond the U.K., US and Australia.”
Hmm…. 🗾
Freja. And her sister is Tilly. We were told they were part/half Norwegian Forest cat.
August 23, 2024 at 8:05 PM
Freja. And her sister is Tilly. We were told they were part/half Norwegian Forest cat.