On Tuesday 22nd January, under the Second World War Research Group and the Sir Michael Howard Centre, Professor Andrew Buchanan from University of Vermont visited the Defence Academy to address the Military students from the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force.

Professor Buchanan discussed the research around his new book 'World War II in Global Perspective, 1931-1953 : A Short History'  and focused in particular on the issues and approaches that differentiated a truly global history of this critical conflict from all the numerous histories already in print.

The discussion answered many questions including how did a series of large regional conflicts combine to create a genuinely world-wide conflict? and how did this pave the way from a British-dominated to an American-dominated world order?

Listen to a recording of the talk here.

Andy Buchanan graduated with a BA in Modern History in 1980 from Balliol College, Oxford University. After graduation, he pursued a rather unconventional course, working on the London buses and then training to become a skilled machinist. After moving to the United States in 1992, he spent several years helping to design and manufacture artificial hearts in New York City. Buchanan completed his MA (2005) and PhD (2011) at Rutgers University, New Jersey and  began teaching at the University of Vermont in 2007.

A specialist in Global and Military history, he taught previously at Rutgers University and in the SUNY system. Buchanan has published several articles on World War II in the Journal of Contemporary History, Diplomacy and Statecraft, Journal of Transatlantic Studies, and Global War Studies. He has also contributed book chapters on the American military in World War II and on the military and social history of the Champlain Valley.