Berenice Burnett

Berenice is a doctoral candidate in the Department of War Studies, King’s College London. Her research is focused on the civil service careers of the Cambridge Five: Anthony Blunt, Guy Burgess, John Cairncross, Donald Maclean and Harold ‘Kim’ Philby.

Berenice began her career in museums and archives and maintains a strong interest in how these institutions interpret history for public display. After leaving university she worked as head of research, and as a policy analyst for an aviation security consultancy. In 2014 she became a civil servant.

Berenice holds an MA in Intelligence and Security Studies from Brunel University, London and an MA (Hons.) in History from the University of Aberdeen.

By focusing on the civil service careers on the Cambridge Five from1935-1952, Berenice is proposing to establish how their advice to Ministers and seniors influenced British foreign policy.

Thesis Title

A Damage Assessment of the Cambridge Five

Abstract

By focusing on the civil service careers on the Cambridge Five from the mid 1930s until the death of Stalin in 1953, Berenice is proposing to establish how their advice to Ministers and seniors influenced British foreign policy. Most studies focus on the volume of material that flowed from these Five to Moscow; undoubtedly an important factor in calculating their damage to the British state, but their ‘influence factor’ has not received such scrutiny but is vital to be able to calculate the damage their careers caused HM Government.

Research Interests

Intelligence oversight in Europe and North America; UK Civil Service; propaganda in occupied territories, and the interpretation of intelligence history for public display.

Supervisors

Professor Michael S. Goodman [First supervisor]; Dr Huw Dylan [Second supervisor]