Conflict Records Unit

The Conflict Records Unit specialises in primary sources of contentious, war-related provenance and enduring historical value. Conflict records - in their narrowest sense, captured enemy records, and in their broadest meaning, documents and media generated by parties to an armed conflict - are by virtue of their disposition difficult to access and at risk of loss or destruction.

The Conflict Records Unit supports and extends the mission of the Sir Michael Howard Centre, by working closely with and enabling the work of War Studies researchers, research groups and centres at KCL. The unit achieves this through a program of applied collection, research, analysis and engagement. Its three core functions are to:

Develop and host conflict records, including digital and analog materials;
Make use of conflict records for purposes of research, publication, and knowledge transfer;
Promote study and understanding of the role of conflict records and war-related archives at risk.

Call for Papers - Documenting War Conference (May/Jun 22)

We invite original contributions from early-career and established scholars working in any field of study, but especially those exploring the intersection between points noted above and issues of foreign policy, defence, intelligence, grand strategy, irregular warfare, core international crimes, public health, new technology developments, security and development, and histories of state and empire. See here for full details and contact information.

Members

Niall Barr

Head of Defence Studies Department and Dean of Academic Studies

Mats Berdal

Professor of Security & Development

Wyn Bowen

Head of School for the School of Security Studies

Geoff Browell

Head of Archives Services

Christine Cheng

Senior Lecturer in International Relations

Jonathan Fennell

Reader in Modern History

Michael Goodman

Professor of Intelligence and International Affairs

Vincent Hiribarren

Senior Lecturer in Modern African History

Michael Innes

Director, Conflict Records Unit

Rachel Kerr

Professor of War and Society

Shiraz Maher

Lecturer in Non State Actors

Joe Maiolo

Professor of International History

Jeffrey Michaels

Visiting Research Fellow

Kieran Mitton

Reader in Conflict, Security and Development

Matthew Moran

Professor of International Security

Nicola Palmer

Reader in Criminal Law

Preeti Patel

Professor of Global Health and Conflict

Tim Stevens

Senior Lecturer in Global Security

Applied History

Contemporary policy processes benefit from a meticulously grounded understanding of the past. The Conflict Records Unit brings together the substance of history with the evidentiary basis for it - promoting historical understanding of current events, heightened appreciation of the perspectives and frames that shape it, and improved application of historical sources and methods.

Conflict Analysis

Conflict records provide researchers and policymakers with important insights into neglected aspects of past and present conflicts. The Conflict Records Unit identifies extant document collections and datasets, develops new ones when appropriate, and draws from them the empirical basis for multidisciplinary analysis of armed conflict.

Forensic Inquiry

Conflict records enable research into the legal and criminal dimensions of armed conflict, from war crimes to criminal exploitation of material conditions before, during and after wars. The Conflict Records Unit uses forensic history and social science to understand the legally consequential dimensions of war and generate forensic-quality research outcomes.

Research Ethics

The history of conflict records includes numerous examples of the legal and ethical challenges that researchers face or that arise as a consequence of working with war-related primary sources of contentious provenance. The Conflict Records Unit undertakes research and writing projects on these issues, identifies best practices and advises researchers working with conflict records.

CRU Steering Group

The Steering Group of the Conflict Records Unit convenes on a routine basis to review plans and provide strategic advice to the unit. Steering group members are drawn from among senior War Studies faculty, the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, and other parts of King's College London. For more information, contact Professor Joe Maiolo (Chair).

CRU Speaker Series

The Conflict Records Unit hosts speaker events that explore the challenges of documenting war and working with war-related documents, in historical and contemporary terms.

Events registration page

Watch the recordings on our YouTube channel

CRU Reference Series

The Conflict Records Unit publishes basic bibliographies and other reference documents on conflict records and archives at risk and are available for download.

CRU Reference Series: General Bibliography