Society

Corbett 100

The project marks the centenary of the death of British naval historian and maritime strategist Sir Julian Corbett (1854-1922). It is a collaboration between the Laughton Unit, King’s College London and the Hattendorf Historical Center, U.S. Naval War College.

The project explores historical and contemporary national strategy and defence policy questions from naval history, maritime strategy, and strategic theory perspectives. The project reflects the 'spirit and intent' of Sir Julian's scholarship while mindful of his long service to the Royal Navy, UK Cabinet Office and Committee for Imperial Defence [CID]. Central to the project's efforts is his 1911 book 'Some Principals of Maritime Strategy' which significance, influence and importance have spread worldwide. The value and use of history as a repository of wisdom and ongoing development of strategic studies in their own right, coupled with the importance of debate over national strategy, is a core value.

The project is co-directed between PhD candidate James W.E Smith, King’s College London and Dr David. Kohnen, U.S Naval War College. The project is supported through an academic council comprised of Professor Andrew Lambert at King’s College London and Professor John Hattendorf at the U.S. Naval War College. Dr Mark Bailey (Royal Australian Navy) is the Asia-Pacific representative.

Directors and Academic Counsel:

The project is co-directed between PhD candidate James W.E Smith, King’s College London and Dr D. Kohnen, U.S Naval War College. The project is supported through an academic council comprised of Professor Andrew Lambert at King’s College London and Professor John Hattendorf at the U.S. Naval War College. Dr Mark Bailey (Royal Australian Navy) is the Asia-Pacific representative.

Aims

To examine the impact, influence and legacy of Sir Julian Corbett and his works on historical questions.
Explore the relevance of Sir Julian Corbett’s works on contemporary questions such as maritime strategy, sea power, defence policy and national strategy.
To provide the ideal platform to bring together international academics, civilian researchers, veterans and active military to discuss historical and contemporary questions covering a range of topics from maritime strategy, defence policy, strategic theory, sea power, trade protection, future global trends, security, space strategy, and wargaming.
To establish and network academics, civilian researchers, veterans and active military from an international background.

Methods

Corbett 100 Conference, King's College London, 25 - 26 May 2022.
Following King’s event’s, a series of conferences held at the Australian Defence Academy and U.S. Naval War College 2022-2023.
Book Launch: “The British Way of War - Julian Corbett and the Battle for a National Strategy” - By Professor Andrew Lambert. Publication date due: 24 Aug 2021.
Corbett 100 Maritime Seminar Series : convening speakers from around the world covering contemporary and historical topics related to Sir Julian’s work and its influence. Sample topics covered: seapower, the role of navies, oceanic conflict, modern naval warfare, great power competition. (Podcast and Youtube)
Corbett 100 Panel: U.S. Naval Academy 23-24^th September 2021.
Publications related to the theory and application of Sir Julian Corbett’s research, including a collection of papers from the project and conferences.
Naval Wargaming events for King’s staff and students in partnership with King’s Wargaming Network, including a public lecture.
40^th Anniversary of the Falklands War special event as part of Corbett 100 held at King’s College London.
External events, publications and lectures. (Sample: Royal United Services Institute, The Naval Review Journal, Royal College of Defence Studies.) [Details TBC]

Project team

Mark Bailey

Research Associate

John Bew

Professor in History and Foreign Policy

Wyn Bowen

Head of School for the School of Security Studies

David Kohnen

Research Associate

Andrew Lambert

Laughton Professor of Naval History

James W.E Smith

PhD Candidate

Work that has informed Corbett 100 includes:

Stafford, Julian. 1911.Some Principles of Maritime Strategy. London, New York.
Corbett, Julian Stafford, and Andrew D. Lambert.21st Century Corbett: Maritime Strategy and Naval Policy for the Modern Era. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 2017.
Smith, James W.E. “Corbett’s Relevance to the Modern Strategic Thinker.” The Strategy Bridge, 21 Aug. 2018.
Smith, James W.E. “Corbett offers more on Space than Mitchell.” War on the Rocks, 11 Dec. 2019.
David Kohnen, “Then & Now: Establishing the Principles of Maritime Strategy”, In TouchMagazine, Autumn/Winter 2019, King’s College London.
Corbett 100: James W. E. Smith (2021) New Research into the History, Theory and Practice of Naval Wargaming, The Mariner's Mirror, 107:1, 100-103, DOI: 10.1080/00253359.2021.1845516.
The British Way of War - Julian Corbett and the Battle for a National Strategy - Professor Andrew Lambert. ISBN: 9780300250732

Exhibitions

Julian Corbett, “the British Way of War”, and War Studies at 60

To mark the publication of his new book The British Way of War, Julian Corbett and the Battle for National Strategy, Yale University Press 2021, the centenary of Corbett’s death, and the 60^th Anniversary of the War Studies Department Andrew Lambert, Laughton Professor of Naval History will discuss Corbett’s contribution to the development of naval history, strategic thought, his interaction with King’s College London, and the continuing relevance of his ideas in the 21st century.

The talk will be followed by a drinks reception in The War Studies meeting room.

This event forms part of the Corbett 100 project that marks the centenary of the death of historian and strategist Sir Julian Corbett.

This event can be attended in-person and online, numbers of attendees for the in-person event are limited.

Corbett 100 Conference, 25 - 26 May 2022

The Corbett 100 Conference at King’s College London brings together international scholars, serving and retired military personnel and policy makers to mark centenary of the death of Sir Julian Corbett.

The conference explores the life of Sir Julian and his scholarship on maritime strategy and naval history. The conference will discuss his enduring relevance to contemporary strategy, strategic studies and defence policy and why he remains one of the ‘great’ strategic theorists amongst contemporaries such as Carl Von Clausewitz.

Following conferences to be held in Australia in 2022 and at the U.S. Naval War College 2022-2023.

Upcoming events

Corbett 100 Lecture Series started on 4 February 2021 – Audio and Video recordings can be found on the War Studies SoundCloud and YouTube channel
Book and publications launches
Naval Wargaming Event in partnership with King’s Wargaming Network
3 Conferences: Main event at King’s College London [2022], with others at U.S Naval War College [2023] and one in Australia [2022]
Hosted by the U.S Navy: “Corbett 100: Perspectives, Signs and Portents, Sir Julian Corbett’s Influence Today.” [UK, USA, Australia and Japan]
Special C100 Partner Lectures [Details to be announced] covering a range of topics from Sir Julian, Some Principles of Maritime Strategy, national strategy, strategic theory, great power competition and the future of sea power
Corbett 100: The Falkland’s 40 event
More to be announced later in 2021