Kenneth N. Waltz Annual Lecture 2016 - Professor Jeremy Black

On Thursday, 13 October 2016, the packed Main Hall in the Department of International Politics at Aberystwyth University welcomed distinguished historian Professor Jeremy Black to give the Kenneth N. Waltz Annual Lecture.  This lecture series focuses on areas of particular interest to the late Kenneth Waltz, a leading theorist of International Relations.  Professor Black gave a talk entitled ‘War and International Relations 1400-2100,’ a subject he can speak to with unusual authority given his extensive knowledge of both military history and international relations. 

 Professor Black approached this broad topic by discussing the problems that frequently arise in the study of war and international relations, outlining what he believes are the predominant narratives in histories of warfare, and offering his own suggestions as to more productive approaches.  He began by observing the Western-centric nature of much of the literature on military history, in which little attention is paid to conflicts in Asia and Africa beyond those involving a European military power.  He argued that this selective approach to history must be abandoned if scholars hope to advance their understanding of international conflict.  Professor Black also discussed the potential pitfalls of making comparisons across time, and of allowing the present to influence conceptions of the past.  He then offered his thoughts on predominant narratives in military history, specifically the overemphasis, in his view, of technological factors when evaluating military capabilities.  To build a more coherent understanding of a state’s potential role in the international arena, one must consider additional factors such as morale, military strategy, and cultural assumptions.  Professor Black concluded his lecture by taking questions from the audience on, among other things, the privatization of the military; the effect of climate change on warfare; and the role of nuclear weapons in international conflict.

 A vidcast of the 2016 Kenneth N. Waltz Annual Lecture can be found HERE. A full written text of the lecture will appear in the journal International Relations. This lecture was supported in part by the Gwendoline and Margaret Davies Charity.  We would like to express our thanks for their continued support.