Talking Strategy

In this insightful discussion, Bill Johnsen, a former Director of Academics at the US Army War College and NATO Infantry Officer, delves into the strategic mind of General George C. Marshall. They explore Marshall's transformative leadership during World War II, from mobilizing the Army to overseeing D-Day strategies. Johnsen highlights the innovative Marshall Plan, designed to aid Europe's recovery while countering Soviet expansion. The conversation reveals how Marshall's vision has left an enduring impact on military strategy and international relations.

Professor Lucy Riall, a leading expert on modern Italy and Guiseppi Garibaldi, explores the revolutionary legacy of this charismatic figure. She discusses Garibaldi's unconventional military tactics that triumphed against established armies and his ability to inspire citizen fighters. Riall examines the complexities of Garibaldi's alliances with contemporaries like Mazzini and Cavour, as well as his intriguing mix of public charisma and political disengagement. The conversation sheds light on how Garibaldi's story continues to resonate today.

In this enlightening discussion, Professor Lynette Mitchell, an expert in Classics and Ancient History, dives into the life of Cyrus the Great. She reveals how Cyrus forged a diverse empire through strategic leadership, emphasizing the balance of generosity and military prowess. The influence of the Cyrus Cylinder and the historical insights of Xenophon are highlighted. Mitchell also contrasts Cyrus’s governance with later leaders like Alexander the Great, exploring the enduring legacy of his vision for universal kingship.

Baroness Catherine Ashton, the former EU lead for foreign and security strategy, shares her insights from navigating complex global issues. She discusses the importance of collaborative strategy-making and the role of personal and organizational values in leadership. Ashton reflects on the challenges Europe faces today, including the impacts of Brexit and security dynamics. She emphasizes the necessity of asking, 'And then what?' to adapt effectively in an ever-changing landscape, encouraging strategic thinkers to balance vision with realism.

Almuchalif Suryo, a retired colonel and military strategist, shares insights on General Abdul Haris Nasution's extraordinary journey. Nasution, trained by the Dutch, heroically shifted from fighting the Japanese to leading Indonesia in its independence struggle. Suryo discusses Nasution's innovative guerrilla warfare tactics and his pivotal role in unifying diverse military forces while battling communist threats. Their conversation uncovers the complexities of Indonesia's military politics and Nasution’s remarkable legacy as one of the nation's five-star generals.

Admiral John (Jacky) Fisher radically transformed the Royal Navy in terms of its people, doctrine, equipment and structures. Dr Richard Dunley explains how. Few service chiefs have had such a profound effect on their service as Admiral of the Fleet, Baron Fisher of Kilverstone, Chief of the British Royal Navy in 1904-1910, and again in 1914-1915, before resigning in frustration over Churchill's Gallipoli campaign. Joining a wooden-hulled, sail-powered Royal Navy at the age of 13, by the time he retired aged 74, his Service was operating steel-hulled, oil-powered and technologically advanced battleships, with submarine and aviation arms. He was at the forefront of many of these reforms, but his impact went beyond the technology, overseeing profound changes in naval strategy (working alongside Julian Corbett - Season 1, Episode 1), doctrine, force disposition, personnel and training. Like other great strategic leaders, he was adept at shaping the political environment, securing for the Royal Navy the lion's share of the defence budget. Yet his legacy is mixed - his Royal Navy was undoubtedly a stronger, more capable fighting force but, according to our guest, was institutionally damaged and divided, and took some time to recover. Dr Richard Dunley is a senior lecturer in history and maritime strategy at the University of New South Wales, Canberra, where he teaches at the Australian Defence Force Academy. His research focuses on the relationship between navies and technology, with a particular emphasis on the Royal Navy in the early 20th century.

Professor Charles Forsdick, Drapers Chair of French at Cambridge and co-author of a key book on Toussaint Louverture, sheds light on this revolutionary leader's extraordinary legacy. From an enslaved individual to a military strategist, Louverture's innovative tactics and adaptability were crucial in the fight for Haitian independence. Forsdick delves into the complexities of Louverture's life, highlighting his ability to navigate alliances and rivalries among colonial powers. He also unpacks the paradox of Louverture's military success versus his challenges as a ruler.

Jean-Marc Lieberherr examines Jean Monnet’s vital role in securing US arms for Britain and France during the Second World War and in driving international cooperation. A committed internationalist, long before becoming one of the founding fathers of the EU, Jean Monnet played a crucial role in enabling cooperation between countries in two world wars. As a member of the Executive Committee of the Allied Maritime Transport Council during the First World War, he helped coordinate shipping between the Allied powers of France, Great Britain, Italy and, from 1918, the US, before becoming the Deputy Secretary General of the League of Nations in 1919. During the subsequent world conflagration, , Monnet, trusted by Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle, coordinated arms procurement from the US through the Anglo-French Co-Ordinating Committee, the British Purchasing Committee and the Combined Production and Resources Board. According to economist John Maynard Keynes, Monnet’s work shortened that war by one year. After 1945, Monnet continued seeking internationalist solutions, connecting the French and German markets under the European Coal and Steel Community. Seeing how the principles of cooperation could be applied more broadly, he advocated for a European Defence Community during the Korean War. While this attempt at European defence integration failed, his work inspired the founding treaties of the EU. He became the first ‘Honorary Citizen of Europe’ in 1976. Jean-Marc Lieberherr is the founding chairman of the Jean Monnet Institute (JMI), which is devoted to promoting Monnet’s historical heritage. Before creating the JMI in 2021, he had a career with large international groups such as LVMH, Unilever and Rio Tinto. Further Reading Jean Monnet, Memoirs (London: Harper Collins, 1978). François Duchêne, Jean Monnet: The First Statesman of Interdependence (New York, NY: W W Norton, 1994). Robert R Nathan, ‘An Unsung Hero of World War II’, in Douglas Brinkley and Clifford Hackett (eds), Jean Monnet: The Path to European Unity (New York, NY: St Martin’s Press, 1991). W W Rostow, ‘Jean Monnet: The Innovator As Diplomat’ in Gordon A Craig and Francis L Loewenheim (eds), The Diplomats, 1939-1979 (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1994), pp. 257–88. Sherrill Brown Wells, Jean Monnet: Unconventional Statesman (Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Reinner, 2011). Institut Jean Monnet Website, available at: https://institutjeanmonnet.eu/en/.

Professor Mark Wilson explains how governments, industry and the military collaborated to forge the US’s ‘arsenal of democracy’ during the Second World War. The prevailing myth is that the miracle of US industrial production was achieved by individual business leaders who were freed from the dead hand of government. The truth is more nuanced. The impressive efforts of business leaders relied on their workforce, government and the military. It was also a truly international effort. French and British orders started before the European war and long before Pearl Harbor, thereby expanding US industrial capacity and providing a springboard for success once the US was mobilised. This episode’s guest, Professor Mark Wilson, is an historian from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He specialises in in military-industrial relations and war mobilisations in US history, having written important books on US Civil War mobilisation and the business and politics of US industrial mobilisation for the Second World War.

Dr. Catherine Hanley, a Medieval Studies expert and author of "Matilda: Empress, Queen, Warrior," dives into the life of Empress Matilda, the formidable figure in 12th-century England's Anarchy. She discusses Matilda's royal lineage and her fierce fight for the throne against Stephen of Blois. Key topics include her strategic marriage, clever alliances, and the significant role of castles in medieval warfare. Hanley also highlights Matilda's impact on her son Henry II's reign and her groundbreaking influence on female leadership in history.