School of War

Ep 274: Lawrence Freedman on Strategists and Ukraine

35 snips
Feb 13, 2026
Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies at King’s College London and noted scholar of strategy, discusses essay writing and public scholarship. He reflects on influential figures like Michael Howard and Colin Gray. He distinguishes tactics from strategy, debates missile defenses and nuclear limits, and gives a concise update on Ukraine’s winter resilience and Russian setbacks.
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INSIGHT

Essay Platforms Revive Public Scholarship

  • Sir Lawrence Freedman says Substack and online journals let scholars publish timely, readable essays outside slow peer review.
  • He warns regular publishing is demanding but keeps writers disciplined and connected to audiences.
ANECDOTE

Michael Howard’s Mentorship And Influence

  • Michael Howard mentored Freedman and modernized history teaching at Oxford after WWII service.
  • Freedman credits Howard for shaping his interdisciplinary, public-facing approach to war studies.
INSIGHT

Colin Gray’s Evangelical Drive

  • Colin Gray relentlessly tried to define and promote the study of strategy throughout his career.
  • Freedman admired Gray's evangelical drive to make strategy intelligible and relevant to practitioners.
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