Richard Lock-Pullan

Senior Lecturer

Department of Political Science and International Studies

Contact details

Telephone +44 (0)121 414 4058

Fax +44 (0)121 414 3496

Email r.j.lockpullan@bham.ac.uk

Department of Political Science and International Studies
School of Government and Society
Muirhead Tower
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston, Birmingham,
B15 2TT, United Kingdom

About

Richard’s research focus has been on traditional hard security issues, particularly strategic matters.

Qualifications

PhD International Studies (Birmingham)

MIS International Studies (Birmingham)

BA (Hons) Religious Studies and English (CNAA)

Biography

Richard’s research focus has been on traditional hard security issues, particularly strategic matters. He worked on military innovation and strategic culture especially in regard to the US Army after the Vietnam War and how their changes influenced national intervention policy. For five years he taught at the UK’s Defence Academy teaching strategic studies and international relations to mid-career officers from 50 nations. He has been at Birmingham for five years working in POLSIS and CSSD. He established and still teaches the Strategic Studies MA.

His current research looks at security more broadly analysing the issue of religion and security by examining Christianity’s understanding of security and how this influences US foreign policy in particular. This has led to the more historical and conceptual questions concerning how ‘the west’ understands religion as a private option and how this shapes the perception of religion in the political process. A particular concern is with the relationship between the decline of public religion and the rise of the modern state, and how this relates to religion being perceived as a source of violence

Teaching

  • Strategic Studies (G91)
  • Diplomatic History of the Twentieth Century (G9)
  • Diplomatic History Post 1945 (POLS 206)

Research

 

Research Group: Security Studies

Research and academic interests

  • Security Studies
  • Military Strategy
  • Military Innovation
  • US Foreign and Security Policy
  • Christianity and Politics.

Current and recent projects

  • Religion, Security and Political Theology- book project bringing together Christian political theology and international relations
  • Religion and security- the concept of ‘religion’ in the security debate
  • The influence of Protestantism on US foreign policy
  • Theology and Politics in the work of William Cavanaugh
  • The changing nature of warfare

Publications

  • Monograph

Lock-Pullan, R. (2006.) US Intervention Policy and Army Innovation: From Vietnam to Iraq. London: Routledge, ISBN 0-714-65719-0. 

  • Journal articles and book chapters

Lock-Pullan, R. (2008) Religion and Tolerance in US Politics, Journal of American Studies 42(2): 341-346.

Lock-Pullan, R. (2008) The Church and the War on Terror.  In T. Blewitt, A. Hyde-Price & W. Rees (eds) British Foreign Policy and the Anglican Church: Christian Engagement with the Contemporary World (London: Ashgate): 89-104

Lock-Pullan, R. (2008) US Strategic Culture and The War on Terror. In John Owens and John Dumbrell (eds) America's 'War' on Terrorism and Contemporary US Foreign Policy (Lanham, MD: Lexington): 159-183

Lock-Pullan, R. (2007) Iraq and Vietnam – Military Lessons and Legacies. in John Dumbrell and David Ryan (eds) Vietnam in Iraq: Tactics, Lessons, Legacies and Ghosts (London: Routledge): 66- 85.

Lock-Pullan, R. (2006)The US Way of War and The War on Terror. Politics and Policy, 34(2 ): 374-399.

Lock-Pullan, R. (2005) How to Rethink War: Conceptual Innovation and AirLand Battle Doctrine. The Journal of Strategic Studies. 28 (4): 679-702.

Lock-Pullan, R. (2003) Learning the Limits of Virtue: Clinton, the Army and the Criteria for the Use of Military Force.  Contemporary Security Policy. 24(2):133-156.

Lock-Pullan, R. (2003) An Inward Looking Time; The US Army 1973-76. Journal of Military History. 67(2):483-511.

Lock-Pullan, R. (2002), Civilian Ideas and Military Innovation: Manoeuvre Warfare and Organisational Change in the US Army. War and Society.  20(1):125-147

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