Richard Lock-pullan

Biography

For four years Richard 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 nine years teaching strategic studies and international history in POLSIS and training diplomats in CSSD. He is a qualified teacher. Richard’s main research focus has been on traditional 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. His current research project looks at the role of religion in politics. An especial concern is with the role of Christianity in US foreign policy. He is also analyzing the politics of political/applied theology, aiming to develop a dialogue between the two academic disciplines. 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 and what role it should have in a western state. He is currently focusing on the work of the American theologian William T Cavanaugh. Richard is a keen collector and reader of twentieth century fiction and contemporary poetry. A proud Wiltshireman he is a member of the Richard Jefferies Society.

Research Interest

Strategic Studies US Foreign and Security Policy Christianity and Politics. Modern international history