Dr. James WE Smith

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How the UK Squandered its Naval Might

The 2026 Iran Crisis has exposed what many feared about the state of the Royal Navy but Dr James WE Smith, argues it's far worse than that.
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If Admiralty was restored, how might it manage the Royal Navy in 2026?
If Britain re-established an Admiralty independently or part of a vastly downsized and streamlined Ministry of Defence, what course might it chart for…
 • Dr James W.E. Smith
10:50
Britain as a Seapower is over after 480 years?
Britain's Abandoned Seapower: a case study in deconstruction and the end of strategy.
 • Dr James W.E. Smith
The American Sea Power Paradox: Why the US is More Naval Than Maritime
America's strength at sea isn't organic, inherent, or easily projected—making the oscillating fate of the USN a logical progression.
 • Dr James W.E. Smith
The Corbett Project: Corbett 100 in Review (2026)
The Past, Present and Future
 • Dr James W.E. Smith
Seablindness Rules Britannia.
From the Red Sea’s trade routes to Whitehall’s policy frameworks and into classroom curricula, a persistent issue emerges: seablindness, and now, it is…
 • Dr James W.E. Smith
Britain Needs Admiralty not a Ministry of War.
Restoration of national strategy hand-in-hand with fundamental defence organisational change is the key to the successful defence of Britain & its…
 • Dr James W.E. Smith
Corbett 100 Publications, Papers, Panels Seminars, Podcasts and other outputs.
A regularly updated collection of outputs from Corbett 100
 • Dr James W.E. Smith
The Corbett 100 Conferences
4 International Conferences have been held for Corbett 100.
 • Dr James W.E. Smith
Endgame for Seablindness: defence organisation and the future of the Royal Navy and the United States Navy
Navies must reinvent themselves and retake the lead on defence organisation. Their futures, that of national defence strategy and warfare may very well…
 • Dr James W.E. Smith
Why Lord Nelson matters in 2025 and Beyond
Lord Nelson has much insight to offer to this day, ranging from the role of navies, the future of war––from seabed to space––and leadership in defence…
 • Dr James W.E. Smith
250 years of American military ambition at sea
Today marks 250 years of the United States of America looking to the seas as a place to be a military and naval power.
 • Dr James W.E. Smith
The Future of Defence Organisation Resurfaces?
How defence is organised is fundamental in enabling or hindering national policy and strategy in peace and wartime.
 • Dr James W.E. Smith
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Britain as a Seapower is over after 480 years?
Dr. James WE Smith
Strategic Studies Consultant, Educator, Researcher and the Laughton-Corbett Research Fellow.
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