• Home
• Research
• Analysis
• Events
• Publications
• Membership
• About us
• Contact us
• Media

Programme of events

Members' Lecture - The Defence of the Realm

PLACES AVAILABLE: Members only

About the event:

A lecture by Professor Christopher Andrew, Professor of Modern and Contemporary History, Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge.

Professor Andrew will discuss his groundbreaking new book, The Defence of the Realm, which is the first ever authorised history of the British Security Service (MI5). It reveals the precise role of the Security Service in twentieth-century British history, from its foundation by Captain Kell of the British Army in October 1909, through two world wars, up to and including its present roles in counter-espionage and counter-terrorism. The book also reveals the identities of previously unknown enemies of the UK whose activities have been uncovered by the Service, adds significantly to our knowledge of many celebrated events and notorious individuals, and definitively lays to rest a number of persistent myths.

This lecture will describe how MI5 has been managed, what its relationship has been with government, where it has triumphed and where it has failed; above all, Professor Andrew will illustrate the significance today of this previously extremely secretive organisation within the United Kingdom. In all of this, no restriction has been placed on the judgements made by the author.

Professor Christopher Andrew is the world’s leading historian of intelligence. He is Professor of Modern and Contemporary History and former Chair of the Faculty of History at the University of Cambridge, as well as Chair of the British Intelligence Study Group and Co-Editor of Intelligence and National Security. His thirteen previous books include a number of path-breaking studies on the use and abuse of secret intelligence in modern history. He was co-author of The Mitrokhin Archive, whose publication in 1999 made headline news around the world.

This is followed by a drinks reception from 1900 to 2000. The author will be on hand to sign copies of his book which will be on sale at a special price of £19.50

This event is open to RUSI members only. To become a member, please click here.

To register for this event, please e-mail Sabrina Downey, Events Director: sabrinad@rusi.org

For all other enquiries, please call +44 (0) 20 7747 2622.

• Site Map
• Privacy Policy
• Legal Notice
• Site by 4T2