Lawrence Freedman
@LawDavF
Emeritus Professor of War Studies King's College London. just published Command: The Politics of Military Operations from Korea to Ukraine (UK Penguin, US OUP)
It’s time to speak up for tactics. Being ‘tactical’ is often disparaged and considered a lesser activity than being strategic. Yet good strategy requires good tactics. open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/in-…
Israel seeks to prevent Iran becoming a nuclear power yet it has long had its own nuclear arsenal. This post explains how a policy of ambiguity about its nuclear status was established 60 years and has been maintained ever since. (This one's free). open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/isr…?
While commentators obsesses about how young men are moving to the right as important is young women moving to the left. Sam considers the evidence and implications. (£/free trial), samf.substack.com/p/why-are-youn…
Perspective. This is the map from the end of Ukraine's counteroffensive at the end of 2022, vs now in July 2025. The dark red line is now, the lighter one was then. Look at the macro picture. We often have people in our replies going "You're reporting Ukraine losing village…
What actually was achieved by the Israeli/US strikes against Iran’s nuclear programme? Some answers in my new post. (£/free trial) samf.substack.com/p/obliteration…
New piece from Sam reviews two books that explore how state failures are the fault of liberals as much as the right, and in particular of the ‘abundance’ philosophy. This one is fre. samf.substack.com/p/how-much-are…
Sam's latest. Can Starmer survive the next year and what can he do to ensure he survives longer? (£/free trial) samf.substack.com/p/how-much-tro…
New post in which @samfr considers the government’s new plan for the NHS and explains while it will struggle to deliver. (£/free trial), samf.substack.com/p/optimism-of-…
Why Putin’s persists with his war despite his failure to achieve any of his political objectives. Just because he is stubborn does not mean that he can win. (£/free trial) samf.substack.com/p/putins-narra…
The best piece I've read for at least a year, by our foremost student of war. A must-read; and I advise all Ukrainians to keep it to re-read at the moments of discouragement and fatigue which they are bound to go through in the next few months.
Why Putin’s persists with his war despite his failure to achieve any of his political objectives. Just because he is stubborn does not mean that he can win. (£/free trial) samf.substack.com/p/putins-narra…
New post just out: A guest post today from @jamestplunkett It looks at why the govt have struggled to reorient Whitehall around their missions - and what they need to do to revitalise the idea and give themselves a defining purpose. (Free to read) open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/why…
Sam’s latest post looks at the sadly topical question of the radicalisation of the British right on questions of race, with a comparison on how the Conservatives dealt with the BNP in the 2000s. (£/free trial), samf.substack.com/p/blood-and-so…
New post takes a detailed look at the role of drones in the Russo-Ukraine War, at the front lines as well as to the rear. It notes their limitations as well as value, and the importance of their integration with other systems. (£/free trial), open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/are…?
The war in Ukraine is now “an existential struggle for Russia,” writes @LawDavF. Despite having no clear path to victory, Putin has refused calls for a negotiated cease-fire—and doubled down on fighting. fam.ag/43RGjSn
Sam’s latest, taking his cue from Fukuyama’s End of History, looks at the continuing struggle between Autocracy and Democracy, and the risk that the autocrats are getting the upper hand. (£/free trial) samf.substack.com/p/history-rest…
New update to my post, on ceasefire (assuming it holds) and what might come next. open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/wil…?
Post from yesterday now updated to take account of US strikes. (£/free trial). open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/wil…?