New College, University of OxfordThree IWP students participated in the IWP-Oxford Study Abroad this summer, including Clayton Hawes. Here, Clayton describes his experience at this four-week program of tutorials at the University of Oxford in England.
This summer term during the IWP-Oxford Study Abroad, I researched with my tutor, Dr. Mark Almond, looking at Russian military lessons learned from the Russo-Japanese War, from its military rearmament through the First World War.
The research question was, If Russia was prepared for war in 1914, why did things go so wrong by 1917?
I looked at what the Russians did and what shortfalls were present and examined what trends we see today in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. My assessment was that similar shortcomings are still drawn out from then to what we see of Russian military shortcomings in Ukraine.
My study experience at Oxford and New College was filled with academic enrichment and personal fulfillment. I want to give special thanks to the Oxford Study Abroad Programme (OSAP) staff and Dr. Mark Almond, who is a fantastic mentor, academic, and subject matter expert on anything Russia, and IWP faculty member Professor John Tsagronis. His mentorship and leadership are admired, and he is someone I look up to emulate in my career.
This experience and study have not only enriched my academic experience but added knowledge useful to understanding the history of the Russian military at a crucial time in Russian history.
In honor of the Brits and our special relationship, as said by the late Prime Minister Winston Churchill, “The only thing worse than having allies is not having them.”
New College Motto: “Manners Makyth Man”
