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Paul Michael Kennedy

ポール・マイケル・ケネディ

Paul Michael Kennedy

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1945-06-17 （Wallsend, Northumberland, England）
Nationality
British
Languages
English
Residence History
Wallsend (place of birth) → Newcastle upon Tyne (education) → Norwich (University of East Anglia) → New Haven, Connecticut (Yale University) → London (London School of Economics)

Career

Occupations
historian, author, university professor, public intellectual
Active Years
1970-
Affiliations
University of East Anglia, Yale University, London School of Economics, Royal Historical Society (Fellow), Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Institute for Advanced Study (visiting fellow)
Memberships
Royal Historical Society, British Academy, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, American Philosophical Society
Influenced By
A. J. P. Taylor, John Andrew Gallagher
Influenced
Geoffrey Wawro, Richard Drayton, Fareed Zakaria, Frederick Kagan, Matthew Connelly

Education

Newcastle University
Faculty of Arts / History
Degree: BA
Country: United Kingdom
First-class honours in History
St Antony's College, Oxford
Graduate studies / History
Degree: DPhil
Country: United Kingdom
Doctoral advisors: A. J. P. Taylor and John Andrew Gallagher

Awards

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
2001
Organization: British honours system
Result: 受章
Fellow of the British Academy (FBA)
2003
Organization: British Academy
Result: 選出
Caird Medal
2005
Organization: National Maritime Museum
Result: 受賞
Hattendorf Prize
2014
Organization: US Naval War College
Result: 受賞
Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
1989
Organization: American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Result: 選出
Elected to the American Philosophical Society
1991
Organization: American Philosophical Society
Result: 選出

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers: Economic Change and Military Conflict from 1500 to 2000

1987 History / International Relations

Analyzes the interaction between economic strength and military power over five centuries, arguing that expanding strategic commitments can overburden a nation's economic base and lead to decline.

economic power and military strengthrise and fall of great powersimperial overstretch
Translations
  • Translated into 23 languages

The Parliament of Man: The Past, Present, and Future of the United Nations

2006 International Relations / Politics

Surveys the history and functioning of the United Nations and considers its prospects and challenges for international cooperation.

international organizationsmultilateral cooperationinternational law
Translations
  • Translated into multiple languages

Engineers of Victory: The Problem Solvers Who Turned the Tide in the Second World War

2013 Military history / History

Examines how technical and organizational problem solvers influenced outcomes in World War II, exploring factors behind victory.

military technologyorganizational innovationWorld War II
Translations
  • Translated into English and other languages

The Rise of the Anglo-German Antagonism, 1860–1914

1980 History / Diplomatic history

Analyzes the tensions and antagonism in Anglo-German relations from the late 19th century to the eve of World War I.

Anglo-German relationsimperialismdiplomatic history
Translations
  • Available in translation

Bibliography

  • Planning for War at Sea: 400 Years of Great Power Competition (editor, 2025)
  • Victory at Sea: Naval Power and the Transformation of the Global Order in World War II (2022)
  • Navies in Multipolar Worlds: From the Age of Sail to the Present (editor, 2020)
  • Engineers of Victory (2013)
  • The Parliament of Man (2006)
  • Preparing for the Twenty-first Century (1993)
  • Grand Strategies in War and Peace (editor, 1991)
  • The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers (1987)
  • The Rise of the Anglo-German Antagonism (1980)
  • The Rise and Fall of British Naval Mastery (1976)
  • The First World War and the International Power System (article, 1984)
  • and other works

Adaptations

  • Booknotes interview (C-SPAN)
  • Appearances on C-SPAN

Translations of Works

  • 'The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers' translated into 23 languages

Style & Themes

Literary Style
comparative and synthetic narrativeanalytical style linking economic and military historyaccessible writing aimed also at policymakers
Recurring Motifs
interaction of economic and military powerrise and fall of great powersimperial overstretchtechnological change and war

Legacy

Has had significant influence on international history and grand strategy studies, affecting academics, policymakers and general readers; 'The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers' is widely cited and introduced a long-term view of political-economic change.

Academic Societies

  • Royal Historical Society
  • British Academy
  • American Academy of Arts and Sciences
  • American Philosophical Society

Quotes

  • The United States must come to grips with its own 'imperial overstretch'.
    Source: The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers (1987) (1987)
  • 'An encyclopaedia in itself' (A. J. P. Taylor on Kennedy's work)
    Source: Review by A. J. P. Taylor (quoted)

Trivia

  • 'The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers' has been translated into 23 languages.
  • Teaches the Studies in Grand Strategy course at Yale University.
  • Awarded a CBE in 2001 and elected to the British Academy in 2003.
  • Received the Hattendorf Prize in 2014.
  • Doctoral advisors included A. J. P. Taylor and John Andrew Gallagher.
  • Supervised notable students such as Fareed Zakaria.