Dr Tony Craig

Associate Professor

Health, Education, Policing and Sciences

Having completed my PhD at Cambridge under the supervision of Prof Christopher Andrew.  I completed a stint as Irish Government senior scholar under Prof Roy Foster at Oxford University where I completed and published my book in 2010.

I teach from first-year undergraduate to PhD at Staffordshire University and in a wide range of subject areas, too, relating variously to history, politics, and international relations. From first-year modules in US History to my MA modules in intelligence studies, Staffordshire University has provided me with opportunities to meet and get to know students from diverse backgrounds and all levels of academic skill.

In 2018 I help found the student journal in History and International Relations, 'Set in Clay' https://www.facebook.com/SetInClay/ which is now on its fifth volume. I also founded the department's online research seminar. I have presented my research both in the UK and Ireland and overseas at events from Oslo to Washington to Tokyo. I have organised and led student field trips to Dublin, Belfast, London, Manchester, Liverpool and even Milton Keynes.

I have written and contributed to journalism, published in Jane’s Intelligence Review, Time Magazine, and The Irish Times, and appeared on panel discussions on various local BBC radio stations and NewsTalk Radio, Dublin. 

Professional memberships and activities

Fellow Royal Historical Society

Fellow Higher Education Academy Political Studies

Association of Ireland Political Studies

Association North American Society for Intelligence History

Academic qualifications

PhD University of Cambridge

MPhil Historical Studies, University of Cambridge

PgCHPE, Staffordshire University

BA (Mod) History and Political Science, Trinity College Dublin

Expertise

  • Intelligence History
  • Intelligence Studies
  • British and Irish History
  • covert diplomacy
  • propaganda
  • insurgency
  • counter insurgency
  • counter terrorism
  • history of decolonisation
  • archive research
  • history of conflict resolution 

Research interests

  • Northern Ireland
  • Irish Foreign Policy
  • British Foreign Policy
  • Intelligence History
  • Terrorism
  • Security Studies
  • Decolonisation

Grants

BA/Leverhulme Small Research Grant 2022 "A History of the Information Services of the Northern Ireland Office 1972-1998" Stanton Foundation Prize (Belfer Center, Kennedy School of GOvernment, Harvard University) ‘…for peace comes dropping slow.’ Lessons from the middle in Northern Ireland’s peace process

Teaching

I have written and taught a wide range of modules at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Subjects have included survey courses on US History and Modern Irish History along with specialist courses on Britain and the End of Empire and the Northern Ireland Troubles. I am also heavily involved in the teaching of intelligence history and intelligence studies on all of our Security and Intelligence programmes both distance learning and on campus.

Publications

  • Forthcoming – Craig, T. 2023 ‘Operation Calaba: Sir Dick White, enhanced interrogation and the introduction of internment to Northern Ireland, 1971’ in Mark Stout (ed) Inside the Wilderness of Mirrors (University Press of Kansas).
  • Forthcoming – Craig, T. 2023 ‘Internment, imprisonment and interrogation in low intensity conflict. Carceral Warfare and Republican paramilitaries in Northern Ireland 1968-c1988.’ In Oxford Handbook of Imperial Counter Insurgency. (OUP).
  • Craig, T., Donohue, J, Ezzedine, Y, et al, 2023 'Ireland’s Emerging Cyber Crisis: An Online Decentralized Movement for Nationalist Violence and Anti-Immigration/Muslim Attacks' National Contagion Research Institute, Rutgers University https://networkcontagion.us/reports/7-5-23-irelands-emerging-cyber-crisis/
  • Craig, T. 2022, ‘Examining consciences: but whose conscience?’ Review of Who was Responsible for the Troubles? The Northern Ireland Conflict, by Liam Kennedy. McGill-Queen's University Press. 2020. The Political Quarterly, 23 June 2022. DOI: 10.1111/1467-923X.13162
  • Craig, T. 2021, ‘‘… for peace comes dropping slow’ Lessons from the Middle in Northern Ireland’s Peace Process.’ Journal of Applied History, 3, 95-108. DOI: 10.1163/25895893-bja10017
  • Craig, T. and McCleery, M. 2020 ‘The arrest and release of Irish Republican internees in the context of nascent peace negotiations with the UK government 1972-1975.’ Small Wars and Insurgencies, 31:3, 639-660, DOI:10.1080/09592318.2020.1726578
  • Craig, T. 2018, ‘‘You will be responsible to the GOC’. Stovepiping and the problem of divergent intelligence gathering networks in Northern Ireland, 1969–1975' in Intelligence and National Security, 33:2, DOI:10.1080/02684527.2017.1349036
  • Craig, T. 2017, ‘Stan Orme and the Road to ‘Industrial Democracy’: British attempts at the Politicisation of Working Class Protestants in Northern Ireland 1973-1975’ in McCann, D & C McGrattan (eds) Sunningdale and the Struggle for Democracy in Northern Ireland. Manchester University Press, Manchester. http://www.manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9780719099519/
  • Craig, T. 2015, ‘From Counter Subversion to Counter Insurgency: Comparing MI5's role in British Guiana, Aden and the Northern Ireland Civil Rights crisis’ Journal of Intelligence History, 14:1, 38-53. DOI:10.1080/16161262.2014.970365
  • Craig, T. 2014, ‘Monitoring the Peace? : Northern Ireland’s 1975 ceasefire incident centres and the politicisation of Sinn Féin.’ Terrorism and Political Violence 26:2, 307-319. DOI:10.1080/09546553.2012.711395
  • Craig, T. 2013, ‘State Stability – Northern Ireland’ in Jane’s Intelligence Review 25:3, Cover and pp. 9-13. Craig, T. 2013, ‘Laneside, the left and bit? Britain’s Secret Political Talks with Loyalist Paramilitaries in Northern Ireland, 1973-1976’ Irish Political Studies, 29:2, 298-317. DOI:10.1080/07907184.2012.732952
  • Craig, T. 2012, ‘From Backdoors and Back Lanes to Backchannels: Reappraising British Talks with the Provisional IRA, 1970-1974’ Contemporary British History, 26:1, 97-117. DOI: 10.1080/13619462.2012.656391
  • Craig, T. 2010, ‘Sabotage! The origins, development and impact of the IRA’s infrastructural bombing campaigns 1939-1997’ Intelligence and National Security, 25:3, 309-326. DOI: 10.1080/02684527.2010.489781
  • Book: Craig, A. 2010, Crisis of Confidence: Anglo-Irish Relations in the Early Troubles, Irish Academic Press, Dublin (IRL). ISBN 978-0716530404

External profiles

in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021