Generalists With a Regional Accent? British Diplomats in Russia During the Later Cold War Michael Hughes and Thomas Mills

This article examines the careers of senior British diplomats posted to Moscow in the 1970s and 1980s. It argues that these individuals typically had a good prior knowledge of Soviet affairs before arriving in Moscow, but that they were not simply country specialists, but rather had experience of a wide range of postings both in London and abroad. Those who served in Moscow in the 1980s tended to have careers that were somewhat more focused on Soviet (and post-Soviet) affairs than their predecessors. They nevertheless also had numerous different postings designed to foster a broad understanding of both British foreign policy and the wider international environment.