Middle East and the Arab-Israeli Conflict
Lochery´s research focuses extensively on the modern Middle East, with particular emphasis on the Arab-Israeli conflict. His work explores the political, diplomatic, and security dynamics that have shaped the region since the mid-20th century, combining archival research with a close reading of contemporary developments. The resulting scholarship highlights the interplay between local actors, global powers, and shifting alliances, offering nuanced insights into one of the world’s most enduring and complex conflicts.
2006-2009
The Foreign Office and Israel: Anglo-Israeli Relations 1948-Present
Loaded Dice: The Foreign Office and Israel (2007) was the first study to chronicle 60 years of British-Israeli relations and their impact on the Arab-Israeli conflict. Based on 18 months of archival research in London and Jerusalem, it drew on previously unused sources, including newly released Foreign Office files and private papers from Margaret Thatcher’s archives. These documents offered fresh insights into Anglo-Israeli relations and revealed a new perspective on Britain’s role in the Middle East, particularly during the Thatcher era. Lochery continues this line of research in a new manuscript examining British prime ministers’ Middle East policies since 1948.
Playing for Second: the Israeli Labour Party in the 2006 Election
This research examined the reasons why the Israeli Labour Party appeared to be in steep decline within the Israeli political system. Following on from his first publication in 1997, which dealt with the reasons for the Israeli Labour Party’s decline in 1977 and its failure to return to power until 1992, this new research (conducted 2006) involved looking at demographic data on voting patterns as well as the voting data from the actual election itself. In addition, Neill conducted interviews with senior figures within the Israeli Labour Party asking them to make judgements for the seeming continued decline of the party. These interviews, which took place over four months, included leading political and party machine officials in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The research resulted in the publication of a refereed journal article, and also subsequently a chapter in the aforementioned book.
The Politics and Economics of Israeli Disengagement from the West Bank and Gaza Strip
Lochery examined the interplay between politics and economics in shaping Israel’s approach to the Palestinians, with particular focus on the policy of disengagement. Drawing on primary sources from the Bank of Israel and international institutions such as the IMF, his research revealed the profound economic challenges posed by both the Gaza withdrawal and a potential West Bank pullout. The study was published as a refereed journal article in January 2007.
The Role of the Soviet Aliyah in Shaping Israeli Policies towards the Middle East Peace Process
While most studies of the Soviet Aliyah focus on its social and economic integration, Lochery explored its influence on Israeli policy toward the Middle East peace process. He identified three key impacts: shaping election outcomes through voting patterns, the role of immigrant parties in coalition politics, and the influence of figures like Nathan Sharansky. Drawing on primary sources from the Israeli Ministry of Absorption and electoral data from 1992–2006, his research culminated in a 13,000-word refereed journal article.
Comparative Peacemaking in Northern Ireland and in the Middle East
Neill Lochery examined the dynamics of peacemaking in both the Northern Ireland and Middle East conflicts. While some scholars draw direct comparisons, he argued that their distinct histories and negotiation strategies make such parallels difficult. His study analyzed the successes and failures of interim agreements like the Oslo Accords and the Good Friday Agreement, the influence of external actors, and strategies for engaging rejectionist groups, ultimately offering a blueprint for more effective peacemaking. The research was published as a refereed journal article.
View from the Fence and Israel’s Second Lebanon War
The purpose of the research project, which led to the publication of the book The View from the Fence, was to look at the significance of the construction of the security fence by Israel in the West Bank. It highlighted the fact that the construction of the fence was a reaction to a wave of Palestinian suicide bombings in Israel at the start of the decade. On a deeper level, however, it was also a reflection of the decision of Israeli policymakers to adopt strategy of separation - or divorce - from the Palestinians as opposed to integration. The resulting book concluded with the fact that the construction of the fence, while understandable from the Israeli perspective, was very much a one-dimensional solution. It argued that the Palestinian groups were likely to change their strategy by starting to use missile technology. For the updated and expanded edition of the book, Neill conducted further research into the causes and consequences of Israel’s Second Lebanon War. This project focused primarily on the role of missile warfare in the Middle East.
2000-2005
1997-1999
1996-1997
The Middle East Peace Process
This period was largely spent a working on projects related to the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Middle East peace process. During this period, Neill produced a detailed account of the history of Israel and the issues of the Arab-Israeli conflict, Why Blame Israel? The aim of the book was to effectively present the arguments of the conflict in a coherent and understandable way. The project challenged some of the conventional wisdom regarding the conflict, particularly aspects of the peacemaking strategies employed since 1990. Additionally, Neill conducted research into Israel’s electoral system and in particular the difficulties it was causing to the Middle East peace process. This research project resulted in a refereed journal article, and also a chapter in a book.
Israeli Politics and the Middle East Peace Process
During this time, Neill worked on a research project, which resulted in a book that examined the major aspects of the Middle East peace process. A principal aim of the book was to look at a specific period, which ran from the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin (1995) until the end of the decade. The issues researched included status of Jerusalem, the question of the borders of a Palestinian state and Israel’s relations with the non-Arab world in the Middle East. Also, all the various tracks of the Middle East peace process, Israel-Syria, Israel-Lebanon and the Israeli-Jordanian relations were examined. The research, which was based on political, historical and economic data, was published as a book The Difficult Road to Peace: Netanyahu Israel and the Middle East Peace Process (1999).
The Israeli Party System and Party Systems
This was a research project into the Israeli Labour Party and its loss of power in 1977. The project looked at the reasons for the decline of the party and its eventual electoral defeat in 1977, as well as reasons why it did not return to power in its own right until 1992. The resulting book, The Israeli Labour Party, focussed on party systems and Maurice Duverger’s theory of dominant party systems. It argued that the Labour Party in Israel, even though it was no longer dominant after the 1977 defeat, continued to act as a dominant party without power. This was a relatively new concept in party systems, and therefore the book made a particular contribution to the development of knowledge.