Alex Standish
Encyclopedia
Alex Standish is an intelligence analyst and military expert. He is current project manager for Security Sector Reform in the United Nations Development Programme
in Kosovo
. He was formerly editor of Strategic Intelligence Review, is a former BBC
Panorama
producer, a former foreign correspondent for the BBC and The Economist
, and occasional TV and radio personality. From 2000 until 2006 he was editor of Jane's Intelligence Digest. He particularly reports on geopolitical, global security, and terrorism issues in the Balkans
, Russia
, Central Europe
, and the Middle East
. He is a Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute
and the Royal Institution
. He is an Honorary Research Associate in Durham University
's Department of Anthropology. From 1995-1997 he was the associate editor of Metal Bulletin and chaired the International Aluminium Conferences in 1995 and 1996.
As a broadcaster, his television and radio documentary credits include 78 Days: an Audit of War (BBC2); Moral Combat: NATO at War (BBC Panorama); With Us or Against Us (BBC Radio 4); Death of a Sister (C4); The Killing of Sister Guilford (C4); Guantanamo Guidebook (Channel 4); What Do They Know About Us? (BBC Radio 4) and New Europeans (BBC World Service). He also provides regular current affairs analysis for BBC Newsnight
; the BBC World Service
; BBC Radio 4; CNN
; CNBC and other international news services. He was a principal ITN news analyst in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the USA and the main BBC Radio 4
and World Service commentator during the invasion of Iraq
in 2003.
His most controversial television role was as the military intelligence expert in the Channel Four experimental documentary Guantanamo Guidebook (February 2005) which examined in graphic detail US interrogation techniques authorised for use on Guantanamo Bay
detainees suspected of being terrorists.
A graduate of St Chad's College
, University of Durham
, and former sabbatical officer of Durham Students' Union
, he returned to his former college as Senior Research Fellow in 2003. He served as Director of Development and Alumni Relations at St Chad's College until 2007, and was also coach of the Rugby
team.
His publications include Kosovo One Year On: the Crisis and its Consequences (CRCE, 2000) and he was joint-author of Albanian Identities: Myth and History (Hurst, 2002).
United Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
in Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
. He was formerly editor of Strategic Intelligence Review, is a former BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Panorama
Panorama (TV series)
Panorama is a BBC Television current affairs documentary programme, which was first broadcast in 1953, and is the longest-running public affairs television programme in the world. Panorama has been presented by many well known BBC presenters, including Richard Dimbleby, Robin Day, David Dimbleby...
producer, a former foreign correspondent for the BBC and The Economist
The Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
, and occasional TV and radio personality. From 2000 until 2006 he was editor of Jane's Intelligence Digest. He particularly reports on geopolitical, global security, and terrorism issues in the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
, and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. He is a Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute
Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland
The Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland is the world's longest established anthropological organization, with a global membership. Since 1843, it has been at the forefront of new developments in anthropology and new means of communicating them to a broad audience...
and the Royal Institution
Royal Institution
The Royal Institution of Great Britain is an organization devoted to scientific education and research, based in London.-Overview:...
. He is an Honorary Research Associate in Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
's Department of Anthropology. From 1995-1997 he was the associate editor of Metal Bulletin and chaired the International Aluminium Conferences in 1995 and 1996.
As a broadcaster, his television and radio documentary credits include 78 Days: an Audit of War (BBC2); Moral Combat: NATO at War (BBC Panorama); With Us or Against Us (BBC Radio 4); Death of a Sister (C4); The Killing of Sister Guilford (C4); Guantanamo Guidebook (Channel 4); What Do They Know About Us? (BBC Radio 4) and New Europeans (BBC World Service). He also provides regular current affairs analysis for BBC Newsnight
Newsnight
Newsnight is a BBC Television current affairs programme noted for its in-depth analysis and often robust cross-examination of senior politicians. Jeremy Paxman has been its main presenter for over two decades....
; the BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
; BBC Radio 4; CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
; CNBC and other international news services. He was a principal ITN news analyst in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the USA and the main BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
and World Service commentator during the invasion of Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
in 2003.
His most controversial television role was as the military intelligence expert in the Channel Four experimental documentary Guantanamo Guidebook (February 2005) which examined in graphic detail US interrogation techniques authorised for use on Guantanamo Bay
Guantanamo Bay detainment camp
The Guantanamo Bay detention camp is a detainment and interrogation facility of the United States located within Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba. The facility was established in 2002 by the Bush Administration to hold detainees from the war in Afghanistan and later Iraq...
detainees suspected of being terrorists.
A graduate of St Chad's College
St Chad's College
St Chad's College is a college of the University of Durham in England. One of the smallest of Durham's colleges in terms of student numbers , it has the largest staff, the most extensive college library facilities, and consistently the highest academic results in Durham...
, University of Durham
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
, and former sabbatical officer of Durham Students' Union
Durham Students' Union
The Durham Students' Union is a body, set up as the Durham Colleges Students’ Representative Council in 1899 and renamed in 1969, with the intention of representing and providing welfare and services for the students of the University of Durham in England.-Location:DSU occupies and manages Dunelm...
, he returned to his former college as Senior Research Fellow in 2003. He served as Director of Development and Alumni Relations at St Chad's College until 2007, and was also coach of the Rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
team.
His publications include Kosovo One Year On: the Crisis and its Consequences (CRCE, 2000) and he was joint-author of Albanian Identities: Myth and History (Hurst, 2002).