A native of Edinburgh, Professor Wylie graduated with a first class honours degree in Medieval and Modern History from Kings College London, where he won the Derby-Brize prize. He then moved to the University of Cambridge where he took an MPhil in International Relations (1990) and a PhD in International History (1994), followed by a Junior Research Fellowship at New Hall, and a British Academy Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Centre of International Studies. He held positions at the Glasgow University, where he temporarily directed the Scottish Centre for War Studies, University College Dublin and held a visiting adjunct position at the Graduate Institute for International and Development Studies at Geneva.
The majority of Wylie's career was spent at the University of Nottingham. Between 2010 and 2014, he was seconded to the University's campus in Malaysia as head of the School of Politics, History and International Relations, and founding Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. During his last four years at Nottingham, he was Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Global Engagement with responsibility for overseeing Nottingham’s activities in the Americas region.
Professor Wylie’s research explores various aspects of modern warfare and draws on the disciplines of History, International Relations and International Law. His early work looked at the history of neutrality and non-belligerency, notably Anglo-Swiss relations, during the 2nd world war. More recently he has focused on the history of prisoners of war, the evolution of international humanitarian law and the Red Cross movement.
Article
Oppenheimer M, Schech S, Fathi R, Wylie N & Cresswell R (2021) Resilient Humanitarianism? Using Assemblage to re-evaluate the history of the League of Red Cross Societies. International History Review, 43 (3), pp. 579-597. https://doi.org/10.1080/07075332.2020.1810100
Book Chapter
Guardians of the “Whispering Gallery”? Switzerland, Neutrality and the Clandestine War
Wylie N (2020) Guardians of the “Whispering Gallery”? Switzerland, Neutrality and the Clandestine War. In: Gerolymatos A & Smyth D (eds.) Neutral Countries as Clandestine Battlegrounds, 1939-1969. Lanham: Lexington Books, pp. 135-52. https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781498583206/Neutral-Countries-as-Clandestine-Battlegrounds-1939%E2%80%931968-Between-Two-Fires
Edited Book
The Red Cross Movement: Myths, practices and turning points
Wylie N, Oppenheimer M & Crossland J (eds.) (2020) The Red Cross Movement: Myths, practices and turning points. Humanitarianism: Key Debates and New Approaches. Manchester: Manchester University Press. https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526133519/the-red-cross-movement/
Book Chapter
The British Red Cross Society and the ‘parcels crisis’ of 1940-1
Wylie N (2020) The British Red Cross Society and the ‘parcels crisis’ of 1940-1. In: Wylie N, Oppenheimer M & Crossland J (eds.) The Red Cross Movement: Myths, practices and turning points. Humanitarianism: Key Debates and New Approaches. Manchester: Manchester University Press, pp. 245-63. https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526133519/the-red-cross-movement/
Book Chapter
The Red Cross Movement: Continuities, changes and challenges
Wylie N, Oppenheimer M & Crossland J (2020) The Red Cross Movement: Continuities, changes and challenges. In: Wylie N, Oppenheimer M & Crossland J (eds.) The Red Cross Movement: Myths, practices and turning points. Humanitarianism: Key Debates and New Approaches. Manchester: Manchester University Press, pp. 1-26. https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526133519/the-red-cross-movement/
Article
Wylie N & Cameron L (2018) The Impact of World War I on the Law Governing the Treatment of Prisoners of War and the Making of a Humanitarian Subject. European Journal of International Law, 29 (4), pp. 1327-1350. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejil/chy085
Book Chapter
Wylie N (2017) Muddied waters: The influence of the first Hague conference on the evolution of the Geneva Conventions of 1864 and 1906. In: Abbenhuis M, Barber CE & Higgins AR (eds.) War, Peace and International Order? The Legacies of the Hague Conferences of 1899 and 1907. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, pp. 52-68.
Article
Allied Special Forces and Prisoner of War Recovery Operations in Europe, 1944–1945
Wylie N (2017) Allied Special Forces and Prisoner of War Recovery Operations in Europe, 1944–1945. Journal of Military History, 81 (2), pp. 469-489. http://www.smh-hq.org/jmh/jmhvols/812.html
Article
The Korean War and the Post-war Prisoner of War Regime, 1945-1956
Wylie N & Crossland J (2016) The Korean War and the Post-war Prisoner of War Regime, 1945-1956. War in History, 23 (4), pp. 439-456. https://doi.org/10.1177/0968344515575806
Book Review
Small powers in the age of total War, 1900–1940
Wylie N (2015) Small powers in the age of total War, 1900–1940. Review of: Small powers in the age of total War, 1900–1940 (History of warfare, 65.), edited by Herman Amersfoort and Wim Klinkert, Leiden/Boston, Brill, 2011. First World War Studies, 6 (3), pp. 300-302. https://doi.org/10.1080/19475020.2016.1201735
Book Review
A Battle for Neutral Europe: British Cultural Propaganda during the Second World War - a review
Wylie N (2014) A Battle for Neutral Europe: British Cultural Propaganda during the Second World War - a review. Review of: A Battle for Neutral Europe: British Cultural Propaganda during the Second World War, by Edward Corse, Bloomsbury, 2013. Journal of Military History, 78 (3), pp. 1158-1159.
Book Review
Caught in the Middle: Neutrals, Neutrality and the First World War
Wylie N (2013) Caught in the Middle: Neutrals, Neutrality and the First World War. Review of:
ed. Johan den Hertog and Samuel Kruizinga, Amsterdam: Amsterdam U.P., 2011. English Historical Review, 128 (531), pp. 466-468. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehr/cet011
Book Chapter
Life in Plato's Cave: Neutral Europe in World War II
Wylie N (2012) Life in Plato's Cave: Neutral Europe in World War II. In: Zeiler TW & DuBois DM (eds.) A Companion to World War II. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd. pp. 603-617. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118325018.ch35
Book Chapter
Wylie N (2011) Muted applause? British prisoners-of-war as observers and victims of the Allied bombing campaign over Germany. In: Baldoli C, Knapp A & Overy RJ (eds.) Bombing, states and peoples in Western Europe, 1940-1945. London: Continuum, pp. 256-278.
Article
Wylie N (2011) Une évaluation du parcours de la Suisse en tant que puissance protectrice à ??double mandat?? pour le Royaume-Uni et l'Allemagne durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Relations internationales, 144, pp. 3-21. https://doi.org/10.3917/ri.144.0003
Book Chapter
Switzerland: a neutral of distinction?
Wylie N (2011) Switzerland: a neutral of distinction?. In: Wylie N (ed.) European Neutrals and Non-Belligerents during the Second World War. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 331-354. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511523793.016
Authored Book
Britain, Switzerland, and the Second World War
Wylie N (2010) Britain, Switzerland, and the Second World War. Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof%3Aoso/9780198206903.001.0001
Authored Book
Barbed Wire Diplomacy: Britain, Germany, and the Politics of Prisoners of War 1939-1945
Wylie N (2010) Barbed Wire Diplomacy: Britain, Germany, and the Politics of Prisoners of War 1939-1945. Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof%3Aoso/9780199547593.001.0001
Article
Loot, gold, and tradition in the United Kingdom's financial warfare strategy, 1939-1945
Wylie N (2009) Loot, gold, and tradition in the United Kingdom's financial warfare strategy, 1939-1945. International History Review, 31 (2), pp. 299-328. https://doi.org/10.1080/07075332.2009.9641157
Book Chapter
Wylie N (2009) Captured by the Nazis : "Reciprocity" and "National Conservatism" in German Policy towards British POWs. In: Szejnmann CW (ed.) Rethinking history, dictatorship and war : new approaches and interpretations. London: Continuum, pp. 107-24.
Book Chapter
Switzerland and the United Kingdom during the Second World War and the early Cold War
Wylie N (2008) Switzerland and the United Kingdom during the Second World War and the early Cold War. In: Keizer Md & Tames I (eds.) Small nations: crisis and confrontation in the 20th century. Yearbook of the Netherlands Institute for War Documentation. Zutphen: Walburg, pp. 119-38.
Article
Wylie N (2007) Review: The Social Construction of Swedish Neutrality. Challenges to Swedish Identity and Sovereignty. Journal of Contemporary European Studies, 15 (2), pp. 234-236. https://doi.org/10.1080/14782800701499970
Book Review
Review: The foreign office and Finland 1938-1940: Diplomatic sideshow
Wylie N (2007) Review: The foreign office and Finland 1938-1940: Diplomatic sideshow. Review of: Craig Gerrard, The Foreign Office and Finland 1938–1940: Diplomatic Sideshow. London: Frank Cass, Cass Contemporary Security Studies Series, 2005.. Journal of Strategic Studies, 30 (6), pp. 1053-1055. https://doi.org/10.1080/01402390701685809
Book Chapter
Introduction: Politics and strategy in the clandestine war - new perspectives in the study of S.O.E
Wylie N (2007) Introduction: Politics and strategy in the clandestine war - new perspectives in the study of S.O.E. In: Wylie N (ed.) The Politics and Strategy of Clandestine War: Special Operations Executive, 1940-1946. Studies in Intelligence. Oxford: Routledge, pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203964552
Book Review
Prisoners of War in the Era of Total War
Wylie N (2006) Prisoners of War in the Era of Total War. War in History, 13 (2), pp. 217-233. https://doi.org/10.1191/0968344506wh337ra
Edited Book
The Politics and Strategy of Clandestine War: Special Operations Executive, 1940-1946
Wylie N (ed.) (2006) The Politics and Strategy of Clandestine War: Special Operations Executive, 1940-1946. Studies in Intelligence. Oxford: Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203964552
Book Chapter
Wylie N (2006) SOE and the neutrals. In: Seaman M (ed.) Special Operations Executive: A new instrument of war. Studies in intelligence series. Oxford: Routledge, pp. 157-78.
Article
Wylie N (2006) 'The importance of being honest': Switzerland, neutrality and the problems of intelligence collection and liaison. Intelligence and National Security, 21 (5), pp. 782-808. https://doi.org/10.1080/02684520600957720
Article
Wylie N (2005) Ungentlemanly Warriors or Unreliable Diplomats? Special Operations Executive and 'Irregular Political Activities' in Europe. Intelligence and National Security, 20 (1), pp. 98-120. https://doi.org/10.1080/02684520500059445
Article
Prisoner of war relief and humanitarianism in Canadian external policy during the Second World War
Wylie N (2005) Prisoner of war relief and humanitarianism in Canadian external policy during the Second World War. Journal of Transatlantic Studies, 3 (2), pp. 239-258. https://doi.org/10.1080/14794010608656828
Article
Introduction: Special Operations Executive - New Approaches and Perspectives
Wylie N (2005) Introduction: Special Operations Executive - New Approaches and Perspectives. Intelligence and National Security, 20 (1), pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/02684520500059163
Article
British smuggling operations from Switzerland, 1940-1944
Wylie N (2005) British smuggling operations from Switzerland, 1940-1944. Historical Journal, 48 (4), pp. 1077-1102. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0018246X05004929
Article
The North Atlantic Triangle and Canadian "Humanitarian" Policy
Wylie N (2004) The North Atlantic Triangle and Canadian "Humanitarian" Policy. London Journal of Canadian Studies, 20, pp. 69-88.
Book Review
Wylie N (2003) Book Review: The imperiled Red Cross and the Palestine-Eretz-Yisrael conflict, 1945-1952: The influence of institutional concerns on a humanitarian operation. Review of: The Imperiled Red Cross and the Palestine–Eretz–Yisrael Conflict, 1945–1952: The In?fluence of Institutional Concerns on a Humanitarian Operation. By Dominique-D. Junod. Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva. London and New York: Kegan Paul International. 1996. War in History, 10 (3), pp. 371-373. https://doi.org/10.1177/096834450301000320
Book Review
Wylie N (2003) Review: Resistance in Western Europe; Radio London and Resistance in Occupied London. British Political Warfare, 1939-1943. Review of: 'Resistance in Western Europe'. Edited by Bob Moore. Berg Publishers. 2000. and 'Radio London and Resistance in Occupied London. British Political Warfare, 1939– 1943'. By Michael Stenton. Oxford University Press. 2000.. History, 88 (289), pp. 176-178. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-229X.00253_4
Edited Book
European Neutrals and Non-Belligerents during the Second World War
Wylie N (ed.) (2002) European Neutrals and Non-Belligerents during the Second World War. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511523793
Book Review
Wylie N (2002) The Sound of Silence: The History of the International Committee of the Red Cross as Past and Present. Review of: Jean-Francois Pitteloud, 'Proces-verbaux des Seances du Comite international de la Croix-Rouge, 17 Fevrier 1863-28 aout 1914', Geneva, 1999; Caroline Moorhead, 'Dunant's Dream. War, Switzerland and the History of the Red Cross', London, 1998; Jean-Claude Favez, 'The Red Cross and the Holocaust', Cambridge, 1999;. Diplomacy & Statecraft, 13 (4), pp. 186-204. https://doi.org/10.1080/714000345
Book Chapter
Introduction: Victims or actors? European neutrals and non-belligerents, 1939-1945
Wylie N (2001) Introduction: Victims or actors? European neutrals and non-belligerents, 1939-1945. In: Wylie N (ed.) European Neutrals and Non-Belligerents during the Second World War. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511523793.001
Article
'An amateur learns his job'? Special operations executive in Portugal, 1940-42
Wylie N (2001) 'An amateur learns his job'? Special operations executive in Portugal, 1940-42. Journal of Contemporary History, 36 (3), pp. 441-457. https://doi.org/10.1177/002200940103600303
Book Chapter
La Suisse et la liste noire britannique: le cas du Crédit Suisse en 1940
Wylie N (2000) La Suisse et la liste noire britannique: le cas du Crédit Suisse en 1940. In: Porret M, Fluckiger C & Fayet J (eds.) Guerres et Paix: Mélanges offerts à Jean-Claude Favez. Chêne-Bourg: Georg, pp. 221-235. https://www.georg.ch/guerres-et-paix
Book Chapter
The Swiss Franc and British policy towards Switzerland 1939-1945
Wylie N (1999) The Swiss Franc and British policy towards Switzerland 1939-1945. In: Guex S (ed.) La Suisse et les Grandes Puissances 1914-1945: relations économiques avec les Etats-Unis, la Grande-Bretagne, l'Allemagne et la France. 1 ed. Publications d'histoire économique et sociale internationale, 14. Paris: Droz, pp. 461-80. https://www.droz.org/eur/fr/1813-9782600003643.html
Article
Pilet-Golaz and the Making of Swiss Foreign Policy: Some Remarks
Wylie N (1997) Pilet-Golaz and the Making of Swiss Foreign Policy: Some Remarks. Revue Suisse d Histoire, 47 (1), pp. 608-620. https://doi.org/10.5169/seals-81206
Article
Marcel Pilet-Golaz, David Kelly and Anglo-Swiss Relations in 1940
Wylie N (1997) Marcel Pilet-Golaz, David Kelly and Anglo-Swiss Relations in 1940. Diplomacy and Statecraft, 8 (1), pp. 49-79. https://doi.org/10.1080/09592299708406030
Article
Wylie N (1996) 'Keeping the Swiss sweet': Intelligence as a factor in British policy towards Switzerland during the Second World War. Intelligence & National Security, 11 (3), pp. 442-467. https://doi.org/10.1080/02684529608432371
Book Review
Wylie N (1996) Review article: Law and War. Review of: 'The Laws of War: Constraints on Warfare in the Western World', ed. Michael Howard, George J. Andreopoulos, Mark R. Shulman, London, Yale University Press, 1994; 'Cooperation under Fire: Anglo-German Restraint during World War II' by Jeffrey W. Legro, Ithaca and London, Cornell University Press, 1995; 'War and Law since 1945' by Geoffrey Best, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1994;. War in History, 3 (4), pp. 451-460. https://doi.org/10.1177/096834459600300406
Article
'Life Between the Volcanoes.' Switzerland During the Second World War
Wylie N (1995) 'Life Between the Volcanoes.' Switzerland During the Second World War. The Historical Journal, 38 (3), pp. 759-767. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0018246X00020136