Abstract
Thais paper looks at successive attempts to coordinate defence policy, in Britain-from the setting up of the Chiefs of Staff Committee in 1923 onwards. It shows hiow innovations such as the creation of a Miniister of Defence in 1946, and the creation of a Chief of Defence Staff were less inmportant than personalities and traditions in the Services. The 1964 unification of the Ministry of Defence was, in turn, criticized as coordination-especiallv oni polic'l anid resource decisions-was difficult. Further authority was granted the Chlief of the Defence Staff in 1982, but in 1984 the Secretary of State proposed further cenitralization.
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