Dr Philip Towle (in memoriam)

We are sorry to announce the passing of our esteemed colleague and friend, Dr Philip Towle.

Philip retired from Cambridge’s Department of Politics and International Studies in September 2012, but remained active in the Department through the examination of theses.  Philip joined the then Centre of International Studies in 1980 and subsequently became Deputy Director and then Director. He was also a Fellow of Queens’ College and Tutor for Graduate Students.

Before coming to Cambridge Philip had been a Senior Research Fellow at the Australian National University from 1978 to 1980 when he wrote on naval policy in the Indian Ocean. He worked for Reuters News Agency, the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office where he served on British delegations to the Seabed Treaty Review Conference and the UN’s Committee on Disarmament.  

Philip Towle is the author of nine books and the editor of three. His most recent book is History, Empathy and Conflict (Palgrave, 2018). He contributed some 30 chapters to books edited by other writers and over 30 articles to academic journals. He held visiting posts at universities in Australia, the United States and East Asia, and was lastly Visiting Professor at the University of Buckingham.

Write a tribute: 

Philip's students, friends and colleagues are welcome to submit tributes to him.  If you have something you would like to share, please email communications@polis.cam.ac.uk and we will be happy to post it on this page.

Message from Ronan Thomas (MPhil International Relations 1987-89)

I was very sorry to hear of Dr Towle's passing recently. I was one of his MPhil International Relations students and recall his calm and stimulating stewardship of our cohort as International Studies Director during 1987-1989. I remember in particular how he put me at ease, just before my thesis viva, in Queen's in 1988 and for his kind and useful notes, career suggestions and references afterwards. May he Rest in Peace.

With gratitude for all he gave, Ronan Thomas.

Message from Tomohisa KONDO (MPhil in International Relations 1992-93) 

I cannot in any way overstate my gratitude for your supervision, understanding, and, above all, your kindness.
My memory in Cambridge will be always with you for ever.

Please rest in peace, Tomohisa KONDO from Japan

Message from Kazuki Yamamaoto

I would like to express my deepest condolences on the passing of Dr Philip Towle. He was my supervisor from 1996 to 1997 while I was despatched to Cambridge by the National Police Agency of Japan. Since then, I have had the opportunity to receive his guidance in the UK and Japan, and it was my greatest honour to be guided by such a truly great historian.

Please convey my sincerest sympathies to his family and all at the Department.

Yours sincerely,

Kazuki Yamamaoto
Auditor, ITS Technology Enhancement Association of Japan
Former Superintendent General of the National Police Agency of Japan