Neill Lochery

Neill Lochery (born 1965) is a Scottish author and leading historian on the modern history of Europe and the Mediterranean Middle East. He is a frequent contributor to newspapers and journal publications around the world. Lochery is Professor of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Studies at University College London.

Author
He is the author of a series of critically acclaimed books. A number of his books focus on World War II.

His international bestseller, Lisbon: War in the Shadows in the City of Light, 1939-1945, recounts the pivotal role the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, played during World War II and how the small European country, guided by its authoritarian leader, António de Oliveira Salazar, survived the war not only physically intact but also significantly wealthier. The book is set within the context of a country that was frantically trying to hold on to its self-proclaimed wartime neutrality but was increasingly caught in the middle of the economic, and naval, wars between the Allies and the Axis. Lochery continues the delve into the role of the neutrals towards the end, and in the immediate aftermath of World War II, in Cashing Out: The Flight of Nazi Treasure, described by author and specialist in international law Philippe Sands as a "singularly excellent tale, nuanced and rich, original and eloquently told, and of deep relevance for our times".

In Brazil: The Fortunes of War, World War II and the Making of Modern Brazil, Lochery reveals a long-buried chapter of World War II, showing how the cunning statecraft and economic opportunism of Brazil's leaders, under the dictatorship of Getúlio Vargas, transformed it into a regional superpower and uncovers the little-known origins of one of the world’s emerging economic powerhouses. In 2013, he completed the first volume of a major work on the modern history of Portugal: In To the Shadows; Portugal 1933-1974. It tells the stories of the international personalities who came to Lisbon during the period of the Portuguese Estado Novo. In his book Out of the Shadows: Portugal from Revolution to the Present Day, Lochery provides an account of Portugal's first 40 years of democracy, which started with the Carnation Revolution in 1974.

Lochery has additionally produced a series of books on the Middle East: The Resistible Rise of Benjamin Netanyahu (2016), Loaded Dice (2007), The View from the Fence (2005), Why Blame Israel (2004), The Difficult Road to Peace (1999) and The Israeli Labour Party (1997). The View from the Fence, was shortlisted for the 2006 Jewish Quarterly Wingate Prize and additionally featured in David Hare’s Broadway hit The Wall.

Academic career
Lochery has an MA from Exeter University, and a PhD from Durham University (Centre for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies).

He joined University College London in 1997 and is Professor of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Studies in the faculty of Arts & Humanities.

Besides his ongoing research and teaching at University College London, in the past decade he has served as an advisor to several political leaders providing expert insight on current affairs of Europe and the Mediterranean Middle East. He also provides consultancy to companies on a broad range of topics: from risk assessments on the Middle East to more bespoke consultancy projects.

As well as giving a number of private and public seminars each year, he has op-ed and commentary articles published in The Wall Street Journal, The National Post (Canada), Jerusalem Post, The Scotsman, New York Sun, The Washington Post and United Press International.

Author

 * Cashing Out: The Flight of Nazi Treasure. New York: PublicAffiars, Hachette 2023. ISBN 978-1-5417-0230-1
 * Porto: Gateway to the World. London: Bloomsbury, 2020. ISBN 978-1-4482-1792-2
 * Out of the Shadows: Portugal from Revolution to the Present Day. London: Bloomsbury Books, 2017. ISBN 978-1-4729-3420-8
 * Benjamin Netanyahu. London: Bloomsbury Books, 2016. ISBN 978-1-4729-2611-1
 * Brazil: The Fortunes of War, World War II and the Making of Modern Brazil. New York: Basic Books, 2014. ISBN 978-0-465-03998-2 - (Foreign language publication in Brazil and Portugal)
 * In To The Shadows; Portugal 1933-1974 (Lisboa: A Cidade Vista de Fora, 1933-1974). Editorial Presenca, 2013. ISBN 978-972-23-5164-5
 * Lisbon: War in the Shadows of the City of Light, 1939-1945. New York: Public Affairs, 2011. ISBN 978-1-58648-879-6 - (Foreign language publication in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Latin America as well as an award-winning audio release )
 * Loaded Dice: The Foreign Office and Israel. London and New York: Continuum (Bloomsbury), 2007. ISBN 978-08264-9056-8
 * The View From The Fence. London and New York: Continuum (Bloomsbury), 2005. ISBN 0-8264-8679-7
 * Why Blame Israel? The Facts Behind the Headlines. Cambridge: Icon Books, 2004. ISBN 1-84046-530-1
 * The Difficult Road to Peace. Netanyahu, Israel and the Middle East Peace Process. Reading: Ithaca Press, 1999. ISBN 0-86372-248-2
 * The Israeli Labour Party: In the Shadow of the Likud. Reading: Ithaca Press, 1997. ISBN 0-86372-217-2

Contributions

 * World Powers: Diplomatic Alliances and International Relations beyond the Middle East: "Israel and Britain: Tipping the Scales of Balance". Shindler, C. (ed.). London and New York. IB Tauris, 2014. ISBN 978-1-84885-780-3
 * The Middle East: Modern Controversies: "Creating a Palestinian State Would Not Resolve the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict". Ojeda, A. (ed.). Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2003. ISBN 0-7377-1584-7