Conflict and security
Shared destinies: security in a globalised world
Assessing national security concerns in a global context
Authors:
P. Ashdown; G. Robertson; I. Kearns
Publisher:
Institute for Public Policy Research , 2008
The national and international security environment has changed dramatically over the last two decades more so since the end of the Cold War and the 9/11 bombings. To add to that are the effects of globalization, climate change and technological advances. This interim report considers how the changes are manifesting themselves in terms of threats to UK security. These processes, from which the UK is not isolated or insulated, now challenge the outdated analytical frameworks and old policy prescriptions.
The report further observes that the global population is increasing rapidly just like the number of weak, poor and violence prone countries, which outnumber the strong and stable ones. They are also afflicted by transnational criminal networks. Terrorism using conventional, chemical, biological and nuclear weaponry has been on the upswing with nuclear proliferation being a major concern.
The report presents the following guiding principles on the way forward, including:
- Current national security strategies must include a concern for political violence
- Massive increases in the levels of multilateral cooperation are required
- Horizon scanning and early intervention should be employed to promote preventative action
- Military, economic, diplomatic and cultural fields of engagement should be deployed in an integrated manner to promote flexibility.
- The government must develop and embed the responsibility to prevent violent conflict in its policies
- There must be intervention in conflict environments
- Adaptation and strengthening of Europe-based regional organizations is called for
- The long-term goal must be the creation of a nuclear free world through action on non-proliferation
- Bio-terrorism and disease need to be tackled urgently.
