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In an age of hybrid and greyzone warfare our defence cannot exist solely of armed forces. Governments, business and civil society should also work together to strengthen our resilience against existing and emerging threats. Together with the armed forces’ capabilities, such societal resilience can function as a crucial deterrent.
Countries in Europe and North America have, over generations, developed impressive deterrence by means of military punishment. But the emergence of hybrid warfare, where threats and attacks are directed at the private sector and civil society at large, puts countries a situation where deterrence by military punishment is not enough. What is needed, then, is modern deterrence: a combination of traditional military deterrence by military punishment and deterrence by societal resilience.
During the Cold War, Scandinavian countries developed the concept of Total Defence, in effect an early version of modern deterrence. Today those countries, and to some extent the Baltic states, maintain partial versions of total defence. No country has, however, developed a complete modern deterrence model. It is imperative that we do so.
The Modern Deterrence project’s research -- informed by practitioners – aims to generate a new body of knowledge that will be vital to governments, the private sector and civil society. It also serves as hub where practitioners from these sectors exchange best practices and new ideas.
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"“National resilience is important because without it we are completely exposed to calamities heading our way either from mother nature or from our adversaries. For military aggression the UK is very well prepared but below that threshold we are underprepared,” she said.
“A lack of forward thinking and planning has been exposed by COVID-19. Our adversaries will have noted this and are ready to exploit it. It is just unsustainable for the wider public in the UK to have been so unprepared as they were for the impact of COVID-19.” "
Security experts call for 'national resilience force'
In The News, 7 July 2020 Tags: Modern Deterrence
On the Cusp: Damian Collins
Multimedia, 7 July 2020
Elisabeth Braw speaks with British member of parliament and disinformation expert Damian Collins about why disinformation and misinformation keep spreading and whether parliaments should legislate to fix the problem. Plus: should other countries’ parliaments be able to subpoena US social media executives, and what happens when growing parts of society only access news that’s not vetted?
Tags: Modern Deterrence
"If China does push to take advantage of the downturn in the economy, it will likely target companies that are “not well known, are not glamorous,” but are key parts of the defense industry, said Elisabeth Braw, director of the Modern Deterrence Project at the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think tank.
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U.S. Officials Fear Chinese Predatory Acquisitions During Pandemic
In The News, 7 July 2020 Tags: Modern Deterrence
" Not only is the verdict still out on the wisdom of the Swedish approach; the country’s strategy has nothing to do with the live-and-let-die philosophy most prominently championed by U.S. President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. "
What Sweden can teach us about coronavirus
In The News, 3 July 2020 Tags: Modern Deterrence
Will interviews Bettina Cadenbach
Multimedia, 3 July 2020
Will, 17 years old, UK national, student at King’s School Canterbury, interviewing NATO Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy Bettina Cadenbach.
Tags: Military Sciences, Modern Deterrence
"Jul.02 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin won a resounding endorsement of his bid to extend his two-decade-long rule potentially to 2036, even as some polls show his approval ratings near historic lows. Elisabeth Braw of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), an independent think tank on international defense and security, comments on the implications of the vote in an interview on "Bloomberg Markets: European Open."
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Putin Wins Big in Vote Allowing Him to Extend Rule to 2036
In The News, 2 July 2020 Tags: Modern DeterrencePages
How Latvia Accomplishes Comprehensive Defence
Commentary, 25 June 2020Artis Pabriks
Can all crises and conflicts be predicted and fully averted? Unfortunately, no. Can we be better prepared for crises and conflicts that may arise? Indeed, we can.
Civil–Military Relations, Modern Deterrence, Domestic Security, Resilience
Britain Beyond the Pandemic: A Resilient Legal Framework
Commentary, 7 April 2020Ruth Smeeth
The legal framework empowering the British government in fighting the current pandemic needs to be made more predictable and robust.
Coronavirus, Modern Deterrence, UK, Domestic Security, Law and Ethics
The UK’s Integrated Review: The Centrality of Resilience Concepts
Commentary, 6 April 2020Elisabeth Braw
The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the value of national service models in building societal resilience. The future Integrated Review might want to consider these.
Civil–Military Relations, Military Sciences, Defence Management, Modern Deterrence, Defence Policy, UK, Military Personnel, Resilience, UK Defence
The Coronavirus Epidemic and Panic Buying: Follow the East German Example
Commentary, 23 March 2020Elisabeth Braw
Of society and resilience: the scarcities of the past, and the panic buying of today.
Coronavirus, Germany, Military Sciences, Modern Deterrence, UK, Europe
Europe’s Coronavirus Response: Selfish Member States and Active Institutions
Commentary, 18 March 2020Elisabeth Braw
EU member states displayed little solidarity in the current crisis, but EU institutions fared better.
Coronavirus, Military Sciences, Modern Deterrence, EuropePages
On the Cusp: Damian Collins
Multimedia, 7 July 2020Elisabeth Braw speaks with British member of parliament and disinformation expert Damian Collins about why disinformation and misinformation keep spreading and whether parliaments should legislate to...
Tags: Modern Deterrence
Will interviews Bettina Cadenbach
Multimedia, 3 July 2020Will, 17 years old, UK national, student at King’s School Canterbury, interviewing NATO Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy Bettina Cadenbach.
Tags: Military Sciences, Modern Deterrence
Sebastian interviews Major General Michele Risi
Multimedia, 30 June 2020 Tags: NATO, Military Sciences, Modern Deterrence, International Institutions
Alp interviews Nicola de Santis
Multimedia, 26 June 2020What's NATO all about three decades after the end of the Cold War? Alp, 18 years old, a Turkish citizen and a student at King's School, Canterbury, talks to NATO's Head of Engagements, Nicola de...
Tags: Modern Deterrence
On the Cusp: Rear Admiral Ewa Skoog Haslum
Multimedia, 25 June 2020Elisabeth Braw speaks with Rear Admiral Ewa Skoog Haslum, the Swedish Navy's new commander, about the challenges of defending a country with an enormous coastline, about greyzone aggression, citizens...
Tags: Modern DeterrencePages
Insurance Gaps: A Growing Vulnerability for National Security
RUSI Newsbrief, 19 June 2020Hélène Galy and James Vickers
Insurance protection gaps are fast becoming a high-priority issue for national and international security, not just one that captures headlines in the aftermath of natural catastrophes.
Coronavirus, RUSI Newsbrief, Modern Deterrence, Domestic Security, Resilience
Revamping Crisis Resilience and Security in the Post-Pandemic World
Other Publications, 18 June 2020Elisabeth Braw
Reflections and analysis on the 2020 'Revamping Crisis Resilience and Security in the Post-Pandemic World' conference.
Other Publications, Military Sciences, Modern Deterrence, Resilience
Addressing Cyber-Enabled Information Operations
RUSI Newsbrief, 1 May 2020Gary Brown
Perhaps the greatest current cyberspace threat is cyber-enabled information operations, which strike at the narratives that underlie social cohesion. The long-term solution is education in critical...
Cyber, RUSI Newsbrief, Modern Deterrence, Information, Technology
The Case for National Resilience Training for Teenagers
Occasional Papers, 2 March 2020Elisabeth Braw
Through national resilience training, young people could play a valuable role in crisis scenarios.
Civil–Military Relations, Occasional Papers, Military Sciences, Modern Deterrence, UK, National Security, Resilience
Modern Deterrence Autumn Conference
Conference Reports, 9 December 2019Oliver Major
A report of the Modern Deterrence Autumn 2019 conference organised by RUSI's Modern Deterrence project in cooperation with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
Conference Reports, Military Sciences, Modern Deterrence, National SecurityPages
Modern Deterrence Autumn 2020 Conference
Conference, 21 October 2020Emerging Power: Involving Youth in National Security
Modern Deterrence
Launch of the Building Stronger Societies Webinar Series: Restricting Foreign Acquisitions for the Sake of National Security
Events, 17 July 2020To launch the Building Stronger Societies webinar series, Professor V. Sumantran, Chairman of Celeris Technologies and Elisabeth Braw, Senior Research Fellow in Modern Deterrence, RUSI, will discuss...
Modern Deterrence
The Corona Lessons: Learning from Finland's Fight against Coronavirus
Events, 12 June 2020In this Corona Lesson, two of Finland’s top officials in the fight against coronavirus will discuss the country’s approach.
Modern Deterrence
Covid-19: Implications for Industry
Events, 4 June 2020Prof. V. Sumantran, is Chairman of Celeris Technologies and former CEO of Tata Motors (Car Business), and Kalle Sundström, former CEO of Stora Enso, will discuss the implications of Covid-19 for...
Modern Deterrence
The Corona Lessons: Learning from New Zealand's Fight Against Coronavirus
Events, 28 May 2020In this Corona Lesson, two of New Zealand’s top officials in the fight against coronavirus will discuss the country’s approach.
Coronavirus, Modern DeterrencePages
"If China does push to take advantage of the downturn in the economy, it will likely target companies that are “not well known, are not glamorous,” but are key parts of the defense industry, said Elisabeth Braw, director of the Modern Deterrence Project at the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think tank. "
U.S. Officials Fear Chinese Predatory Acquisitions During Pandemic
In The News, 7 July 2020 Tags: Modern Deterrence
"“National resilience is important because without it we are completely exposed to calamities heading our way either from mother nature or from our adversaries. For military aggression the UK is very well prepared but below that threshold we are underprepared,” she said. “A lack of forward thinking and planning has been exposed by COVID-19. Our adversaries will have noted this and are ready to exploit it. It is just unsustainable for the wider public in the UK to have been so unprepared as they were for the impact of COVID-19.”"
Security experts call for 'national resilience force'
In The News, 7 July 2020 Tags: Modern Deterrence
" Not only is the verdict still out on the wisdom of the Swedish approach; the country’s strategy has nothing to do with the live-and-let-die philosophy most prominently championed by U.S. President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro."
What Sweden can teach us about coronavirus
In The News, 3 July 2020 Tags: Modern Deterrence
"Jul.02 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin won a resounding endorsement of his bid to extend his two-decade-long rule potentially to 2036, even as some polls show his approval ratings near historic lows. Elisabeth Braw of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), an independent think tank on international defense and security, comments on the implications of the vote in an interview on "Bloomberg Markets: European Open." "
Putin Wins Big in Vote Allowing Him to Extend Rule to 2036
In The News, 2 July 2020 Tags: Modern Deterrence
"This so-called buying spree of cutting-edge technology companies fitted in with the Chinese Government’s ambition to become the world’s economic superpower, Braw said. “Where that poses a problem for western countries is if it does so by essentially buying up very promising western companies.”"
Protecting against China’s post-Covid buying spree
In The News, 29 June 2020 Tags: Modern Deterrence
The UK Ministry of Defence’s Adoption of the Government-Wide System for Project Approvals
Western Way of War: Air Marshal Philip Osborn
India Must Secure the Indian Ocean to Deter China’s Assertion Along the Border