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Should Robots Kill?: Towards a Moral Framework for Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems

Article, 22 August 2019

Tom Ascott

If lethal autonomous weapons systems are to be used in war, a moral framework to guide their ethical use is warranted. Despite the limitations it may pose on their capabilities, a rules-based moral...

RUSI Newsbrief, Law and Ethics, Technology

Space image of Morocco, the Strait of Gibraltar and Spain. Courtesy of NASA/Tim Kopra

Get Africa Involved: Morocco’s Lead in the Management of Immigration

Commentary, 20 August 2019

Amal El Ouassif

The global migration problem cannot be wished away; it has to be managed. Morocco provides an example of how responsibility for migration management can be handled by African states.

European Union, Global Security Issues, Europe, Africa

F-15C above a runway with Turkish flag in the background

Turkey, the US and the S-400: A Counter-Narrative

Commentary, 15 August 2019

Peter Roberts and Seth Newkirk

Regardless of how difficult Erdogan’s Turkey may now be, it is a key state in NATO and must be treated as such.

Turkey, United States, US Defence Policy, NATO, Americas, Military Sciences, Defence Policy, International Institutions, Europe

Courtesy of larshallstrom/stock.adobe.com

Get Yourself Stress Tested

Article, 15 August 2019

Elisabeth Braw

Ordinary citizens in Western countries are under-prepared to deal with extended disruptions to power or the internet. To strengthen resilience to greyzone attacks, societies should start stress...

Modern Deterrence, RUSI Newsbrief

Transnational Lessons from Terrorist Use of Social Media in South Asia

RUSI Publications, 13 August 2019

Aaditya Dave

This paper looks at how social media platforms have been instrumentalised for a variety of purposes by terrorist organisations in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and how the governments of those...

Cyber, The Global Research Network on Terrorism and Technology, Other Publications, International Security Studies, Terrorism, Central and South Asia

US Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan hosts a multilateral meeting with Asian nations at the Shangri-La Dialogue 2019, Singapore, May 31, 2019. Courtesy of Lisa Ferdinando/U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

Shangri-La Dialogue: Europe Navigating Asia Amidst a US–China Standoff

Commentary, 20 June 2019

Veerle Nouwens

This year’s Annual Shangri-La Dialogue set the stage for confrontation between China and the US. The now former US Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan launched Washington’s Indo-Pacific...

China, European Union, International Security Studies, France, UK, Asia, Global Security Issues, International Institutions, Law and Ethics, Maritime Forces, Europe, Pacific

Demonstration in Legislative Council Road. Courtesy of Wikimedia

Hong Kong: So What? Now What? In the Future What?

Commentary, 18 June 2019

Charles Parton

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s attempt at introducing a Fugitive Offenders Ordinance has harmed the interests of Hong Kong and China; it may also harm their relations with foreign countries.

China, RUSI International, Asia, Global Security Issues, Law and Ethics, Pacific

A smartphone, displaying apps including WhatsApp. Courtesy of Pxhere

WhatsApp Hack Calls into Question Government Use of Commercial Spyware

Commentary, 17 June 2019

Sneha Dawda and Alexander Babuta

As government use of commercial spyware becomes increasingly commonplace, stronger checks and balances will be needed to ensure software providers are acting in the public interest.

Cyber, National Security Studies, Cyber Security, Israel, Information, Intelligence, Technology

UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid. Courtesy of Wikimedia

The UK’s Proscription of Hizbullah: All Talk and No Action?

Commentary, 12 June 2019

Tom Keatinge

The UK Home Secretary’s proscription announcement raised expectations, but those that cheered are likely to be disappointed.

Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, UK Counter-terrorism, Tackling Extremism, Counterinsurgency, Terrorism, Lebanon, UK, Securing Britain, Terrorism

President Donald Trump signing an executive order reimposing sanctions on Iran. Courtesy of White House/Shealah Craighead

Hard Days for Europe’s Interests in Iran

Commentary, 10 June 2019

Wojciech Pawlus

Europe needs to do more to save the Iranian nuclear deal.

Iran's Nuclear Programme, United States, Americas, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Europe

The rural Welsh community of Blaengwynfi, viewed from the A4107, 2012. Courtesy of John Lord/Wikimedia Geograph project

‘County Lines’: The Modern Cyber Slaves of Britain’s Drug-Trafficking Networks

Commentary, 5 June 2019

Evangelina Moisi

Vulnerable children are being used to peddle drugs in the UK’s rural communities. Efforts to stamp out this form of modern slavery are recording only feeble successes.

Cyber, National Security Studies, Domestic Security, Organised Crime, Law and Ethics, National Security, Organised Crime, Technology

Libra Rising: Exploring Facebook’s Cryptocurrency Project

Commentary, 4 June 2019

Kayla Izenman

Facebook's cryptocurrency ambitions could transform the global financial system.

Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, Cyber, Technology

itcoin in front of a computer screen. Courtesy of Pexels/David McBee

The Heat is on Cyber-Criminals. But Are Governments Doing Enough to Tackle Rogue Cryptocurrency Exchanges?

Commentary, 31 May 2019

Anton Moiseienko

Cyber-criminal groups are being dismantled. But more needs to be done about the enforcement of rules that bind cryptocurrency exchanges.

Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies, Counter-Proliferation Finance, Cyber, AML/CTF, European Union, Financial Crime 2.0, Organised Crime, Technology

Britain and the US: The Relationship Runs Deep, Which is Why it is Often Difficult to See

Commentary, 29 May 2019

'Sir Humphrey'

President Trump will be greeted with a torrent of doom-laden criticism when he arrives in the UK on 3 June. Some of this criticism is just wrong, while some simply misses the critical point of this...

United States, UK

n unarmed AGM-86B air-launched cruise missile maneuvers over the Utah Test and Training Range, 2014, during a Nuclear Weapons System Evaluation Program simulated combat mission. Courtesy of US Air Force/Roidan Carlson

Risk of Nuclear Weapons Use Still Lower Than During Cold War

Commentary, 28 May 2019

Sam Dudin

UN disarmament research chief incorrectly assesses the risk of nuclear war.

United Nations, UK Project on Nuclear Issues, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Information, International Institutions

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In Context podcast - Episode 4: Kori Schake

Multimedia, 9 November 2018

Dr Karin von Hippel, Director-General

Karin von Hippel, Director General of RUSI speaks to Kori Schake, Deputy-Director General of the IISS. They discuss Kori’s role in US politics: from the Pentagon to the State Department and onwards...

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In Context podcast - Episode 3: Mona Juul

Multimedia, 26 October 2018

Dr Karin von Hippel, Director-General

Karin talks to Mona Juul, a diplomat and current Norwegian Ambassador to the UK who, along with her husband, played a key role in the Oslo Accords, the landmark agreement that attempted to bring an...

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Nelson and Trafalgar

Multimedia, 21 October 2018

Professor Peter Roberts, Director Military Sciences, RUSI

Professor Peter Roberts, Director, Military Sciences, RUSI on Nelson's legacy and the Battle of Trafalgar.

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The US-Russia Nuclear Treaty Under Threat

Multimedia, 21 October 2018

Malcolm Chalmers, Deputy Director-General

After reports that the USA may with from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, Professor Malcolm Chalmers, Deputy Director General of the Royal United Services Institute speaks to BBC news...

Tags: United States, Russia, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, Proliferation and Nuclear Policy

In Context podcast - Episode 2: Baroness Ashton

Multimedia, 12 October 2018

Dr Karin von Hippel, Director-General

This time Karin von Hippel talks to the European Union’s former foreign policy chief, Baroness Cathy Ashton. We’ll be talking about the EU, the Iran Deal and... Daleks.

Tags: Europe

Ukraine’s Security and Its Importance for the UK

Multimedia, 9 October 2018

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In Context podcast - Episode 1: Chris DiBona

Multimedia, 28 September 2018

Dr Karin von Hippel, Director-General

For the first In Context podcast, RUSI Director-General Dr Karin von Hippel talks to Chris DiBona, Director of Open Source at Google. Chris has witnessed the rise of one of the biggest tech firms on...

Tags: Technology

Vostok - 2018

Multimedia, 14 September 2018

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US Sanctions on Russia

Multimedia, 10 August 2018

Emily Ferris, Research Fellow, Russia and Eurasia

Emily Ferris, RUSI Research Fellow, on the new US sanctions on Russia and what the Russian response might look like.

Tags: United States, International Security Studies, Russia

Embedded thumbnail for Imran Khan&#039;s Pakistan

Imran Khan's Pakistan

Multimedia, 27 July 2018

Raffaello Pantucci, Director of International Security Studies

Raffaello Pantucci and Kamal Alam talk about the recent election victory by Imran Khan in Pakistan.

Tags: Pakistan, International Security Studies, Global Security Issues, Central and South Asia

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Novel Concepts for Amphibious Force Resupply

RUSI Defence Systems, 28 June 2019

George Galdorisi

The United States continues to place a premium on amphibious forces as part of its global response capabilities. Unmanned surface vessels have recently been tested which offer a significant advance in the ability of amphibious forces to conduct important ship-shore resupply from standoff distances

Tags: Equipment and Acquisitions, Maritime Forces

Delegating Deterrence: Can ‘Privateering’ Help Solve the Cyber Warfare Puzzle?

RUSI Newsbrief, 27 June 2019

David Rudd

In an era of great power competition, the UK and its allies may find that one answer to the challenge posed by adversary cyber operations lies in the distant past

Tags: Cyber

A British Army soldier on lookout in the Falls Road area of Belfast, 15 August 1969. Courtesy of PA Images

The Toxic Legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles

RUSI Newsbrief, 21 June 2019

Aaron Edwards

The 50th anniversary of the day that British troops first deployed to Northern Ireland offers an opportunity to reflect on the legacy of Operation Banner, and whether the security forces contributed to the troubles or prevented them.

Tags: Armed Forces, UK Counter-terrorism, Tackling Extremism, UK, History, National Security, Terrorism

Courtesy of Chris Huby/Le Pictorium/Maxppp/PA Images

The US–Turkey Strategic Stalemate

RUSI Newsbrief, 13 June 2019

Michael Stephens

Despite Daesh’s military defeat there remains a significant clash between the US and Turkey about Kurdish-controlled areas in Syria. Should Washington continue to support the Kurds?

Tags: Turkey, United States, Iraq, Counterinsurgency, Syria, Global Security Issues

Remembering D-Day

RUSI Newsbrief, 6 June 2019

Hew Strachan

On the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings, RUSI and YouGov have conducted a special opinion poll to assess current public attitudes to the event. The poll indicates that only half of Britain knows the significance of D-Day, a source of irony amid today’s polarised politics, says Sir Hew Strachan.

Tags: UK, History