British Defence in the 21st Century

ISBN-13: 9781138705029 / Angielski / Twarda / 2018 / 208 str.

John Louth; Trevor Taylor

Opis

This book describes, explains and critically assesses the recent transformations in Britsh defence, providing an evidence-based analysis of the new public-private constructs of defence. British defence in the 21^st century has changed profoundly, and not just in technological terms. Building upon extensive, applied research into the UK defence environment, with extensive access to ministers, policy makers, senior military commanders and industrialists, the authors of this book characterise British defence as a phenomenon that has endured extensive transformation this century. Looking at the subject afresh as a complex, extended enterprise involving politics, alliances, businesses, skills, economics, military practices and citizens, the book profoundly reshapes our understanding of "defence" and how it is to be commissioned and delivered in a world dominated by geopolitical risks and uncertainties. It makes the case that this new understanding of defence must inevitably lead to new policies and processes to ensure its health and vitality. When the Conservative-Liberal coalition came to power in 2010, observers of the UK would have been aware of what the authors described as "a perfect storm of strategic challenges." There was a necessity to address the consuming needs of difficult operations in Afghanistan, resurgent challenges in Iraq and the soon-to-be disruptive explosion of Libyan collapse and intervention. This was accompanied by a profound decline in government revenues, a rise in borrowing and a significant gap between Ministry of Defence commitments and intentions and the likely income available. Rising powers, both conventional and non-state, were seeking to exploit Western exhaustion with its conflicts of choice and economic shifts were transforming notions of global influence. Since, the UK has continued to be challenged by profound population movements from the Middle East to Europe, a resurgent Russia occupying, by force, lands belonging to another state and reductions in military manpower and recognised gaps in capability. The UK champions the private sector's involvement in traditional defence roles and has outsourced many of its core management capabilities. Anyone returning to working in defence having left the last century would find the defence ecosystem in 2017 to be a profoundly different space. This book will be of much interest to students of defence studies, British politics and military and strategic studies, as well as policy-makers and practitioners.

Spis treści

1. Introduction: The End of Doctrine and Loss of Military Primacy  2. British Defence as Policy and Politics  3. Defence as Management  4. Defence as Technology  5. Defence as Industrial Policy  6. Defence as Exports and Engagement  7. Defence as Skills and Competencies  8. Defence and Community  9. Defence as Public-Private Partnering  10. Defence as the Militar  11. Conclusion: Defence Practice – from analogue to digital? The Defence Extended Enterprise