As the UK and its allies remain mired in conflict in Afghanistan, the world faces serious and growing international security challenges - from the dangers of failed states and climate change, through global terrorism and organised crime, to the continuing threats associated with nuclear proliferation. So has the time come for a radical rethink on how we deal with such issues Can we change, adapt and come up with new solutions even develop more effective, sustainable,non-violentmethods of resolving conflict
On 11 November 2009, Armistice Day, Lord Ashdown and Dr Ian Kearns will argue in a talk to the APPG on Conflict Issues that the new security challenges facing the UK call for a radical overall of attitudes and capabilities.
Lord Ashdown, former leader of Liberal Democrat Party and former High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, says:
’We cannot carry on as we are. We need to change the way we think and change not just what we do but also how we organise ourselves to do it. In a world where power is no longer the sole preserve of nation states, and where security is no longer only about defence, we need new joined-up machinery in Whitehall, a truly integrated strategy that links all of our policy instruments together, and a much greater focus on how we link the UK effort to the efforts of others around the world. The most important part of what we do today is what we do with others.’
Dr Ian Kearns, Senior Research Fellow, Royal United Service Institute (RUSI) and Senior Analyst at BASIC, adds:
’There is currently a silence where the needed debate on national security should be. Politicians of all parties should use the run up to the general election to put choices before the people rather than behave as though there are no difficult choices to be made.’
Chair: Andy Slaughter MP
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