The Strategic Defence And Security Review

The British government periodically publishes a Strategic Defence and Security Review, an appraisal of the armed forces that seeks to understand and prepare for the defense challenges that lie ahead. This report is often controversial—the 2010 review, for example, made headlines for all the wrong reasons, as major defense projects such as the NIMROD aircraft were discontinued at huge cost, while other projects were maintained only because they were too expensive to abandon. In advance of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, Jonathan Shaw argues persuasively for the need to rethink how governments and Whitehall devise their strategies and reach crucial decisions. Beginning with the review’s often imprecise use of language, Shaw challenges the assumptions that underlie the British government’s current practices. Ultimately, he suggests how Whitehall can improve its approaches and, equally important, its credibility.

The British government periodically publishes a Strategic Defence and Security Review, an appraisal of the armed forces that seeks to understand and prepare for the defense challenges that lie ahead. This report is often controversial—the 2010 review, for example, made headlines for all the wrong reasons, as major defense projects such as the NIMROD aircraft were discontinued at huge cost, while other projects were maintained only because they were too expensive to abandon. In advance of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, Jonathan Shaw argues persuasively for the need to rethink how governments and Whitehall devise their strategies and reach crucial decisions. Beginning with the review’s often imprecise use of language, Shaw challenges the assumptions that underlie the British government’s current practices. Ultimately, he suggests how Whitehall can improve its approaches and, equally important, its credibility.

The national security strategy of the United Kingdom is to use all national capabilities to build Britain's prosperity, extend the country's influence in the world and strengthen security. The National Security Council ensures a strategic and co-ordinated approach across the whole of Government to the risks and opportunities the country faces. Parts 1 and 2 of this document outline the Government's analysis of the strategic global context and give an assessment of the UK's place in the world. They also set out the core objectives of the strategy: (i) ensuring a secure and resilient UK by protecting the country from all major risks that can affect us directly, and (ii) shaping a stable world - actions beyond the UK to reduce specific risks to the country or our direct interests overseas. Part 3 identifies and analyses the key security risks the country is likely to face in the future. The National Security Council has prioritised the risks and the current highest priority are: international terrorism; cyber attack; international military crises; and major accidents or natural hazards. Part 4 describes the ways in which the strategy to prevent and mitigate the specific risks will be achieved. The detailed means to achieve these ends will be set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review (Cm. 7948, ISBN 9780101794824), due to publish on 19 October 2010.

Government response to HC 761, session 2010-12 (ISBN 9780215561138)

This report concludes the Committee's work on the next Strategic Defence and Security Review, it summarises the contribution of the Committee's recent reports, and raises a number of questions that it believes need to be addressed in the next SDSR. The Committee would like to see the Government response to its questions embedded in the next DSR. As an Annex to this report, the Committee is also publishing an analysis of how it has addressed the 10 Core Tasks set for Departmental Select Committees by the House of Commons Liaison Committee.

The Government has announced a strategic defence review, the first since 1998, to take place after the next election. This green paper aims to contribute to discussion of the key issues and to build a broad consensus on the direction to take. It sets out the assessment of the UK's interests, the changing international context in which they will be promoted, the use of force in this changing context, and key areas where there is a need to adjust policy and process. The core argument is that the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces must accelerate the process of reform. Processes, people and equipment must become more adaptable to confront the potential threats successfully. And the UK must improve its ability to operate in partnership across government and internationally. Chapters 1 and 2 set the context for the future defence review in terms of uncertainly, affordability, complexity and the use of force. Further chapters cover: adaptability and influence; partnership; and people, equipment and structures. Chapter 6 sets out the key questions for the future review. Two annexes cover an illustrative list of operations since the 1998 strategic defence review and defence planning assumptions. Published alongside this paper is "The Defence strategy for acquisition reform" (Cm. 7996, ISBN 9780101779623) which sets out a new approach in creating greater agility in the defence equipment programme.

The document 'The Strategic Defence Review: a new chapter' (Cm. 5566, Vol. 1; ISBN 0101556624) was published by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in July 2002, in the light of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US. It examined the strength of the UK's defence and security policy and proposed a number of changes to the priorities and plans as set out in the 1998 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), in order to respond effectively against these new developments in international terrorism. The Committee's report examines how far the 'New Chapter' has met its objectives and whether it was an appropriate response to security interests and defence needs. The report focuses on issues of doctrine, concepts and general policy. The Committee's findings include: support for the creation of volunteer reserve Civil Contingency Reaction forces, but notes concerns over the effects on the normal activities of volunteer Reserves; lack of a proper debate on how to strike the right balance in combating terrorism between the use of military operations overseas and home defence; and concern that the MoD's proposed changes will further strain the UK's already stretched armed forces. It concludes that the MoD's decision to limit the scope of the 'New Chapter' to the specific threat from international terrorism has failed to take account of wider policy issues; and as a result, has highlighted many areas where recent developments are making the original SDR look increasingly out of date.