the centre for defence and international security studies

special feature
special feature
17th November 2004
17th November 2004
THE CENTRE FOR DEFENCE
AND INTERNATIONAL
SECURITY STUDIES
THE CENTRE
FOR
DEFENCE
STUDIES (CDISS)
AND INTERNATIONAL
SECURITY
IS AN INDEPENDENT ‘NOT FOR PROFIT’
BODY. IN THIS FEATURE THEY DISCUSS THEIR WORK WITH THEIR
MEMBERS AND INDUSTRY.
HENLEY-ON-THAMES
Henley-on-Thames has traditionally been associated with rowing
rather than with defence and international security, but Henley is
now also the home of the Centre for Defence and International
Security Studies (CDiSS). Since 1990 the CDiSS had been located at
Lancaster University and was one of the few defence institutes in the
north of England. However, in February 2004 it moved south to
Henley and underwent a comprehensive review of its constitution
and rationale.The Centre now aspires to position itself between the
three elements of government, industry and the academic
community in order to act as a dynamic conduit between all three.
The CDiSS is a wholly independent organisation engaging in research,
analysis, commentary and discussion on issues of significance within the broad
context of international security. It exists to conduct research, raise awareness
and stimulate debate on a wide range of defence and security matters from
both a national and international perspective. In particular, the CDiSS serves as
a conduit between the academic community, government and other official and
non-official bodies and the defence and security industry.The Centre seeks to
identify and shape discussion on key science and technology issues and to relate
them to the broader security debate. It organises conferences and seminars,
undertakes focused and directed research and publishes papers, studies,
background briefs and debating points in both hard and soft copy. Its members
also contribute to relevant trade journals. The membership of the CDiSS
includes those with a background in academia, industry, the armed forces
(including the reserves), non-government organisations, government and the
media.
The Centre embraces a philosophy based on complete independence and
this is reflected in its twin guiding principles. Firstly, the Centre strives to
maintain objectivity and credibility, to remain independent of any government
or non-government body and to owe no special allegiance to any political party
or private concern. The Centre therefore makes every effort to ensure that
work is conducted in an unbiased manner, regardless of the opinions of
sponsors or self-interest. Secondly, the Centre seeks extensive collaboration
with similar organisations as well as with industry, academia and government. It
aims to work closely with parliamentary bodies and other government
departments. The Centre believes that the study of today’s complex defence
and security issues demands the widest range of contributions from a variety
of perspectives, each of which adds to the overall understanding of a particular
issue. It acknowledges the importance of the defence and security debates in
the United States and Europe and embraces those relationships through
bilateral initiatives, activities and affiliations.The CDiSS thus deliberately adopts
a collaborative approach. Solutions and strategies to solve significant problems
at the national and international level often involve change, tend to require a
variety of resources and challenge existing structures and methods.The CDiSS
strives to break down the ‘stovepipes’ between government and business and,
by so doing, to enjoy a reputation at the leading edge of the security debate.
The CDiSS therefore includes, within its membership and those who work with
it, experts in a variety of disciplines and leaders from business, government and
academia, to create an environment that promotes exchange of information,
innovative thinking and analytical development.
The Centre is directed by Professor Martin Edmonds of Lancaster University,
supported by a taut board structure that includes a Director of Studies and
Business Director. Day-to-day business is managed by Alexandra Hall, who is the
full-time Centre Manager at Henley. She acts as the hub of the enterprise and
is the point of contact for the programme managers – the individuals who drive
the core activities of the Centre.
There are currently six core programmes:
• European Security and Transatlantic Relations
• Missile Threats and Responses
• Space Security and the Military Utility of Outer Space
• Terrorism and Counter Insurgency
• The Moral Component of Warfighting
• Business and Security
Each programme is headed by an appropriately qualified academic from the
United Kingdom, Europe or North America and lasts at least two years. All
programmes include the publication of a series of papers and reports as well as
international conferences and seminars. The progress of the programmes is
reflected within the CDiSS website, which went ‘live’ on 1 November 2004
(www.cdiss.org)
The house journal of the Centre is Defense and Security Analysis. Edited by
Professor Edmonds, it enjoys a wide readership both in the UK and in the US.
The head of the Centre’s Space Programme also edits Astropolitics, the premier
UK journal in this field. CDiSS papers, reports and commentary are also
available from the website.
THE
INDUSTRIAL DIMENSION
The CDiSS has a long history of working in tandem with industry to offer
high-level strategic analysis of important areas that provide a context for
industrial production. The Centre has, for some years, been associated with
naval shipbuilding in general and the Future Carrier debate in particular.
Professor Edmonds has hosted a series of high level ‘conclaves’ associated with
the topic and another is scheduled for December, in addition to a wider
conference at Yeovilton that will examine the maritime projection of airpower.
The CDiSS has also worked with a number of US companies in association with
Theatre Missile Defence.
The Business and Security Programme is a particularly exciting venture, and
is headed by Dr Harold Elletson, who has been closely associated with the
NATO Forum on Business and Security and associated conferences in Berlin
and Istanbul.This Programme is designed to assist in the understanding of the
new international security environment and its implications for business by
developing a dialogue between international business, governments and
academia.The Programme team forms a centre of expertise regarding the new
security conditions and will create a range of information products to assist the
evolution of new security solutions.
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www.centrasecurity.co.uk
In keeping with its association with the Future Carrier debate, the Centre is
staging a conference on ‘Air Power from the Sea’ at the Fleet Air Arm Museum,
CONTINUED OVERLEAF
asecurity.co.uk
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special feature
17th November 2004
CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
Yeovilton on 31 January/1 February 2005.The conference will embrace senior
figures from government, the armed forces and industry; there will also be a
number of international speakers and delegates. This promises to be a timely
event to generate debate in this important area, and it is being arranged in
partnership with Defence Studies (Navy). Further details may be obtained from
CDiSS Henley or from the website.
RESEARCH
Since its inception the CDiSS has operated in tandem with the
‘Lancaster Index’, shortly to be renamed the ‘CDiSS Index’.The full title of the
index is The Lancaster Index to Defence and International Security Literature.
It is an online bibliographic database, indexed and cross-referenced, of journals
and monographs dealing with military and security affairs. (It does not provide
full text of proprietary source material.) The unique nature of the index lies in
the quality of the abstracts within the database – not only does the index
provide a database of open-source journal articles and monographs in relation
to defence and international security but each entry is also supported by an
abstract of the article in question.This offers the researcher a wonderful tool
with which to assess the value and relevance of an article before actually
obtaining it. The index was the brainchild of Simon King of Military Policy
Research (MPR), which is based in Oxford. It was created by him in the
mid-1980s and currently offers over 117,000 records, the abstracts of which
have nearly all been created by Mr King himself as the research director of MPR.
The database therefore comprises indexed and cross-referenced entries, with
summaries or abstracts, of some 330 international publications relating to
international defence and security. These include: government publications;
professional armed forces journals and bulletins; academic journals and
occasional papers; research institute monographs; and commercial industrial
periodicals dealing with defence industry and technology. The database is
updated weekly, at a rate of about 10,000 entries a year. The index may be
accessed on the web at www.mpr.co.uk.
THE CDISS
AND THE DEFENCE INDUSTRY
The CDiSS has an established reputation from its work with industry and
government over the last ten years and offers the ability to tailor teams for
strategic commentary and analysis on key issues relating to defence and
international security. It offers particular specialist knowledge in areas covered
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by the core programmes and from experienced gained from Security Sector
Reform.The Centre is closely associated with the future security environment
and the debate regarding the ‘Revolution in Military Affairs’ and is therefore
poised to engage with industry in studies on the utility of defence systems in
the next generation and beyond. The Space and Missile Defence Programmes
render the Centre well poised to engage in research and study regarding
nuclear strategy and the Board is actively exploring opportunities in this field.
The Centre enjoys a number of strategic affiliations worldwide and the
Director is an active member of a number of international bodies, including
Eurodefense and certain NATO forums.
OPPORTUNITIES
FOR PARTNERSHIP
The Centre for Defence and International Security Studies is an independent
‘not-for-profit’ company that seeks to enrich the defence and international
security debate. Its members reflect the three elements of government, industry
and academia and thus offer independent commentary, analysis and study.The
product stems from an independent Non-Government Organisation that owes
no commercial allegiance.The Centre can therefore stand apart from in-house
research effort and even complement it.
FURTHER
INFORMATION:
The Centre for Defence and International Security Studies
The Court House
Henley-on-Thames
Oxfordshire
RG9 2JN
Tel: +44 (0)1491 412102
Fax: +44 (0)1491 412082
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.cdiss.org
This, and further reports, can be accessed
under the Newsroom section of the
MoD Portal at: www.contracts.mod.uk