Strategy in Austerity The Security and Defence of the United Kingdom

A Chatham House report by Paul Cornish

This report offers a framework for assessing the quality and durability of the United Kingdom’s government's Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) addressing the process leading to the 2010 review, and the purpose, the future and the value of security and defence in the context of the review. It argues that a debate on national strategy should explore the full spectrum of security possibilities to establish, first of all,

where British national interest and values will be most urgently and unavoidably engaged. Reviews of security and defence strategy usually fail, either because the mismatch between strategy and budget becomes too great, or because of a failure to identity and anticipate security and defence challenges as they evolve. If the SDSR is to succeed as a strategic plan it should be more than a product of the moment. It should be possible for the Ministry of Defence to use an inadequate defence budget prudently and cleverly,

by investing in resources that will maximize value. What is required is a shift in emphasis from defence 'inputs' - weapon systems, equipment and force postures - to strategic 'outputs' - the functions required to ensure national security and defence in a challenging and changing environment.

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October 2010

ISBN: 978-1-86203-241-5 £10

Available online at www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/

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Read the full report www.chathamhouse.org.uk/us_report www.chathamhouse.org.uk Contents

VOLUME 66 NUMBER 11

THE WORLD TODAY, founded in 1945, is published by The Royal Institute of International Affairs. The Institute is precluded by its Royal Charter from expressing an opinion of its own on any aspect of international affairs. Any views expressed in this publication are, therefore, those of the contributors. Copyright is normally owned by The Royal Institute of International Affairs. Articles and letters should be sent to: The Editor, The World Today, Chatham House, 10 St James’s Square, London SW1Y 4LE. +44 (0) 20 7957 5712 email: wt@chathamhouse.org.uk gwalker@chathamhouse.org.uk Advertising and subscription enquiries: +44 (0) 20 7957 5712

THEWORLDTODAY.ORG NOVEMBER 2010

PAGE 3

PAGE 27 TURKEY AND IRAN

PAGE 15 RISKY BUSINESS

4 BRITAIN’S STRATEGIC DEFENCE AND SECURITY REVIEW:

Muddling Through Paul Cornish 4 Smart On Soft Power Michael Harvey 7 Signs Of Concord Benoît Gomis 10 NATO Hooked On Security Patrick Porter 12 Risky Business Alexis Crow 15 18 SCIENCE MOVES EAST: Hey, Big Spender James Wilsdon 20 AMERICAN MID-TERM ELECTIONS:

Fall From Grace Thomas Mann 20 No Time For The Needy Richard Wolffe 22 24 YEMEN: Millions At Risk Ashley Jonathan Clements 26 EGYPTIAN ELECTIONS: Bloggers Versus Badei Tim Eaton 27 TURKEY AND IRAN: Mediating With The Mullahs Alon Ben Meir 29 BURMA ELECTIONS: Voting, But Not As We Know It Ashley South

EDITOR Graham Walker ASSISTANT EDITOR Agnes Frimston DESIGNER Martin Colyer DATABASE Michael Farrell INTERN Catherine Tsalikis

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