Rethinking Security has published a new report based on a series of roundtable discussions with civil society groups working for peace and human security. These were organised to hear what impact the ‘national security’ agenda of the Strategic Defence Review and National Security Strategy have had on ordinary people and those facing insecurities. Joanna Frew … Continue reading Protecting Human Security in a ‘War-Ready’ UK
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People Support Peacebuilding: New UK public opinion data
Peacebuilding works, is far cheaper than war, and has the public's support across the British political spectrum. So why is it so hard to fund compared to military options? Teresa Dumasy shares the findings of some recent polling on public opinion in Britain about preventing conflict and building peace. People in the UK support peacebuilding … Continue reading People Support Peacebuilding: New UK public opinion data
Can Labour’s Reset Extend to National Security?
Three months into his premiership, Andy Burnham seems uncomfortable with growing domestic and international pressure to increase military spending. Larry Attree argues that the PM should query received wisdom on national security, and sets out five big shifts that the PM could make to reset UK security strategy in a sustainable direction. Having assumed power … Continue reading Can Labour’s Reset Extend to National Security?
Operation Epic Hubris: Another failed US war
This week marks the six-month anniversary of the current US and Israeli military campaign against Iran. With the war stalemated, President Trump humiliated, and US military forces degraded and demoralised, Paul Rogers explores the causes and consequences of this latest in a long series of US military debacles. Prior to the start of the Israeli/US … Continue reading Operation Epic Hubris: Another failed US war
The Three Myths that Drive the UK’s Nuclear Juggernaut
Within ten days of becoming prime minister, Andy Burnham had hitched his wagon to the idea that an ‘independent nuclear deterrent’ can guarantee not only the UK’s national security but also its reindustrialisation. Ian Davis argues that this is delusional on all counts and heightens the probability of environmental as well as nuclear apocalypse. Speaking … Continue reading The Three Myths that Drive the UK’s Nuclear Juggernaut
The Absolute Insanity of Militarised Security
As the climate collapses and wars sweep the Middle East, Ukraine and beyond, Diana Francis and Andrew Rigby, two of the founders of Rethinking Security a decade ago, make the urgent case for far more radical action to end the death-grip of militarised security on our politics, economy, environment and imaginations. Rethinking Security began when … Continue reading The Absolute Insanity of Militarised Security
Military Climate Action Swamped by Spending Rises
Some militaries have strategies to reduce their carbon emissions – but the latest data shows these are being dwarfed by the effects of spiralling arms spending. Stuart Parkinson investigates. The recent NATO Summit in Türkiye ended with its usual declaration of “ironclad” military unity. The price exacted by President Trump for this unity was that … Continue reading Military Climate Action Swamped by Spending Rises
Britain should be wary of mistaking higher defence spending for a real strategy
The July 2026 NATO Summit was another display of performative loyalty to Donald Trump, quantified in percentage points of GDP and multibillion dollar equipment contracts. Ian Davis argues that the UK’s new leadership must think beyond Trump’s transactionalism and foster an honest debate about how we spend to really make Britain and the world safer. … Continue reading Britain should be wary of mistaking higher defence spending for a real strategy
Public Opinion on the War in Ukraine: Why right-wing populists are less supportive of Ukraine
What is the linkage between right-wing populist parties in Europe and support for Ukraine or Russia? Is there anything distinct about the views of Reform UK voters on defence and foreign policy issues? New public opinion polling research by Francesco Rigoli explores the psychology of populism and security. The war between Ukraine and Russia has … Continue reading Public Opinion on the War in Ukraine: Why right-wing populists are less supportive of Ukraine
AUKUS: Time for a Public Inquiry
Negotiated rapidly and in secret, the AUKUS pact to produce new nuclear-powered submarines is among the most expensive, consequential and opaque deals in British and Australian military history. Ian Lowe reports on the launch of a new civil society-led expert public inquiry into AUKUS that aims to provide the scrutiny so lacking from Australian politicians. … Continue reading AUKUS: Time for a Public Inquiry
UK Public Opinion and National Security
While the UK government has spent the last year heralding a ‘national conversation’ on defence and security, it seems to have little interest in hearing from the British public on how it views its own security. Thomas Martin shares some of the findings of his own research of public opinion, suggesting that there are significant … Continue reading UK Public Opinion and National Security
The Dangerous Logic of Europeanizing Nuclear Deterrence
Fear of Russian action and US inaction is increasingly motivating European states to propose alternative forms of nuclear ‘deterrence’ for the continent. But, argue Ian Davis and Tytti Erästö, European states should first question the outdated and dangerous framings and flawed logics of nuclear weapons that they inherited from the Cold War. On 02 March … Continue reading The Dangerous Logic of Europeanizing Nuclear Deterrence