As governments turn their attention to the intersections between nature, peace and security, civil society needs to speak up if we’re to avoid the dead-end securitisation of the climate crisis; to do so, argues Doug Weir, many of us will need to learn a new language. Global. Ecosystem. Collapse. The message is clear, the UK’s … Continue reading Nature, Peace and Security: Too important to leave to governments
Are Small Modular Reactors a Credible Means to Reduce Carbon Emissions?
Politicians in many countries, including the UK and Australia, have recently advocated the development of ‘small modular reactors’ (SMRs) as a means to speed up nuclear power production as an alternative to burning fossil fuels. But with the technology still some 15 years from maturity, Ian Lowe argues that SMRs are an expensive and risky … Continue reading Are Small Modular Reactors a Credible Means to Reduce Carbon Emissions?
Don’t Look Up, Don’t Look Down: The radical certainty of Labour’s National Security Strategy
The UK’s latest National Security Strategy heralds a radical redistribution of national resources from social spending to defence. Richard Reeve argues that it not only brushes aside the looming reality of irreversible climate breakdown but also represents a fundamental abandonment of an eight-decade project to learn the catastrophic lessons of World War Two. ‘Security for … Continue reading Don’t Look Up, Don’t Look Down: The radical certainty of Labour’s National Security Strategy
Peaceful Alternatives to the Military-Industrial Complex: Arms conversion beyond the Lucas Plan
Half-a-century since the workers of Lucas Aerospace proposed to shift from military to socially useful production, the idea of converting arms industries is increasingly touted. Steven Schofield argues that both the nature of military industries and the challenge of climate breakdown have changed dramatically since the 1970s and calls for a more radical, decentralised and sustainable approach to industrial and economic strategy.
Tackling global security risks in the second Trump era
The return of Donald Trump to the US presidency undermines efforts to tackle urgent global security risks such as nuclear weapons and climate change. Dr Stuart Parkinson gives an overview of the problems and assesses how best to respond.
The Lucas Plan Showed the Way to an Alternative Security Strategy
With political commitment to increase military spending, military production is thriving in the UK. But do these heavily subsidised industries meet the British people’s security needs, or the state’s desire to dominate abroad? Khem Rogaly argues for a new approach to industrial strategy that centres the needs of workers, people and planet.
Beyond the SDR: From strength abroad to a secure and peaceful home
The UK’s new government is looking for ways to be stronger abroad, but is that any way to build a more secure country and society? Diana Francis argues that the government will make things worse by pushing for military dominance and failing to address the climate and ecological emergency that threatens us all.
Fight Tonight, Blight Tomorrow: NATO consolidates amidst climate breakdown
Two of the many consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have been the release of vast amounts of climate-damaging carbon and the reconsolidation of the NATO alliance. Ian Davis reflects on two recent reports that illustrate how the world’s revived obsession with military ‘deterrence’ and protracted war heightens the risk of more than one type of existential catastrophe.
Election 2024: Opening a new conversation on sustainable security
Some commentators and politicians are saying that the 2024 general election is all about security and it is clear that the main parties are using the language of ‘security’ frequently. As Rethinking Security publishes a new briefing on five critical security issues, Joanna Frew reflects on this election’s opportunities for creating change in understandings of security.
Beyond COP28: Plan E and the Entangled Security Approach
With this year’s COP once again failing to meet expectations for rapid transition to a post-fossil fuel future, surely a more effective and urgent approach is required? Elizabeth Boulton argues for a Plan E that would harness global cooperation to see off humanity’s common ‘hyperthreat’ of planetary breakdown.
Reinterpreting Security through Images and Stories
After hearing how well the photovoice methods used by our Alternative Security Review research partners at Coventry University worked, Rethinking security’s Outreach Coordinator ran a similar project called Visualising Security with our supporters and friends. The results are now on our website. Here, Joanna Frew provides a personal reflection on the project and its findings. … Continue reading Reinterpreting Security through Images and Stories
The State of Human Security in the UK
Rethinking Security hosted a series of roundtable discussions with civil society groups throughout 2022. We shared some reflections on the blog during the discussions and we are now publishing the full report. It is available to download and here Joanna Frew share a summary of the discussions.