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
Nature, Peace and Security: Too important to leave to governments
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.