This general election is an opportunity for UK political parties to commit to a review of the UK’s approach to security partnerships to ensure that they are consistent with UK strategic objectives to reduce conflict and build peace abroad. Read more
On 26 November, the Remote Warfare Programme launched their new report on the roll-out of the UK’s Fusion Doctrine at an event held at Fyvie Hall, London. An expert panel discussed the report's findings. Read more
This report on the roll out of the UK’s new Fusion Doctrine in Africa is the first independent assessment of the Doctrine’s potential to tackle instability on the continent. Read more
The long-term impacts of western operations exacerbate the very radicalization and violence they claim to be trying to avoid. Read more
Our work focuses on areas where the military is responding to conflict and instability. Breaking out of a cycle of violence requires military interventions that contribute to the conditions needed for lasting peace settlements. Otherwise, as we see too often, warfare exists to serve itself, with catastrophic consequences. We work closely with partners in military, government, parliamentary and expert communities to help build effective, accountable and sustainable approaches to defence and security.
This means analysing and understanding the contemporary defence environment. We have seen long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan decrease the risk appetite for military intervention among politicians, parliaments, and publics. When combined with major developments in military technology and an increasing focus on counter-terrorism, this creates an incentive for the British government to take a remote approach to warfare. This involves supporting local groups – who are now doing the bulk of the frontline fighting against terrorist groups – in an attempt to counter threats without putting large numbers of British boots on the ground. The effectiveness of this approach has been under-explored, and efforts to study it are complicated by a lack of government transparency.
In order to fill this gap, we commission and conduct research on the opportunities, risks and costs of remote warfare. By engaging with a broad range of experts in troop-contributing countries as well as on the ground in conflict zones we make sure that our research and policy recommendations are robust, fair, and applicable to contemporary priorities and challenges. This means tailoring our work for the policy-makers, military decision-makers, and parliamentarians that have the power and the responsibility to improve defence and security policy.
Many of the most damning accusations against special forces were from their fellow soldiers and not from the external lawyers viewed with suspicion. Read more
ORG's research on Fusion Doctrine in Africa summarised in infographics. Read more
Ulrike Franke discusses drones, artificial intelligence, the future of technology in warfare, and the insights that can be gained from studying the portrayal of drones in science fiction. Read more
Liam Walpole is joined, on location at Portcullis House, by three past and present parliamentary researchers to discuss the future of UK defence and foreign policy. Read more
RWP are joined by Dr. Jamie Gaskarth from the University of Birmingham to discuss the accountability of the more secretive elements of the UK security services. Read more
RWP discuss the implications of Boris Johnson's premiership for UK defence and security and the recent announcement by the MoD that a 250-strong force of British troops will be deployed to Mali next year to join MINUSMA. Read more
Liam Walpole is joined by Marwa Baabbad, Director of ORG's Strategic Peacebuilding Programme, to discuss the UK's policy towards Yemen and the impact of its security partnership with Saudi Arabia on the country. Read more
The Remote Warfare Programme's Liam Walpole and Megan Karlshoej-Pedersen discuss the latest developments in UK defence and security policy. Read more
In this episode, the Remote Warfare Programme are joined by Rory Cormac and Andrew Mumford of the University of Nottingham to discuss their new project on collusion. Read more
This briefing explores the strategic consequences of remote warfare for Protection of Civilians (POC) and outlines practical lessons the British armed forces can draw from contemporary theatres to improve its capacity for POC in partnered operations. Read more
On 28 February and 1 March 2019, the Remote Warfare Programme and the authors, held a two-day conference on remote warfare. This essay provides an overview of the event and reflects more broadly on remote warfare scholarship. Read more
To discuss a recent German court case regarding drones, the Remote Warfare Programme team are joined by Fiona Nelson of ECCHR and Jennifer Gibson of Reprieve. Read more
The Remote Warfare Programme are joined by Nic Marsh and Marie Sandnes of the Peace Research Institute Oslo to talk security assistance and building partner capacity in Africa. Read more
Based on field research conducted in Africa with British and international military personnel, this brief focusses on the military contribution to UK efforts in Kenya, Mali and Nigeria. Read more
The Remote Warfare Programme's Liam Walpole and Megan Karlshoej-Pedersen sit down with Dr. Larry Lewis to discuss working with strategic military partners and civilian casualties. Read more
The Remote Warfare Programme provides its monthly update on the developments in UK defence and security policy. Read more
The Remote Warfare Programme team critically discuss the recently released Modernising Defence Programme review. Read more
The Remote Warfare Programme team revisit the 2013 parliamentary vote over intervention in Syria and whether the result reflected a shift towards a pacifist parliament as some have claimed. Read more