Introduction
Over the last twenty years the national and international security environment has changed dramatically. The end of the Cold War and the horrific attacks of 9/11 are but two developments among many that have signalled the arrival of a new 21st century security landscape. New processes and drivers have come to the fore, from globalisation to climate change, and from the growth of political Islam to a more infrastructure reliant society, and now challenge both outdated analytical frameworks and old policy prescriptions. For more information see ippr's recent report: The New Front Line: Security in a changing world.
Policymakers are working hard to adapt and to keep up with the pace of change, but the challenges are profound and the progress uneven. As a result, while we commend many of the efforts already underway and welcome the Government’s recent publication of a UK national security strategy, we also believe that there is a pressing need for constructive external debate.
As such, the ippr is hosting an independent all-party Commission on National Security in the 21st Century, co-chaired by:
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Lord George Robertson, former Secretary of State for Defence and former Secretary General of NATO
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Lord Paddy Ashdown, former leader of the Liberal Democrat Party and former High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
A full list of Commissioners can be viewed here.
The Commission on National Security, which was launched in 2007 and is set to run until mid-2009, will:
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conduct a detailed assessment of the changing global security environment and the specific challenges and opportunities this poses for Britain
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identify the values and interests that should shape British security policy over the next decade and beyond
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make specific policy recommendations for how Britain can make a more effective contribution to the promotion of global security and enhance the security of its own citizens at home.
In doing so, it will address a range of domestic and international security challenges. Click on the links below to read more about our current research workstreams:
More information about the Commission, including details of our publications and events, can be accessed using the navigation menu to the left of this page.
The Research Secretariat for the Commission is housed within ippr’s International and Security Programme. The secretariat is directed by Dr Ian Kearns (Deputy-Chair of the Commission). Other members are Andy Hull (Senior Research Fellow), Alex Glennie (Researcher) and Katie Paintin (Researcher). ippr is also drawing on the expertise of a number of consultants and associate fellows to support this work.