There has been a tendency among researchers and policy-makers studying the evolution and deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles, referred to colloquially as drones, to discount their contemporary effectiveness in inter-state conflict. However, the recent conflict in and around the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh has in some ways challenged that assumption
Read More »Hard and Soft Power: An Analysis of Russian Influence in the Baltic States
While Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania have sought to pull themselves out of Russia’s orbit and entrench themselves as Western, European states, Moscow has sought to influence and destabilise this process.
Read More »Turkish Government driven by sense on “unfinished business” over Ottoman Empire – HSC Deputy Director
Human Security Centre (HSC) Deputy Director Simon Schofield has had a comment piece on Turkey's regional policy published in the Jerusalem Post.
Read More »Empowering private security professionals for better human security
Private military and security companies have a strong technical and security culture. But they lack human and humanitarian indicators to rely on. This shortfall contributes to widening the gap between security and human rights considerations, and to increasing possible human rights violations.
Read More »The Rise of Suga: Prospects and Problems for Japan’s New Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe has caused a significant commotion recently with his resignation. What has perhaps caused just as much of a disturbance is the election of his successor, a veteran LDP politician of more humble origins by the name of Yoshihide Suga.
Read More »Do Western states view special operations forces as tools with which to conduct operations violating international legal restrictions?
There may be no ‘smoking gun’ that proves governments consciously deploy SOF without regard for law. However, the intentional lack of public accountability, paired with patterns of potentially illegal deployment, indicate at a minimum a willingness to look the other way and not ask too many questions.
Read More »No going back: the dawn of a new world in Belarus
The people of Belarus are standing firm in their convictions, and have not given in even when faced with violence and oppression. In order to succeed now, and achieve their goal of a democratic country, they need concrete international support. The days of dictatorial rule and control must come to an end – and the Belarus that people are fighting for must become a reality.
Read More »A Comparative Overview of European Neutral States’ Armed Forces Part II: Aerial and naval assets, and an analysis of neutrality
In a previous article from the Human Security Centre on the topic of neutral European states, the concept of neutrality was examined in relation to how Switzerland, Austria and Ireland have put neutrality into practice, including a history of neutrality in each of these countries, followed by an analysis of conventional ground-based military assets. This second article which looks into aerial and naval military assets, and examines how neutrality is practiced as a foreign policy by these three countries.
Read More »‘Turkey’s aggression threatens to destabilise the Mediterranean and fracture NATO’ – HSC Senior Fellow
Human Security Centre (HSC) Senior Fellow Simon Schofield has had a comment piece examining Turkey's foreign policy ambitions published in Reaction. In the article, he outlines how Ankara's conflict with Athens over maritime Exclusive Economic Zone boundaries and sponsorship of jihadists represent the latest manifestation of a Turkish foreign policy approach that risks undermining NATO and the West.
Read More »Opinion: The Russia Report warrants a stronger response from the UK Government
The Government’s tepid response to the Russia Report is unlikely to have made any in the Kremlin lose much sleep. A stronger effort is therefore imperative to deter any future attempts to undermine UK democracy.
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