Read more about the article Checks and Balances in the High North: The British Vision of the Arctic
Info Flash

Checks and Balances in the High North: The British Vision of the Arctic

The UK’s Arctic strategy is shaped by evolving geopolitical, military, and environmental challenges. Although not a part of the Arctic, the British Army plays a crucial role for the greater securitisation of the region. This paper examines the UK's defence contributions in the High North, focusing on military cooperation with Arctic states, strategic deterrence measures, and environmental considerations. Key initiatives such as Project Heimdall, the F-35 Lightning II program, and the Littoral Response Group (North) illustrate the UK’s commitment to NATO’s Arctic security framework. Additionally, UK partnerships with Arctic nations highlight collaborative approaches to Arctic governance. With increasing Russian and Chinese activity in the region, the UK’s role is crucial in maintaining stability through joint exercises and surveillance initiatives. The paper also explores future policy directions, including UK-Scandinavian security alignment and transatlantic defence shifts. Balancing military preparedness with environmental stewardship remains a core challenge for UK policymakers. As Arctic geopolitics continue to evolve, the UK's strategic role will be integral to shaping a secure and sustainable Arctic future.

Comments Off on Checks and Balances in the High North: The British Vision of the Arctic
4 March 2025
Read more about the article Where are the Women? Hegemonic Masculinity and the Struggle for the Integration of Women into the Military
Info Flash

Where are the Women? Hegemonic Masculinity and the Struggle for the Integration of Women into the Military

This research argues that the underlying problems behind the integration of women into the military lie in the hegemonic masculinity that embodies the institution as a whole. The research begins by theoretically outlining how this hegemonic masculinity takes form in institutional structures and how it constructs masculinised gender configurations. This is used as a foundation for an exploration of the practical dimensions of how hegemonic masculinity hampers the integration of women. The research finds that symbolism, language, and actions within the institution of the military are construed around hegemonic masculinity and that this is fundamentally obstructing the integration of women into the military, which has major Civil-Military and political implications on the current security context of Europe.

Comments Off on Where are the Women? Hegemonic Masculinity and the Struggle for the Integration of Women into the Military
27 February 2025
Read more about the article The Application of Artificial Intelligence to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and the Challenge of Targeting
Info Flash

The Application of Artificial Intelligence to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and the Challenge of Targeting

As Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) proliferate on battlefields from Ukraine to the Middle East, states and private actors are increasingly moving towards equipping them with Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI-enabled UAVs excel in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and can effectively counter enemy electronic warfare measures. However, they also raise ethical and legal concerns, particularly when AI is applied in targeting processes. As a result, many in the international community have called for their regulation or an outright ban. Failure to properly regulate the development and use of AI-enabled drones could lead to their proliferation and also to human rights abuses, especially among non-state actors.

Comments Off on The Application of Artificial Intelligence to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and the Challenge of Targeting
26 February 2025
Read more about the article Legal Implications of a Ukrainian Defeat on European Defence
Info Flash

Legal Implications of a Ukrainian Defeat on European Defence

This paper examines the potential strategic and legal consequences for the European Union’s defence cooperation following a hypothetical defeat of Ukraine. With the EU deeply involved in supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression, the implications of a possible defeat go beyond immediate military losses and encompasses broader ramifications for the EU and NATO, especially in their military defence, cooperation, and credibility. This paper focuses on how defeat could affect European military strategy, its legal position on defence commitments and the Union’s overall political cohesion.

Comments Off on Legal Implications of a Ukrainian Defeat on European Defence
23 May 2024
Read more about the article Unpacking Female Representation in the Military
Food For Thought

Unpacking Female Representation in the Military

The involvement of women in the army con- stitutes a thorny issue in several countries where women are found in the margin com- pared to male combatants and there are sever- al nuances to the topic which will endeavour to highlight. In the same context, this paper will attempt to delineate the current situa- tion as well as explore the current initiatives taken in order to ameliorate the issues. Fur- thermore, it is essential to underline any gaps which account for an obstacle in the develop- ment of this situations. Firstly, we will reflect on the current state of art whilst we will introduce a theoretical framework to contextualise how the literature approaches the bipartition “women combatants or women civilians”. In order to have a more complete image of the situation, it is essential to utilize and compare statistical data. These data not only reflect the current circumstances but also identify what has already been done while underlying any existing gaps. The data used here can be found in the 2019 NATO The Annual Summary of the National Reports where all NATO mem- ber states submitted their national data. Fur- thermore, such National Reports are of signif- icant importance due to their comprehensive analysis of the situation for both women and men in the armed forces. Lastly, we will discuss the gaps as well as the opportunities aiming to integrate women thoroughly in the army.

Comments Off on Unpacking Female Representation in the Military
29 November 2022