This handbook addresses foresight, strategy, futures studies and policymaking in connection with the fundamental pillar of defense and security. It examines the state of play in the fields of foresight, futures studies, strategy setting, future-oriented policymaking, policy assessment and related areas. In addition, it describes new methodologies for scoping futures, innovative ways to employ consolidated techniques, and novel variations on some traditional futurist tools. The handbook subsequently presents case studies in the aforementioned fields that pertain to defense and security in both traditional and non-traditional senses. Lastly, it delves into the topic of foresight-enabled strategy setting, mainly in the fields of government and policy, drawing on the experiences and viewpoints of respected professionals and scholars from around the globe. Given its scope, the book offers a valuable resource for graduate-level education, and for government officials/practitioners in the fields of defense, security, and strategic planning.

This handbook provides a comprehensive, problem-driven and dynamic overview of the future of warfare. The volatilities and uncertainties of the global security environment raise timely and important questions about the future of humanity’s oldest occupation: war. This volume addresses these questions through a collection of cutting-edge contributions by leading scholars in the field. Its overall focus is prognostic rather than futuristic, highlighting discernible trends, key developments and themes without downplaying the lessons from the past. By making the past meet the present in order to envision the future, the handbook offers a diversified outlook on the future of warfare, which will be indispensable for researchers, students and military practitioners alike. The volume is divided into six thematic sections. Section I draws out general trends in the phenomenon of war and sketches the most significant developments, from the past to the present and into the future. Section II looks at the areas and domains which actively shape the future of warfare. Section III engages with the main theories and conceptions of warfare, capturing those attributes of contemporary conflicts which will most likely persist and determine the dynamics and directions of their transformations. The fourth section addresses differentiation and complexity in the domain of warfare, pointing to those factors which will exert a strong impact on the structure and properties of that domain. Section V focuses on technology as the principal trigger of changes and alterations in the essence of warfare. The final section draws on the general trends identified in Section I and sheds light on how those trends have manifested in specific local contexts. This section zooms in on particular geographies which are seen and anticipated as hotbeds where future warfare will most likely assume its shape and reveal its true colours. This book will be of great interest to students of strategic studies, defence studies, war and technology, and International Relations.

Embracing the theory and practice of strategic foresight and illuminating how different schools of thought regard its role in policy making, Tuomo Kuosa describes how something not traditionally considered an independent discipline, is steadily becoming one. In The Evolution of Strategic Foresight he explains how the practice of strategic foresight has long been closely associated with the military and politics. Linking strategic thinking more broadly to futurology, however, it is quite new. Since strategic foresight refers to the practice of generating analyses of alternative futures and strategies, based on available intelligence and foreknowledge, the practice can and should be applied to companies, business sectors, national and trans-national agencies of all descriptions, and to all aspects of public policy making. The author explains its practice in terms of structure, process, and knowledge domains, and examines its methodologies and systems, along with how strategic foresight can be used to produce better knowledge and be more effectively linked to policy making. Using examples from 30 different countries and with access to interviews and workshops involving key experts, The Evolution of Strategic Foresight will be valuable to scholars, educators, students engaged in strategy and future studies, long-range, public policy and urban planners, analysts; risk assessment experts, and consultants, managers and decision makers in many organisations, public and private.

The authors present arguments about the role that technology and science will play within the international scene and globalization corridor as a way to develop a national security strategy for years to come. Part of the discussion observes the past, present, and future of technology innovation within global governments, including the sharing of data, artificial intelligence (AI), military policy, defense strategies, and more. For instance, globalization of science and technology, emerging and unpredictable threats (both manmade and natural), conventional and emerging weapons of mass destruction, and an inversion of technology flow from the private to public sectors all present challenges to our national security. Many countries are now dramatically increasing their investments in science, technology, and commercialization, particularly in Asia, and including many nontraditional players such as Vietnam and Singapore. From a grand strategic perspective, one might observe that in the decades to come, in a world dominated by pervasive advanced technologies, the countries that are most able to create, acquire, and utilize these disruptive technologies will lead the world. This technological capacity will be one of, if not the, most important global resources.Technological capacity will become the new oil. Other topical-related products can be found here: Armed Robotics Emergence: Weapons Systems Life Cycles Analysis and New Strategic Realities Enhancing Identity Development at Senior Services Colleges Military Communications: A Test for Technology Closer Than You Think: The Implications of the Third Offset Strategy for the U.S. Army

Operations research (OR) is a core discipline in military and defense management. Coming to the forefront initially during World War II, OR provided critical contributions to logistics, supply chains, and strategic simulation, while enabling superior decision-making for Allied forces. OR has grown to include analytics and many applications, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and big data, and is the cornerstone of management science in manufacturing, marketing, telecommunications, and many other fields. The Handbook of Military and Defense Operations Research presents the voices leading OR and analytics to new heights in security through research, practical applications, case studies, and lessons learned in the field. Features Applies the experiences of educators and practitioners working in the field Employs the latest technology developments in case studies and applications Identifies best practices unique to the military, security, and national defense problem space Highlights similarities and dichotomies between analyses and trends that are unique to military, security, and defense problems.