European Research Council (ERC)’s Post

In today’s ever-evolving world, strategic thinking and analysis play a pivotal role in shaping the decisions of nations and organizations alike. Did you know that in 2020, global military expenditure reached a staggering $1.83 trillion, emphasizing the need for informed and insightful strategic studies (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, 2021)? With this immense figure in mind, have you ever wondered where experts and scholars in the field of strategic studies turn to share their knowledge and insights? Look no further than the American Journal of Strategic Studies, hosted by CARI Journals. https://lnkd.in/duS-39RA

📢 The Soufan Center welcomes Dr. Chad C. Serena, PhD as a Senior Research Fellow. His research focuses on military and Violent Non-State Actor (VNSA) operations and adaptation, the influence of technological innovation on conflict, and the role of military force in geopolitics. Read his full bio: https://lnkd.in/ecyf7ZQ4

𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤’𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. We are proud to share a key highlight from our recent High-Level Conference in Bled, Slovenia. This week, we gathered Land Force Commanders and Principal Military Experts from our 25 member states to delve into strategic insights crucial for the evolution of European land forces. Professor Antulio J. Echevarria, a distinguished military theory and strategic thinking expert, led an insightful session on "Weaponizing Risk: The Missing Element in Western Deterrence and Land Forces." His insights provide a crucial perspective on enhancing our tactical approaches and strengthening our collective defence capabilities. In an era of complex geopolitical challenges, Finabel remains committed to fostering cooperation and enhancing the operational effectiveness of European land forces. We believe in the power of unity and shared knowledge to ensure peace and stability across our continent. #Finabel #MilitaryCooperation #EuropeanDefense #StrategicDeterrence #LandForces #Geopolitics

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐦𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 "𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫" 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙀𝙪𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙧𝙖 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙭 𝙜𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙨. This week, amidst the shifting sands of our global geopolitical landscape, the Land Force Commanders and Principal Military Experts from our 25 member states convened at the Finabel - European Army Interoperability Centre — High-Level Conference in Bled, Slovenia. The current environment underscores the necessity for strategic foresight and robust deterrence measures. In a world full of complex challenges and emerging threats, understanding the nuances of military engagement is more critical than ever. Professor Antulio Echevarria II, a renowned military theory and strategic thinking scholar and the esteemed editor of the US Army War College Quarterly, Parameters, shared his pivotal insights. His presentation, "Weaponizing Risk: The Missing Element in Western Deterrence and Land Forces," highlighted the vital aspects of leveraging risk as a strategic asset, reinforcing our deterrence capabilities on the ground. Professor Echevarria, with a distinguished background as a West Point graduate and a prolific author of works like "Reconsidering the American Way of War," brought the strategic imperatives that modern land forces must embrace to the forefront. Drawing from a rich military history and a profound understanding of defence studies, his teachings provided a blueprint for enhancing our operational readiness and strategic outcomes. In these turbulent times, the role of Finabel has never been more crucial. In a world full of evolving geopolitical confrontations, Finabel stands as a beacon of cooperation, enhancing the synergy and operational effectiveness of European Land Forces. Fortified by shared knowledge and a unified vision, we support peace and stability in our continent. #MilitaryCooperation #EuropeanDefense #StrategicDeterrence #Finabel #LandForces #Geopolitics #MilitaryExcellence #FutureWarfare

A new paper from the #AIAlignment researchers (et.al) at Stanford University shows the potential risks of using powerful LLMs in high-stakes military and diplomatic scenarios. In simulations, the researchers observed instances of LLMs advocating 😱 for tactics like deterrence or first-strike strategies, which could easily intensify an ongoing conflict.💥 Why is that? Due to the nature of real-world text training, the LLMs may inherit biases through overly represented material about war tactics rather than peace negotiations. The paper stresses the need for human oversight and ethical design constraints. Authors: Gabriel M., Max Lamparth, Ph.D., Anka Reuel et al. #AIAlignment Link to paper and explanatory video from the amazing Sabine Hossenfelder in the comments section 👇

📣 🆕 ENC Analysis is out! 👉🏽 "Russia-Ukraine War and Geopolitical Competition in the Black Sea Region" by Dr. Nika Chitadze (ENC Academic Council Member and Professor at the International Black Sea University), Dr. Victoria Vdovychenko (Associate Professor and Program Director of the Center for Defence Strategies) and Dr. Natalia Albu (Associate Professor of the Alexandru cel Bun Military Academy of Armed Forces of Republic of Moldova).  In this ENC analysis, the authors explore the complex geopolitical dynamics of the Black Sea Region, emphasising its historical significance and the impact of the Soviet Union's dissolution, while also examining the geopolitical and geoeconomic interests of major players, including the #EU🇪🇺, #Russia🇷🇺, the #USA🇺🇸, #China🇨🇳, #Türkiye🇹🇷, NATO, and #Iran🇮🇷, to provide a nuanced understanding of the region's security landscape. Read the full analysis here: bit.ly/3VCDG2F #BlackSea #RegionalSecurity #Geopolitics

FELLOWS LECTURE Making the United Nations Command Great Again?: The Ontology of a 'Revitalized' United Nations Command and Its Implications Featuring Youngwon Cho, Department of Political Science Thursday, Feb. 8 4:30-6 p.m. Mulroney Hall 4030 Established in 1950 by the UN Security Council and led by the US, the United Nations Command (UNC) is the unified military command that organized and executed warfighting efforts of multinational armed forces against North Korea and China during the Korean War. Despite the signing of the 1953 armistice agreement that ended active hostilities, the withdrawal of all non-US forces from the UNC, and the eventual removal of its warfighting role, the command not only continues to exist but its political and military relevance, long-dismissed as marginal at best, has also been on the rise again as the US has sought to “revitalize” it by eliciting renewed commitments and contributions from the “sending nations” that originally fought as part of the UNC. Focusing on this American initiative, this lecture examines the evolving role of the UNC and its implications. The revitalization of the UNC entails social (re)construction of the command, in which a relatively stable structure of intersubjective knowledge surrounding its identity and norms is being destabilized by the US purposefully and strategically, from what the UNC is and what it does to what it should be and ought to do. Such normative changes are ontologically transformative and, unless contested sufficiently, potentially entrapping for the sending states, such as Canada and the host country, South Korea. All are welcome. #MulroneyInstitute #UnitedNations #StFXUniversity

Very happy to announce that Geopolitics, Military Modernisation and the Future of the Indo-Pacific, my latest book with co-authors Andrew Tan, Adam Lockyer and Yves-Heng Lim, is available for pre-order now from Routledge Taylor & Francis Group The book is both a theoretical and empirical examination to explain the current wave of force modernization in the Indo-Pacific. The empirical chapters explore the force postures, military modernization and procurement patterns of the region’s major players, and assess why these nations’ military modernization has followed particular courses. This book will be a valuable addition to scholars, practitioners and, indeed, anyone interested in the future stability of one of the world’s most important and dynamic regions. Reviewer Brendan Taylor says the book offers “ground-breaking analysis of Indo-Pacific military modernization”, “provides a vital bridge between abstract geopolitical theory and regional arms acquisitions”, and is “an indispensable resource, offering unique insight into the world’s most strategically vital region. Highly recommended!" Click below to read more and be sure to ask for the 20% discount. https://lnkd.in/gstN6f3Y

Andrew J. Bacevich is the Chairman of the Quincy Institute and Professor Emeritus of International Relations and History at Boston University, writes that "A sound revision of U.S. national security strategy would begin with announcing a timeline for withdrawing from NATO, converting it into an arrangement wholly owned and operated by Europe. The near impossibility of even imagining such an action by the United States testifies to the dearth of imagination that prevails in Washington." http://rb.gy/ybbjg Check out Rajan Menon's insightful article, "NATO and the Road not Taken," in our Spring 2023 Special Issue on The Great Power Competition in Eurasia. As an award-winning academic and researcher, Menon argues that starting a war is the easy part, but achieving strategic success is much harder. Join us as we explore the complex dynamics of the conflict and its impact on NATO and Russia. http://rb.gy/nax1q In "Ukraine: The War that Went Wrong," Hedges argues that NATO's support for the war in Ukraine is not going according to plan and new military hardware won't solve the problem. http://rb.gy/nax1q Read both articles here http://rb.gy/nax1q and here http://rb.gy/04r67 #Ukraine #NATO #Russia #geopolitics

Andrew J. Bacevich is the Chairman of the Quincy Institute and Professor Emeritus of International Relations and History at Boston University, writes that "A sound revision of U.S. national security strategy would begin with announcing a timeline for withdrawing from NATO, converting it into an arrangement wholly owned and operated by Europe. The near impossibility of even imagining such an action by the United States testifies to the dearth of imagination that prevails in Washington." http://rb.gy/ybbjg Check out Rajan Menon's insightful article, "NATO and the Road not Taken," in our Spring 2023 Special Issue on The Great Power Competition in Eurasia. As an award-winning academic and researcher, Menon argues that starting a war is the easy part, but achieving strategic success is much harder. Join us as we explore the complex dynamics of the conflict and its impact on NATO and Russia. http://rb.gy/nax1q In "Ukraine: The War that Went Wrong," Hedges argues that NATO's support for the war in Ukraine is not going according to plan and new military hardware won't solve the problem. http://rb.gy/nax1q Read both articles here http://rb.gy/nax1q and here http://rb.gy/04r67 #Ukraine #NATO #Russia #geopolitics