Global Strategic Trends: Global Perspectives

A strategic affairs workshop “Global Strategic Trends out to 2040” was held at The Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) organized jointly by IDSA and DCDC (Developments, Concepts and Doctrine Center) of the Ministry of Defence (DoD), UK on 30-31 October 2008. The aim was to gain a firm understanding of global and regional defence and security issues up to 2040. The DCDC, in particular, is interested in gaining insight into the views of a region which will be a major global power within the timescale of the study. About 30 representatives of service HQs, think tanks, the business community and IDSA participated. The inaugural session was addressed by Mr. K. Subrahmanyam, IAS (Retd). It was conducted over five sessions in which the changing global power structures, resources, identity and interests, security challenges and implications and the future nature of conflicts were discussed.

As part of the UK MoD, the DCDC is engaged in updating its publication ‘Global Strategic Trends’, through a series of workshops held in the Middle East, South and East Asia. These workshops build on the seminars and studies already held in the UK and in South Africa. The aim of these workshops for the DCDC, UK, was to gather views and perspectives on the regional and global environments from a non-UK perspective. The review of DCDC Global Strategic Trends 2007-2036 applies the programme’s global analysis process to identify the key themes and drivers that are likely to have an impact on global defence and security during the next 30 years. It is available at www.dcdc-strategictrends.org.uk.

The DCDC team comprised Commodore Sloan accompanied by Mr. Mark Ronald, a senior civil servant employed by the MoD, UK; Wing Commander Andy Burton, Staff Officer responsible for Geo-Economics; Mr Jess Odedra, Senior Scientist with responsibility for global science and technology issues and Commander Aiken, Staff Officer responsible for Geopolitics, currently the Royal Navy’s Senior Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge. Brig. Elderton, DA, UK High Commission, was also present.

First, the DCDC introduced their work in a short presentation on results and findings so far of their study. There was a lecture by Mr. K. Subrahmanyam, on Indian thoughts on strategic issues. The audio of the lecture is available for download here. Mr. Subrahmanyam complimented the DCDC on taking out a commendable publication and went on to suggest areas that the workshop could focus on. He also covered the global implications of the economic crisis underway. The workshop was conducted in two syndicates over two days.

Click on the Play button to listen to Mr.Subrahmanyam's lecture