The Strategic Gap in British Defence Policy
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Abstract
As the United Kingdom faces a defence review, most probably in 2010, it needs to clarify an agenda befuddled by human-security needs and the publicity given to international terrorism. The war in Afghanistan rests on the assumption that the ‘special relationship’ with the United States remains the central pillar of defence thinking. Another assumption is that major inter-state war is unlikely. Such an expectation suggests that deterrence continues to play an important if under-recognised role. Britain remains ready to use war to pursue its policy goals, but the wars in which it has engaged since 1982 have been limited. Defence reviews should be conducted regularly, as in the United States. Moreover, the creation of defence policy needs to be more central to party political debate, not least so that the electorate is more directly engaged in and informed about the issues.