Now we see the defence part of the Integrated Review. It reveals a series of big ambitions based on a faith in British science and technology and not a little low cunning to make it all work. Michael Clarke offers an update on the way the Armed Forces will be expected to fit into the …
Continue reading High-tech, low cunning: moving towards the sharp end of the Integrated Review
by Helen Ramscar Recent analysis of the rollout of Sputnik V has been called ‘moral panic’ and a ‘Western blunder’.[1] It is worth reminding that reasonable concern over the distribution of Sputnik V has been centred around the safety of human lives. For Russia has been distributing Sputnik V to countries worldwide before the vaccine’s …
The UK now faces a moment of reckoning, writes Michael Clarke. For the full article published on Forces.net on 14 March 2021, see: https://www.forces.net/news/hard-pounding-integrated-review-documents-are-about-arrive.
Recent British journal publications on Sputnik V have rocketed Russia’s vaccine diplomacy. The geopolitical ramifications of its wider rollout could be troubling. This article by Helen Ramscar was first published by RUSI on 12 March 2021 and can be accessed here too. The inclusion of Sputnik V, Moscow’s Covid-19 vaccine, in The Lancet on 2 February 2021 …
‘National Strategy’ is about making big decisions and the Prime Minister is set to launch a series of them. We are promised they will be big decisions –‘eye-popping’ said one insider. Some observers are suspicious that there will be too much ‘Brexit ideology’ behind them; others argue that they are long-overdue. Michael Clarke begins a …
Continue reading The Integrated Review: Does Boris Have the Courage to be Boring?
When all the different parts of the Integrated Review are finally published, they will point towards the creation of a ‘New Model Army’ for Britain. But will it be a model in the ‘exemplar’ sense; or more like the ‘Airfix’ sense? Michael Clarke describes the challenge. Cromwell’s New Model Army only lasted 15 years, from …
Continue reading Cromwell’s Ghost: Will the Integrated Review Give Britain a New Model Army?
Tipping Point 