Sights set on conflict, use of force

Professional Education

A new seminar series at the University of Adelaide will explore the use of military force and its implications for governments, the military and society.

The three-day series - being held next month (8-10 July) - aims to open up high-level discussion about when the use of force is appropriate, and provide new thinking for practitioners and policy makers in government, defence, emergency services and other related professions.

"The implications of using the military are great, but for decades international relations (IR) and strategic studies (SS) have been treated as different spheres of thought," said the Chair of the series, defence consultant and former University of Adelaide academic Dr John Bruni.

"International relations is the preserve of the diplomat, the 'pragmatist' who understands the nature of international affairs and how it affects the national interest. Strategic studies is the preserve of the soldier who understands the nature of modern weaponry and how it can be used to intimidate challengers to the nation-state.

"While the diplomat may have some peripheral knowledge on the nature of force, diplomacy, in itself, is usually about conflict avoidance. For the military, strength through force is generally considered the absolute arbiter of national power.

"For politicians and policymakers, these often mutually conflicting spheres of national endeavour can lead to inconsistent and ineffective outcomes," Dr Bruni said.

"In an age where many traditional barriers between diplomacy and national security are being eroded, it is important that those in either field know and appreciate the perspective of the other."

Called Statecraft + Strategy, this professional development seminar series will feature specialist speakers with experience in providing political and government advisories, diplomacy and military field craft, as well as backgrounds in psychology, philosophy, terrorism, history, nuclear power, and governance.

Key topics to be investigated over the three days include:

• the reality of the current international strategic environment;
  
• ethics and morality of modern conflict;
  
• institutional mindsets in the bureaucracy;
  
• civil-military relations;
  
• environmental security;
  
• interrogation techniques;
  
• post-traumatic stress disorder;
  
• psychological operations;
  
• interagency cooperation.

The program for each day will be split, with presentations in the morning followed by afternoon interactive workshops. These will enable participants to explore the topics in greater depth, apply new ideas presented to current problems and issues, and develop possible strategies for how to deal with them.

The event is a joint venture between the University of Adelaide's Centre for Professional and Continuing Education (PCE) and SAGE International, a defence consultancy established by Dr Bruni.

Dr Bruni is well known to Australian media as a commentator on asymmetric warfare. After leaving the University of Adelaide in 2006, he worked in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as Special Military Advisor to the senior leadership of the UAE Federal Government.

For more information about Statecraft + Strategy, including the program, details of speakers, cost and registration, visit the website: www.adelaide.edu.au/statecraft

Story by David Ellis