January 1, 1970

Held at the Legatum Institute, the Chair of Intelligence and Security Committee, Commander of Joint Forces Command, Foreign Policy and Media Experts debate the key foreign, security, and political challenges of our time

The panel debate includes:

•Chair: Manveen Rana; Editor of the World at One and PM Programme on BBC Radio 4

•Rt Hon Dominic Grieve MP; Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee; (Ditchley, ‘Democracy in the Digital Age’ report)

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•General Sir Richard Barrons; Commander of Joint Forces Command (RCDS ‘Use of the Military Instrument’ report)

•Nik Gowing; Visiting Professor at King’s College London and International Broadcaster (‘Thinking the Unthinkable’ report)

•Dr Edwina Moreton; Former Diplomatic Editor of the Economist and Associate Fellow at Chatham House (KCL ‘Instability and Conflict in the 21^st Century’ report)

•Claire Akkaoui: Kings College London (KCL ‘Instability and Conflict in the 21st Century’ report)

•Matthew Li Yiming: Kings College London (KCL ‘Instability and Conflict in the 21st Century’ report

The Military Instrument in the 21^st Century

Royal College of Defence Studies, Sir Tom Phillips, General Sir Richard Barrons and others

• This report highlights the changing security threats in the 21^st century. It warns that Western European societies have reduced their armed forces to such an extent that they now stand in a state of almost complete demobilisation. The report suggests the need for significant military power has not vanished and cautions that an effective military instrument can only be achieved with credible forces backed by equally credible resolve.

Instability and Conflict in the 21^st Century

King’s College London, Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman, King’s Think Tank next generation leaders and others

• This report examines five core themes relating to the question of what are the most pressing global challenges facing statesmen and women today. They cover the future of nation states; 21^st century propaganda; the challenge of securing peace; issues posed by the rise of Big Data; and the task of creating Smart Government.

The Future of Democracy in the Digital Age

Ditchley Foundation, Sir John Holmes, Lord Peter Hennessy and others

• This paper warns that democracy is under threat and must be fought for if it is to be maintained as the foremost system of political organisation. The paper explores the potential offered by new digital technologies and looks at how new participative mechanisms can be used to complement the traditional representative model.

Thinking the Unthinkable: A New Imperative for Leadership in the Digital Age

Nik Gowing and Chris Langdon, and CIMA

• This report examines the increasing proliferation of “unthinkable” events that have profound implications for governments and large corporate bodies: conflict in the East of Europe; the collapse of major financial institutions; unprecedented movements of people across continents. It examines what actions and systems are required to identify such threats before they emerge, and the skills required in leaders to cope with them when they do.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/_Ay_P_mGzMo