Contributions to Security and Defence Studies – serie

This open access book is the outcome of a unique multinational effort organized by the Hamburg-based Defense AI Observatory (DAIO) to portray the current state of affairs regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by armed forces around the world. The contributions span a diverse range of geostrategic contexts by providing in-depth case studies on Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, the UK, and the United States. The book does not speculate about the future implications of AI on armed forces, but rather discusses how armed forces are currently exploring the potential of this emerging technology. By adopting a uniform analytical framework, each case study discusses how armed forces view defense AI; how they are developing AI-enhanced solutions, adapting existing structures and processes, and funding their defense AI endeavors; to what extent defense AI is already fielded and operated; and how soldiers and officers are being trained to work with AI.

This open access book is the outcome of a unique multinational effort organized by the Hamburg-based Defense AI Observatory (DAIO) to portray the current state of affairs regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by armed forces around the world. The contributions span a diverse range of geostrategic contexts by providing in-depth case studies on Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, the UK, and the United States. The book does not speculate about the future implications of AI on armed forces, but rather discusses how armed forces are currently exploring the potential of this emerging technology. By adopting a uniform analytical framework, each case study discusses how armed forces view defense AI; how they are developing AI-enhanced solutions, adapting existing structures and processes, and funding their defense AI endeavors; to what extent defense AI is already fielded and operated; and how soldiers and officers are being trained to work with AI.

This book addresses critical questions in the field of terrorism studies that have long eluded consensus in the international community. It discusses why there is an abundance of definitions of terrorism and, on the other hand, the absence of a standard definition of terrorism reflected at the international level, shedding light on the elusive boundaries for achieving a global consensus.The book's two compelling hypotheses pave the way for a fresh perspective on counterterrorism efforts. Firstly, the need for new legal frameworks that adapt to the evolving nature of terrorism, encompassing state-sponsored terrorism. Secondly, by examining the historical roots of terrorism, this book uncovers patterns that could reshape future counterterrorism strategies.Drawing on interviews with 20 leading experts in terrorism studies from diverse backgrounds and regions, this book provides invaluable insights and ensures a well-rounded examination of the subject. It will appeal to students, scholars, and researchers of security studies, political science, international relations, and terrorism studies in particular, as well as policy-makers interested in exploring the complexities of countering terrorism in our ever-changing world.

This book addresses critical questions in the field of terrorism studies that have long eluded consensus in the international community. It discusses why there is an abundance of definitions of terrorism and, on the other hand, the absence of a standard definition of terrorism reflected at the international level, shedding light on the elusive boundaries for achieving a global consensus.The book's two compelling hypotheses pave the way for a fresh perspective on counterterrorism efforts. Firstly, the need for new legal frameworks that adapt to the evolving nature of terrorism, encompassing state-sponsored terrorism. Secondly, by examining the historical roots of terrorism, this book uncovers patterns that could reshape future counterterrorism strategies.Drawing on interviews with 20 leading experts in terrorism studies from diverse backgrounds and regions, this book provides invaluable insights and ensures a well-rounded examination of the subject. It will appeal to students, scholars, and researchers of security studies, political science, international relations, and terrorism studies in particular, as well as policy-makers interested in exploring the complexities of countering terrorism in our ever-changing world.

This edited volume provides a multidisciplinary analysis of the failure of democratic state building in Afghanistan. Encompassing insights from diverse perspectives and different theoretical viewpoints—most importantly, those of Afghan nationals—the chapters address complex issues, including the extent of global hegemonic power, the efficacy of nation-building strategies, the clash between modernization and cultural legacies, and the intricate task of establishing enduring institutions amid pervasive clientelist networks. The volume is divided into sections addressing a key aspect of the situation: state institutions and society; insecurity and corruption; social and economic development; women’s rights. Drawing crucial lessons from a turbulent past to inform and guide future endeavors towards a stable, prosperous Afghanistan, this volume will be of interest to researchers and students of Middle East politics, peace and conflict studies, security studies, development, history, and sociology.

This open access volume explores Ukraine's challenges post-war, focusing on economic revival and sustainable development. Addressing scholars, policymakers, and practitioners the book discusses pivotal issues for the rebuilding of Ukraine, such as institutional changes, economic hurdles, social stability, and environmental rejuvenation.The book highlights the inevitable need for Ukraine's institutional transformation, essential for EU and NATO integration. It goes on to examine the global geopolitical and economic repercussions and emphasizes the pivotal role of energy independence in the European landscape.Through a multi-disciplinary lens encompassing political science, economics, and law, this book provides evidence-based insights and policy recommendations. Offering a comprehensive presentation of post-war challenges, it offers an invaluable guide for policymakers and practitioners interested in the complexities of Ukraine's reconstruction.This is an open access book.

This book examines the political, diplomatic, and financial responses to the Russo-Ukraine War through the lens of Realist international relations theory. Analyzing the origins and ongoing dynamics of the conflict, the book sheds light on how the West - especially the EU and NATO - has reacted to the war and discusses the implications of its strategy. It critically explores the influence of national populism and internal disunity within the West, particularly against the background of rising Trumpism.The book offers a fresh perspective on the geopolitical shifts reshaping power dynamics and traditional international relations. From Ukraine's military struggles to NATO’s challenges, it analyzes how the conflict has disrupted existing political norms. The book makes a case for rethinking the global political framework as the war continues to evolve and will appeal to students, scholars, and researchers of international relations and geopolitics.  “This book offers a timely analysis of the Russo-Ukraine War and its transformative impact on global geopolitics. Examining the conflict's origins, strategies, and broader implications provides essential insights into shifting international dynamics and challenges to traditional geopolitical paradigms, making it an invaluable resource for understanding the current crisis and evolving frameworks of global relations.”Lisheng Dong, Emeritus Professor at the University of Tartu and former Visiting Professor at the University of Zurich “The West’s Response to the Ukraine War is a bravura performance. Highly recommended for public and academic libraries.”Joseph M. Siracusa, Professor of Global Futures, Curtin University, Perth Australia

This volume critically examines whether the United Kingdom, NATO, and the EU are equipped to engage in both defensive and offensive economic warfare. In an era where economic leverage is increasingly used as a tool of statecraft, nations worldwide are struggling with the complexities of economic warfare. The book discusses contested terminology and concepts, often blurred with geoeconomics, economic statecraft, and weaponized interdependence.Through a thorough analysis of organizational structures, doctrines, and strategic cultures, the book explores the legitimacy and implications of using economic means to influence state behavior. As global actors ramp up their economic warfare capabilities, it questions whether such strategies are a necessary evolution or a disruptive force to international norms. The book will appeal to students, researchers, and scholars of international relations, political science, security studies, and defence studies, as well as policy-makers and practitioners interested in a better understanding of the future of global economic security.

This edited volume discusses civil-military relations in Latin America. Written by regional experts, the chapters take a multifaceted approach, combining a general overview of the situation in the region, a historical analysis of its evolution and its causes, and an in-depth analysis of national cases: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay and Venezuela. The case studies examine power relations between armed forces and their respective governments—comparing the degree to which governments exercise political leadership, direction, supervision, and control over the armed forces and the degree of interference of armed forces in aspects of the State unrelated to traditional military missions of protection of sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity against external aggressions.   Giving a nuanced view of a complex problem that continues to have a strong impact on political stability, human rights, and the quality of life in the region, the book will be of particular interest to researchers and students of international relations, Latin American politics, defense, and security studies.

This monograph addresses the role of criminal non-state actors in South America. In a departure from traditional analysis, the author notes that non-state actors that affect political and social life in the Global South are not always terrorist actors or the result of political disputes. In several countries, criminal actors with a high degree of complexity emerge, capable of performing violent actions that proportionally surpass the economy of crime. Furthermore, they are capable of carrying out actions beyond the state, in a transnational approach, connecting with criminal organizations in other countries and or even other violent non-state actors. This volume consolidates studies on criminal non-state actors in South America, analyzing their historical development, governance capacity, profiling key actors, and assessing their overall effect on international relations as a whole. As such, it will be useful to students and researchers interested in international security, criminology, Latin American studies, and peace and conflict studies.

This edited volume explores the complex relationship between AI, media and international security, focusing on key criteria. First, identifying AI applications like automated content and deepfakes. Second, evaluating security risks, including AI-driven information and psychological warfare, while considering geopolitical factors in a shifting global landscape. Written by a collection of international experts across diverse disciplines and regions in the world, the chapters take a multidimensional perspective to provide a holistic understanding of the various implications of the use of AI in media.This volume contributes to research on AI's intersection with media and international security, examining AI's implications, challenges, and malicious uses. It also explores media diplomacy's role in navigating shifts in global power dynamics. Bridging political science, international relations, security studies, journalism, and communications, this book will benefit researchers and students across these fields.

How can intelligence agencies be held accountable without compromising their ability to act quickly and effectively? This book presents how, since 2017, Canada has reshaped its oversight of the CSIS and CSE intelligence services. It describes how the new oversight bodies - the NSIRA, the NSICOP, and the Intelligence Commissioner - work together to review, monitor, and guide intelligence operations. Using open-source reports and data, the book conducts case studies and international comparisons to evaluate whether these reforms have increased transparency and accountability while maintaining operational effectiveness.Addressing professionals, policymakers, and researchers, the book introduces an innovative performance review method tailored to intelligence work. It highlights the gains and growing pains of Canada’s oversight system and offers five practical reforms to improve it. Written in a clear, evidence-based, and policy-focused style, the book helps readers understand the real-world impact of intelligence oversight and how democratic values and national security can coexist.

The emergence of global terrorism has led to new, innovative artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning techniques for effective counterterrorism. This book explores the transformative role of AI and deep learning in combating global terrorism, providing a comprehensive analysis of how these technologies can safeguard nations and societies. It presents strategies for utilizing AI and deep learning in intelligence gathering, predictive analysis, surveillance, and threat detection. The book examines the use of machine learning algorithms to analyze vast amounts of data, identifying patterns and trends to anticipate potential terrorist activities. It highlights how AI-powered systems enhance counterterrorism operations, real-time responses, and decision-making processes. Offering technical insights and practical applications, this book will appeal to students, researchers, and scholars of security studies, international relations, law, and political science, as well as to policymakers, and security professionals interested in a forward-thinking approach to combating terrorism in an interconnected world.

This book provides a systematic and comprehensive analysis of the full spectrum of Russian influence operations targeting international actors and various segments of society following the onset of the war in Ukraine. It explores Russia's revisionist foreign policy, which has long aimed to challenge the post-Cold War international order through a combination of information operations and military power.Russia's extensive military campaign in Ukraine is framed not merely as an assault on the Ukrainian nation but as a broader confrontation with Western countries, as orchestrated by the Kremlin. The book examines the deliberate escalation of tensions since the Euromaidan protests in Kyiv (2013–2014) and the subsequent overthrow of the pro-Russian Yanukovych regime. This period marked the beginning of intensified hostilities, culminating in the annexation of Crimea and the establishment of pro-Russian puppet states in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in 2014, followed by their incorporation into the Russian Federation in February 2022.In addition to providing a historical overview, the book examines the organization and structure of Russian influence operations. It introduces modernized concepts and offers a novel classification of "influence operations," exploring their connections to information warfare, computational propaganda, disinformation, cyberattacks, AI-generated attacks, and the manipulation of politicians and opinion leaders, among other tactics. This study presents a critical resource for understanding the multifaceted nature of Russian influence strategies in the contemporary geopolitical landscape.

This book examines the role and impact of European Union (EU) agencies in the areas of justice and home affairs, common foreign and security policy, and common security and defense policy. Through comparative case studies of thirteen key agencies, including the European Defense Agency (EDA), Europol, Frontex, and the Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), it sheds light on the agencies' roles and impacts.The book explores four main areas: the conditions that led to the establishment of these agencies, their institutional structures, how they execute their powers, and how they have responded to Russia’s war against Ukraine. Using the principal-agent concept, the book analyzes power delegation, information asymmetry, accountability, and control.The book provides insight into the agencies' activities, their role in enhancing the security of EU citizens, and their response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Additionally, it discusses future challenges and prospects for EU agencies in the evolving security landscape. Therefore, this book will appeal to scholars, students, policymakers, security professionals, and anyone interested in the EU's security framework and the role, impact, and future challenges of EU agencies in security and defense.

This volume discusses the rise of drone technology in modern warfare, focusing on its profound implications for global military competition, arms control, and international security. Situated within the broader context of contemporary international relations, where emerging military technologies are increasingly central to the formulation of national security strategies, this book explores not only the technological advancements that enable drone warfare, but also the strategic, political, and ethical dilemmas that arise from their widespread use.The scope of the book spans several key areas: the rapid development of drones as tools of military power, the implications for global arms races, the challenges they present to arms control frameworks, and the evolving nature of international security in an age of autonomous and semi-autonomous weapons systems. Through an interdisciplinary lens, this book draws on international relations theory, security studies, and military strategy, seeking to provide a nuanced understanding of the issues at play.Filling a critical gap by providing a detailed, interdisciplinary examination of the global "drones race" and its consequences for security, governance, and international norms, this volume will be of interest to scholars and students working in fields such as security studies, arms control, the proliferation of conventional weapons, and international security.

This book emphasizes the pressing necessity for the European Union (EU) to reduce its reliance on external actors and develop the ability to act independently in critical areas such as defense, energy, advanced technology, and raw materials. Building on the author’s previous work on the EU’s soft power, this book contends that strategic autonomy is no longer a theoretical ambition. It is a matter of the EU’s survival. This urgency arises amid the collapse of the international rules-based order, the resurgence of authoritarian regimes, and the United States’ departure from its traditional role as a global champion of democracy.Drawing on unique insights gained from diplomatic experience in Kosovo, Ukraine, and Rwanda, the author blends practical analysis with geopolitical insight to evaluate the EU's gaps in strategic autonomy and explore its untapped potential. The author's real-life accounts, from seeking shelter during wartime in Kyiv to navigating global economic competition, highlight that strategic autonomy has tangible, impactful consequences. In short, the book emphasizes that the geopolitical message to the EU is clear: adapt or become irrelevant.

For decades, Israel ignored the Shiite community in Lebanon. That blind spot proved catastrophic. In this gripping account, drawing on 24 years of military intelligence experience, leaning on rare Arabic sources, a former senior Israeli intelligence officer takes you behind the scenes of decisions that shaped the Middle East for generations. From the early neglect of Lebanon’s Shiites to the fateful 1992 strike that killed Abbas Musawi and propelled Hassan Nasrallah to power and his elimination 32 years later by Israel on September 2024.Part memoir, part strategic analysis, this book offers lessons for policymakers, scholars, and anyone seeking to understand the cost of ignoring history. This reconstruction of the final days of Hassan Nasrallah also reveals how strategic miscalculations turned opportunity into enduring conflict and illuminates the hidden dynamics of Lebanon’s transformation.