Defence Science Technology Laboratory
The 2023 UK Deterrence and Assurance Academic Alliance (DAAA) conference will be held 14 to 16 November 2023. Join the guestlist.
About the UK Deterrence and Assurance Academic Alliance
The UK Deterrence and Assurance Academic Alliance (DAAA) aims to stimulate new thinking, and reinvigorate UK expertise, on deterrence and related topics such as assurance, coercion and conflict escalation.
Bringing together those with an interest in deterrence and assurance is at the heart of DAAA activity. We are building a community of interest, made up of academic institutions in partnership with Dstl, leveraging existing expertise, conducting new research and encouraging the development of deterrence professionals.
We provide opportunities for UK universities to host events, ranging from small seminars to large conferences, that will bring together subject matter experts, young professionals, students, government policy and strategy leads, military personnel, and other stakeholders from UK and overseas.
We are also keen to partner with, participate in and promote other relevant events at UK universities. Please let us know about events that you may be running that would be of interest to DAAA members.
U.S. Strategic Command USSTRATCOM runs a parallel DAAA activity in the United States and we regularly partner in activities such as running the 2021 U.S. Strategic Command Academic Alliance conference and workshop.
Context
Its important to have UK national expertise on this subject. The 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review highlighted that one of the UK governments priorities is to deter state-based threats. In addition, National Security Objective 1 is defined as Protect our People, stating that the UK will deter potential adversaries, including through renewal of our nuclear deterrent.
2023 UK Deterrence and Assurance Academic Alliance Conference
Our next conference will be held from 14 to 16 November 2023, in partnership with the Scottish Council on Global Affairs.
The conference at Queen Elizabeth House in Edinburgh will bring together experts, stakeholders and parties interested in the evolving character of deterrence in the current security environment.
Events of the last 18 months have thrust deterrence and related effects such as assurance and coercion back into current debate. The security situation in Europe demands immediate attention, but a range of other challenges and issues persist. Building on The Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 and the 2021 Integrated Review, the 2023 UK Integrated Review Refresh recognised the growing importance of deterrence. This conference intends to stimulate discussion on a range of salient issues with a focus on representing the next generation of deterrence experts.
Well be covering a range of topics of relevance to deterrence and assurance, including:
- the relevance of deterrence and assurance to the Arctic and High North
- coercive strategies in an age of social media
- the Russian invasion of Ukraine: implications for deterrence and assurance
- strategic culture, domestic politics and alliance cohesion
- deterrence theory and practice in the 21st century
- space, modern strategy and deterrence
We will also be looking at case studies from which deterrence, assurance and escalation lessons can be identified.
The DAAA seeks diversity of opinions in submissions and speakers. The conference will be run in an inclusive manner with a culture that encourages constructive challenge. We encourage submissions from experts at any stage of their career.
For more information on the conference contact daaa@dstl.gov.uk
Reading list
For further information on deterrence and assurance, both in theory and in practice, alliance members have drafted a reading list to provide an illustration of academic and military understandings of the concepts.
Contact us
UK DAAA: daaa@dstl.gov.uk
Last updated 28 September 2023 +show all updates
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Added link to join the guestlist for the 2023 UK DAAA conference.