Speakers
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Dr. Thomas Hughes
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Dr. Thomas Hughes is a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Manitoba, funded by the Canadian Defence and Security Network. His research focuses on threat perception and confidence-building, and he is currently working on Arctic defence policy. He completed his award-winning PhD, The Art of War Games, which explored confidence-building measures and the political effects of military exercises in Europe, at Queen’s University in 2021.
Conference Abstract
CLEAR COMMUNICATIONS AND SOLID FOUNDATIONS : The principles of decision-making in Arctic defence
The scope and complexity of challenges, opportunities, and threats in the Arctic means that there no shortage of options when it comes to Arctic policy. Many of these policy suggestions seem enticing, but deciding the most effective and appropriate course of action requires that the implications of decisions are well understood. This presentation therefore takes a step back from the noise and, rather than offering policy options, explores more broadly the way that we think about Arctic defence. Moving towards understanding about how we choose the ‘right’ Arctic activity, I will be highlighting some of the key foundations that require greater attention as we think about strategy and activity. The first is in better understanding the long-term objectives of Arctic actors, especially those who represent threats. Second, and closely connected to the first, a stronger awareness of the effects of signalling is necessary – how do we know how our strategic messaging is being received, for example, and how do we assess whether or not it is successful? Finally, the Pan-Domain and Multi-Domain concepts are increasingly prominent in defence thinking, but have not often been applied directly in the context of Arctic defence. This form of conceptual framework creates interesting opportunities for achieving Arctic objectives, but also raises challenging questions about the appropriate decision-making structure and the way in which the creation of dual-use infrastructure may influence Arctic threat perception.
