Seminar Abstract

This session explores the strategic context, tactical reality and technological background to global Great-Power Competition as it is likely to affect Singapore (and other like-minded nations) between now and the middle of the century. In an environment of heightened potential for conflict between China and the United States, a regional arms race, and the declining power of the U.S. military in the western Pacific region, Singapore finds itself in conditions of greater uncertainty and risk than at any time in the recent past. While Singapore’s outstanding track record of resiliency and national dynamism will stand the nation in good stead, the session will explore options for enhancing strategic depth through off-setting critical capabilities, developing national and regional support networks, and increasing technological and social resiliency for national mobilisation.

About the Speaker

Dr. David Kilcullen is Professor of International and Political Studies at University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra, Professor of Practice in Global Security at Arizona State University (ASU), and CEO of the analysis firm Cordillera Applications Group.

Professor Kilcullen is a leading theorist and practitioner of guerrilla and unconventional warfare, counterinsurgency and counterterrorism, with operational experience over a 25-year career with the Australian and U.S. governments as a light infantry officer, intelligence analyst, policy adviser and diplomat. He served in Iraq as senior counterinsurgency advisor to General David Petraeus, then as senior counterterrorism advisor to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, deploying to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Libya and Colombia.

He is the author of six prize-winning books and numerous scholarly papers on terrorism, insurgency, urbanization and future warfare, and was awarded the 2015 Walkley Award for his reporting on the rise of Islamic State. He heads the Future Operations Research Group at UNSW Canberra, and teaches contemporary strategy, special operations, urban warfare, military innovation and adaptation. He has led several concept-design projects for U.S. and allied governments on risk prediction, resilience and counterterrorism. He works with advanced research agencies in the United States, Canada, and UK on technology, artificial intelligence and future conflict.