Description
Within policy circles, the conduct of stabilisation is evolving in light of Western withdrawal from and reflection on Afghanistan, as well as evolving dynamics surrounding the war in Ukraine. Geopolitical competition and polarisation are deepening, and there have been significant changes in the nature of violent conflict, along with a greater willingness of some global and regional powers to use military force to further their political interests. Western governments have long been working to stem threats from serious organised crime, terrorism, corruption, illicit finance, drugs trafficking and war economies as part of efforts to promote stability overseas and strengthen their own national security. Recently, however, a primary focus on insurgency, terrorism and violent extremism in stabilisation operations may be giving way to questions over how to respond to illicit finance, corruption, organised crime and disinformation, and their effects on stability in contexts where violence is increasing below the threshold of war. How potential responses to this wider range of transnational threats in stabilisation might contribute to reducing violence, (restoration of) security and peaceful political deal-making is not yet well understood.
This roundtable offers an opportunity for exploring key issues under consideration within the policy and research communities working on stabilisation and related themes, in particular in relation to 'transnational threats' - with speakers and participants from policy, practice and research backgrounds with experience and expertise in a diverse range of geographic contexts as well as across a number of threat types.
Key questions for panellists will include:
- How are 'transnational threats' evolving in relevant contexts today?
- What risks do these pose for stability, national security, human security and human rights?
- How are different actors working to address instability challenges related to transnational threats?
- What are we learning about their successes and failures?
- How can tackling transnational threats contribute to peaceful political deal-making?
- How can we better understand the costs associated with trying to tackle transnational threats in stabilisation contexts, including assessing potential tensions and trade-offs?
