Roundtable Abstract:

In the 21st century, several factors are reshaping the characteristics of the military in conflict. Various civil agents, such as non-governmental organisations, require the armed forces to learn cross-domain cooperation. This necessitates adjustments to the organisation’s culture, doctrine and structure, particularly when it concerns operations other than war. Non-state security actors – both private military companies and terrorist groups – can also affect the operations of the military. In addition, technologies which are enabling remote-controlled battle and hastening the shift towards autonomous warfare will change the overall roles of the armed forces; indeed, several recent cases of hybrid warfare attest to these developments. The future role of the military and related matters are what countries have to grapple with these days. Dr Thomas X. Hammes’ rich experience and broad research focus will elaborate on these issues and recent trends related to them.

About the Speaker: 

Dr Thomas X. Hammes joined the Institute of National Strategic Studies  in June 2009. He is also an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, and his areas of expertise include Military Strategy, Future Conflict, and Insurgency. Dr Hammes graduated with a B.S. from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1975, and holds a Masters in Historical Research and Doctorate in Modern History from Oxford University. In addition, he is a Distinguished Graduate of the Canadian National Defence College. Dr Hammes’ publications include The Sling and the Stone: On War in the 21st Century and Forgotten Warriors: the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, the Corps Ethos, and the Korean War. He has also published 15 book chapters and over 120 articles; indeed, his publications have been used widely in staff and defense college curricula in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Dr Hammes has lectured extensively at leading academic and military institutions in the United States and abroad. Prior to his retirement from active duty, he served for 30 years in the U.S. Marine Corps to include command of an intelligence battalion, an infantry battalion, and the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force. He also participated in military operations in Somalia and Iraq, and trained insurgents in various locations.

Organised by IDSS, Military Studies Programme.