This week among the major clusters of signals that emerge, we have those about Turkey, its geopolitics and growing Islamism, then the chronicles of an environmental catastrophe in the making, including resources depletion, with the rising importance of a “Gold Rush to Space” as one counterweight. In this framework, if we look at another – unsurprising – cluster, the U.S. government shutdown (and risk of default – but they would not dare, would they?), and turn to the very interesting “Un-Official Government Shutdown Clock”, we shall see that the NASA counts 97% of furloughed employees, the EPA 93% and the DOE 69%. Thus, to direct challenges to national security the shutdown represents, amply emphasized and documented, we may see another one being outlined, a challenge in terms of strategic choices and vision. The cluster on drones and “killer robot insects” is an indication of the changes taking place in warfare, while the more ancient but always efficient psychological operations continue unabated, as with Syria. Meanwhile, the agony of Greece and Greeks exemplifies a world that has changed, with its growing wealth and skyrocketing inequality and their so often forgotten, slowly emerging political consequences, at national and international level (including the progressive loss of legitimacy of international institutions, see the articles on the IMF and Greece and the U.N. and Haiti).
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Published by Dr Helene Lavoix (MSc PhD Lond)
Dr Helene Lavoix is President and Founder of The Red Team Analysis Society. She holds a PhD in political studies and a MSc in international politics of Asia (distinction) from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, as well as a Master in finance (valedictorian, Grande École, France).
An expert in strategic foresight and early warning, especially for national and international security issues, she combines 30 years of experience in international relations and almost 20 years in strategic foresight and warning. Dr. Lavoix has lived and worked in five countries, conducted missions in 16 others, and trained high-level officers around the world, for example in Singapore and as part of European programs in Tunisia and Jordan.
She has been a lecturer (Master level) and taught the methodology and practice of strategic foresight and early warning in prestigious institutions such as the RSIS in Singapore, SciencesPo-PSIA in France, the Ecole Supérieure des Forces de Sécurité Intérieure in Tunisia and the ENA Tunis, Institute of Leadership.
She regularly publishes on geopolitical issues, supply and uranium security, artificial intelligence, the international order, China’s rise and other international security topics.
Committed to the continuous improvement of foresight and warning methodologies, Dr. Lavoix combines academic expertise and field experience to anticipate the global challenges of tomorrow.
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