Kokoda Foundation studies hard strategic challenges

Strategic issues have never been simple to deal with, and they're getting more complex and delicate all the time. A new defence and security think tank is preparing to do the hard yards.
Professor Ross Babbage is adamant: "Australia needs a way to think about its future security challenges. We need to bring government, academia and the private sector together to do that. And we must grow a new generation of strategic thinkers to prepare themselves for the challenges of leadership."

These concerns have resulted in the establishment of an independent, not-for-profit think-tank, called The Kokoda Foundation. Based in Canberra, the Kokoda Foundation operates as a 'virtual think tank' by assembling teams to undertake sponsored research on security-related to
"Finding better ways to discuss strategic challenges has been central to our thinking," said Ross Babbage, "so we have started research projects that look at big questions, in ways that identify practical options for Australian leaders to consider."

Retired Air Vice-Marshal Peter Nicholson also sees a real need for a new think-tank: "It is sometimes difficult for government and the private sector to have a frank discussion about issues that concern us. Sometimes that's a factor of sensitivity, other times it's a question of resources. Still again, it can be about priorities: after all, who has time to think twenty years down the track when immediate issues need all the attention they can get? I think Kokoda can play a really useful role in helping to close these gaps."

While in its formative stages, the Kokoda Foundation has already started some important tasks. "We have nearly completed our first research project on the New Air Combat Capability," said Peter Nicholson. "We gathered a range of experienced people from government, other think tanks and industry to discuss the options for Australia, and what the implications of future choices might be."

The Foundation intends to use these views to develop a comprehensive report on air combat capability by October 2005. Other projects, including an examination of the 'Strategic Tides in Asia', and 'Whole-of-Government Approaches to National Security in 2010' will start soon.

Planning is also well advanced for October's international conference that considers the next generation of threats to Australia. "We want this conference to be different," said Ross Babbage. "We want to look at security in its broadest sense, so we included threats to the biosphere, national will, the economy and national integrity. We also want to generate a discussion about these threats - it won't be another one-way flow from the podium. So we are inviting a range of local and international speakers to stimulate discussion in workshops and plenary sessions. I think it will be a unique opportunity for strategic thinkers from diverse backgrounds to have their say and, potentially, to have a real impact on developing national security thinking," he said.

Ross Babbage also said that the Kokoda Foundation takes its aim of developing younger strategic thinkers seriously. "We have already brought a number of younger and more junior scholars and officials into our activities, so we can give them an appreciation of what makes senior officials tick. We also recently sent one of our scholars overseas to participate in an international forum on regional security.

"And we are planning a major event next year that involves a group of our best 'young turks' working over a serious security challenge with the assistance of some very high profile leaders. I am particularly keen to make this an opportunity that both the younger generation, and we older people too, will count as a valuable experience," he said.

Another major project about to lift off drawing board is a refereed journal called 'Security Challenges'. "We saw that our security thinkers had no high profile journal to write for - certainly, no journal that could help them advance their professional standing," said Babbage. The editorial board for the journal is impressive, and includes people such as Eliot Cohen, Ramesh Thakur, Hadi Seosastro, Akio Watanabe, Gerald Hensley and Alan Stephens. "These people know security, they know the region and they are committed to thinking hard about the future security environment," added Babbage.

But why Kokoda? "Simple!" said Professor Babbage. "Kokoda was a tough campaign. Australia had no option but to win - it was a battle for our very future. And winning took considerable guts and determination. The Kokoda Foundation would like to use some of that same spirit to think rigorously about Australia's future."

More information on the foundation is available at www.kokodafoundation.org.

By David Connery