Future Character of Conflict

The Future Character of Conflict is a study initiated by the Vice Chief of Defence Staff on the Character of Conflict out to 2029 and the broad implications that flow from it.

The Future Character of Conflict found that the global trends indicate increasing instability and growing opportunity for confrontation and conflict.  State failure, extremists, increased competition for resources and the changing global balance of power will dictate why, where and how we engage in conflict.  The study concludes that the character of conflict will continue to evolve.  Though it is impossible to accurately predict the exact character of the future conflict, in many of our future operations we are likely to face a range of simultaneous threats and adversaries in an anarchic and extended operating area.

The study was led by the Ministry of Defence's Development, Concepts and Doctrine Centre (DCDC).  It was undertaken alongside the Centre's Global Strategic Trends Programme.  The work predates the Secretary of State's announcement of a Defence Review and is independent of it.