About
The Cambridge Security Initiative (CSi), chaired by Sir Richard Dearlove, former Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, provides a unique link between the worlds of business, government and academia. With unrivalled expertise in security and intelligence issues, the organisation integrates long-term historical trends with the experience of security professionals to deliver prescient analysis of current and future threats to a range of clients and to its signature ‘International Security and Intelligence’ programme.
Commissioned analysis has typically been sought by clients requiring professional, up-to-the minute briefings focussed on specific regions or business sectors on which to base key assessments of future risks, options and opportunities. To achieve this, CSi has brought together bespoke teams of experts who, while varying in age, nationality and profession, share the ability to contribute significant, contemporary and often unique insights to written reports overseen, edited and signed off by the Directors. Recent clients have included UK and US government agencies, management consultants, international accountancy and finance firms. Looking forward, the work of the CSi is attracting strong interest from organisations with international interests in banking, law, infrastructure, energy and utilities. Subjects likely to be high on the agenda include the fast-changing situations in the Middle East, Russia and China and their neighbours, cyber security and the rise of extremism in Europe and security threats to the UK, Europe and the U.S.
The International Security and Intelligence Programme has been organized and taught in recent years by many of the leading lights of CSi and underlines CSi’s strong links with and commitment to academia. A four-week university-level programme aimed at those with an academic or professional interest in intelligence and contemporary threats offers a unique opportunity to work with leading practitioners and academics from the security and intelligence worlds. Chaired by Sir Richard Dearlove and convened by Professor Michael Goodman and Dr David Gioe, the programme considers the claims of state secrecy; the threats of nuclear proliferation, cyber attack and terrorism; the problems generated by the demand for regional security, of governing diversity and the impact of revolutions. Understanding intelligence collection and how it is used; counter-intelligence and covert action, what intelligence can achieve and its limitations are all major themes in this highly sought after programme.
Any profit generated through the activities of the CSi are committed to the support of graduate students studying Security and Intelligence related subjects in the University of Cambridge.
News
ISI Conference Keynote Speaker Announced
Sir Anthony Brenton, former British Ambassador to Moscow, will be the ISI 2017 conference keynote speaker. He will discuss Putin’s Russia and national security.
The two-day conference on ‘Intelligence and National Security Policy in a Changing World’ comprises a series of keynote sessions, panels and interactive conversations featuring some of the leading figures in the worlds of intelligence, academia and industry. The focus of the conference is the changing shape of intelligence and national security in the 21st century. The previous year has heralded some of the greatest changes and biggest challenges since the end of the Cold War. To untangle some of these issues speakers will address such diffuse topics as ‘Security implications in the post-Brexit and Trump administration world; the implications of technology and automation for society and security; the legacy of the Arab Spring; and emerging conflict zones’.
You can view the brochure and find out more information here. Additionally, you can sign up for the conference here.
The International Security and Intelligence Programme
Cambridge Security Initiative is pleased to announce that it will be offering a 2017 summer programme entitled ‘International Security and Intelligence (ISI): Twenty-First Century Perspectives on Intelligence and Contemporary Threats’. This programme will be held in the beautiful surroundings of the University of Cambridge, England over four weeks in July 2017. It is based on a highly successful programme first developed in 2013 and held at Pembroke College, Cambridge, England. The programme will bring together a range of top UK and US intelligence and security professionals and experts and features former head of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) Sir Richard Dearlove.
The New Sultan: Erdogan’s Consolidation of Power in Turkey
The recent attempted coup in Turkey revealed the apparent paucity of relevant information regarding this important NATO ally and EU applicant. To remedy this important strategic gap CSi commissioned our most trusted Middle East Associate Dr Renad Mansour to prepare The New Sultan: Erdogan’s Consolidation of Power in Turkey. It catalogues the well-springs of President Erdogan’s powerbase and that of his opponents. The paper also catalogues how, post the attempted coup, Erdogan has marginalized and is attempting to destroy his opponents. Dr Mansour also examines the implications of the coup and the political landscape in Turkey. To read this important paper please follow the link.
A new CSi publication: Cash is king – the digital revolution: the future of cash
The Cambridge Security Initiative (CSi) is pleased to publish the first of an occasional series of public interest papers designed to stimulate discussion on current issues of national and international interest. This first paper relates to the current conversation on the future of cash in the domestic and international economy. The lead writer of the future of cash is Dr Alfred Rolington, a CSi fellow and an acknowledged leader in the fields of cyber security and economic security. His stimulating journey through the history of cash and its role in current financial transactions compared to other forms of payments leads him to the view that the dire predictions of the imminent death of cash as a means of exchange are wildly exaggerated. To ensure the widest possible dissemination of the paper CSi is making it available in pdf form through the link given below. If you would like a hard copy please email us at info@thecsi.org.uk.
CSi Partners
Sir Richard Dearlove (Chair)
Richard Dearlove is the former Master of Pembroke College Cambridge. He served as Chief (known as ‘C’) of the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) from August 1999 until his retirement in July 2004. For the preceding five years he was Director of Operations and, from 1998, Assistant Chief. As Director of Finance, Administration and Personnel he also oversaw the move of SIS into its Headquarter Building at Vauxhall Cross in 1994. He is a career intelligence officer of thirty-eight years standing and has served in Nairobi, Prague, Paris, Geneva and Washington as well as in a number of key London-based posts.
Professor Stefan Halper
Stefan Halper holds doctorates from both Oxford and Cambridge. He has served four American presidents in the White House and Department of State and is an expert on US foreign policy, national security policy, China and Anglo-American relations. Halper was Executive Editor and host of “Worldwise”, a national televised program on foreign and national security affairs from 1996-2000 and “This Week from Washington”, a national radio program aired from 1985-2001. He is a Life Fellow of the Centre of International Studies and a Life Fellow of Magdalene College, Cambridge.
Dr Peter Martland
From a background in business history, Dr Martland specialises in intelligence and security studies. He is the author of six books and has contributed to many more, latterly in the field of intelligence and security history. He was part of Professor Andrew’s research team which produced the authorised history of MI5 Defence of the Realm (2009). He edits the Boydell and Brewer intelligence and security series. He has supervised generations of Cambridge undergraduate and graduate students and taught history, intelligence and security related courses at Pembroke College, International Programmes Department. He is a co-sponsor of the Cambridge Intelligence Seminar.
Dr Alan Dawson
Between 2004 and 2014 Alan Dawson was Director of International Programmes at Pembroke College Cambridge in which role he created many of the programmes which have secured for the College an international reputation for academic enterprise, innovation and quality. Drawing students from leading universities world-wide, these programmes include the highly sought-after International Security and Intelligence programme which is taught and organised by many of those who are now associated with the CSi.
The Advisory Board
Professor Michael Goodman, King’s College, London
Michael Goodman is a Reader in the Department of War Studies, King’s College London. He has published widely in the field of intelligence history and scientific intelligence, including Spying on the Nuclear Bear: Anglo-American Intelligence and the Soviet Bomb (2008); Spinning Intelligence: Why Intelligence Needs the Media, Why the Media Needs Intelligence (2009); and Learning from the Secret Past: Cases in British Intelligence History (2011); The Routledge Companion to Intelligence Studies (2014) and Spying on the World: The Declassified Documents of the Joint Intelligence Committee (2014). He has also contributed articles to many academic journals.
Professor Lord Hennessy of Nympsfield, FBA
Peter Hennessy is Attlee Professor of Contemporary History at Queen Mary, University of London and a Fellow of the British Academy. He spent his early career as political correspondent for the Times newspaper as a leader writer and Whitehall Correspondent, the Financial Times as its Westminster correspondent and the Economist. Lord Hennessy is the pre-eminent interpreter of the British constitution, cabinet government and intelligence communities. His many previous books include Cabinet (1986), Whitehall (1989), Never Again: Britain 1945-51 (1992), The Hidden Wiring: Unearthing the British Constitution (1995), The Prime Minister: The Office and Its Holders since 1945 (2000), The Secret State: Whitehall and the Cold War (2002), and Having it So Good: Britain In The Fifties (2006). His most recent book is Distilling The Frenzy: Writing The History Of One’s Own Times (2012).
Professor Sir David Omand, GCB
After a distinguished government career in defence, security and intelligence, David Omand is now one of the leading figures in shaping public debate on national security. He was the first appointee, in 2002, to the re-vamped post of UK Security and Intelligence Coordinator, responsible for the UK’s national counter-terrorism strategy and ‘homeland security’. He spent much of his earlier career in the Ministry of Defence, including as Director of the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), Deputy Secretary for Policy, Under Secretary in charge of the defence programme, and Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State. He also served for three years in Brussels as Defence Counsellor to NATO and for seven years on the UK’s Joint Intelligence Committee. Sir David was educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and is currently Visiting Professor at the War Studies Department, King’s College, London.
Lord Wilson of Dinton, GCB
Richard Wilson entered the Civil Service as an assistant principal in the Board of Trade in 1966. He subsequently served in a number of departments including 12 years in the Department of Energy where his responsibilities included nuclear power policy, the privatisation of Britoil, personnel and finance. He headed the Economic Secretariat in the Cabinet office under Mrs Thatcher from 1987-90 and after two years in the Treasury was appointed Permanent Secretary of the Department of the Environment in 1992. He became Permanent Under Secretary of the Home Office in 1994 and Secretary of the Cabinet and Head of the Home Civil Service from January 1998 until September 2002. He was Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge from 2002-12. He remains actively interested in the contribution of academic research to policy making.
Sir Iain Lobban
Iain was the Director of the UK’s largest intelligence and security agency, GCHQ, from mid 2008 to late 2014, having previously served as its Director General for Operations from 2004. This represented a period of over ten years’ leadership of operational delivery in contexts as varied as counter terrorism; cyber defence; support to the military campaigns in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya; the prevention and detection of serious crime; and the development of an integrated service of intelligence and security. Cyber Security, both nationally and internationally, has been at the heart of his role in recent years. As the GCHQ Director he attended the UK’s National Security Council on a weekly basis from its very first meeting in May 2010 and was a Principal member of the Joint Intelligence Committee for over 6 years.