Global uncertainties; security for all in a changing world

Trans-national global crime such as drugs, people smuggling, money laundering and cyber crime, is increasing in sophistication and scale as criminals exploit today’s open and globalised world. Terrorism in pursuit of particular aims is increasing across the globe as many disparate groups see violence as a means to achieve their aims. Environmental stresses will continue to interact with human vulnerabilities to provide a powerful basis for insecurity in many parts of the world. Systemic research is needed to capture the direct and indirect contributions to global security arising from the continuing experience of extreme poverty - the world's poorest people are often those most vulnerable to harm from security threats.

All seven Research Councils will work together to address five inter-related global threats to security - Poverty (and Inequality & Injustice), Conflict, Transnational Crime, Environmental Stress and Terrorism, each linked in a systematic way to address three themes - Understand, Predict/Detect and Act. Research will be pursued that seeks to understand how crime, terror, environmental stress, and poverty create vicious circles through positive feedback. A particular challenge is to move debates away from a narrow definition of national interests to one in which national interests are best served by mutual attention to causes, detection, and prevention in the international domain.

For further information please visit http://www.globaluncertainties.org.uk/