Samuel Jardine and Tim Clack, 'Geopolitics and Security in the Changing Antarctic', inClimate Change, Conflict, and (In)Security: Hot War, Tim Clack, Ziya Meral, and Louise Selisny (eds),Routledge,1 December 2023
Critics' Reviews;
'The book completes its mission to show that climate change is a driver of conflict, an obstacle to conflict resolution, and a creator of strategic shocks, tensions, opportunities, and risks… A must read for anyone interested in defence, security, or climate change.'(General Tom Middendorp, International Military Council on Climate & Security (former Chief of Defence of The Netherlands))
'Climate change is the single most significant long-term defence issue. Its consequences will shape threats, challenge governments (as competition for food, water increases) undermine military capabilities, and drive economic instability. The book offers insights that are at once timely, important, and alarming.'(Tobias Ellwood MP, Chair of the UK House of Commons Defence Committee)
'The climate crisis is the top geopolitical issue of our time. From the High North to equatorial Africa, global heating will be the major driver of the conflicts and threats we will face in the coming decades. This vital and timely book challenges us to marshal a much better response, urgently.'(Tom Fletcher, University of Oxford (former UK Foreign Policy Adviser to 3 UK Prime Ministers))
'There are uncomfortable gaps between knowledge, practice, and reality when it comes to how climate change is shaping human and hard security. This book is an important contribution to closing that gap, showing how to stop worrying about securitizing climate and start climatizing security.'(Hon. Sharon E. Burke, Ecospherics (Former US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Operational Energy))
'Climate Change and Insecurity is a clarion call for the military and security sectors. This exceptional collection shows how climate change and its impacts are reshaping the world and how nations must prepare for what is to come.' (Captain Dr Andrea Cameron, US Naval War College)
Parliamentary Commissions:
Homes Unfit for Heroes: The poor condition of armed forces accommodation and what needs to change- I had the priviledge to be the Project Manager and a Researcher for the late Lord Robert Kerslake's independent cross-bench committee, commissioned by Labour's Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey, exploring the current state, issues, and policy solutions for UK Armed Forces accommodation. I collaborated with personel from Lord Kerslake's Office and Researchers from the Kings College London Policy Institute and Analysts from London Politica to research, analyse, and write the report in support of theKerslake Commission on Armed Forces Hosuing.The Commissioners included;General Sir Richard Barrons, former Head of UK Joint Forces Command;Brendan Sarsfield, former Chief Executive of Peabody Housing Association;Professor Nicola Fear, Co-director of the King's Centre for Military Health Research;Terrie Alafat, former Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing;Darren Rodwell, leader of Barking and Dagenham Council;Dr Lisa O'Malley, Researcher at the Centre for Housing Policy and Senior Lecturer at the University of York.
Invited to give a lecture and Q+Adelving into the geopolitical driving forces behind the rise of astropolitics and the areas of competition, cooperation, and potential bloc-ification of space governance.
Invited as a delegate on behalf of theOpen Lunar Foundation(who is a UN permanent observer). Gave two statements to the Committee for "Item 5: General Exchange of Views" and "Item 15: Space exploration and innovation" respectively and participated in multiple side-events, including the consultations on ATLAC.
Invited as a "Expert" participant in his capacity as Affiliate and Researcher with theOpen Lunar Foundation to provide insight on emerging geopolitical and governance issues for Lunar activities and highlight norms-building initiatives as a building bloc to trust and alternative to international legally binding treaties as the latter remains "off the table".
'Future Space Threats' invitiation-only Conference hosted byWilton Parkin partnership with theUK's Ministry of Defenceand theForeign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, 24th - 26th January 2024.
Invited as an Affiliate of theOpen Lunar Foundationto provide insight on the emerging issues and opportunities to and from space and Lunar activities, governance, and security in the context of geopolitical competition. The Wilton Park Protocol was in effect. There will be an official report of the discussion. The conference was initiated to help inform UK policy over the next five years.
Invited as a panelist alongsideDavid PalmerandYueh Chento discuss how technological development impacts strategic competition between great powers and the current landscape for US-China tech competition.
'Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre Strategy Bootcamp' hosted by theRoyal Navy Strategic Studies CentreandStrategy and Security Institute (Exeter University), 25-26th October 2023.
Invited to audit the RNSSC Strategy Bootcamp for its Research Fellows. Engaged in Red Teaming on-going project, and seminars on global maritime strategy and Britan's "way of war".
'Orkney and the High North Opportunities' Roundtable hosted by theRoyal NavyatHMS President, 12 September 2023
Invited to participate in a Royal Navy-hosted government roundtable at HMS President during London International Shipping Week with representatives from major shipping and logistics companies, port and local authorities, and the Royal Navy, alongside key maritime associations, to discuss the emerging commercial and strategic opportunities and risks presented by a changing Arctic to inform future policy. Samuel was able to provide input, advice and recommendations from a geopolitical and political risk perspective.
AlongsideDr Tim Clack(Director of theCCIP) invited to deliver a lecture and undertake a Q+A session at Seaford House for the Royal College of Defence Studies. Part of the Faculty for National Security - Foundation Programme, the event was hosted by Lt Gen Sir George Norton (RCDS Commandant), Philip Parham (Director, Faculty for National Security) and Rebecca Engel (Head, Faculty for National Security). My lecture delved into how climate change is impacting both the Arctic and Antarctic from a geopolitical and security perspective. It complemented Tim’s which dived into climate change’s impact on global security and fragility.
Invited to give a lecture (with presentation) and Q+A session for the Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre to Royal Navy service personnel from all ranks, as well as related individuals. I provided an overview of Arctic Geopolitics, multipolar competition and emerging political, economic, and defence challenges and opportunities. This was for the Centre's monthly lunchtime lecture series on maritime strategy-related topics.
Philip Linden,Jessy Kate Schingler, and I present our findings and analysis from the scientific, engineering, technical, historical and geopolitical perspectives for the characteristics, needs, challenges, and feasibility of a common reference timing signal to serve future lunar operations and facilitate a low-cost, transparent approach to the development of a Local Lunar Time Standard and explore its implications. This event was based on ourwhite paper on this topic, written by Philip, myself, and Jessy Kate. (PDF here)
Jonathan McDowell,Rachel Williams, and I, in a talk chaired byChelsea Robinson, with concluding remarks fromJacob Malthouse, analyse the historical, geopolitical, political and institutional need, context, challenges, and opportunities for the establishment of a Lunar Activities Registry. Such a registry will allow actors to better understand what's happening in the lunar environment, where, and why while decreasing risk, building trust and increasing transparency between all actors against the backdrop of increasing multipolar competition. This launch event was for thewhite paper on this topicwritten by myself and Rachel (PDF here)
My live talk and Q&A for theRoyal United Services Institute (RUSI)(Webpage here), Chaired byAndrew Young, as part of the upcoming events commemorating the Falklands War 40th Anniversary RUSI invited me to give a 60-minute talk with Q&A session. Utilizing my archival research, I explore how the Falklands War was part of a historic and ongoing geopolitical competition over the Antarcitc's future between Argentina, Britain, Chile and the US, and how British policy from 1942-1961 impacted and influenced the context of the later conflict. I also offer a new take on the US-UK relationships in the region, and how Britain in fact "lost" regarding the Antarctic Treaty System. In the Q&A we delved into current geopolitics and what the future has in store for the Falklands and Antarctic.
I chaired a live discussion with Q+A segment delving into the emerging and overlooked political risks of 2023. These were risks which had a global impact but had been flying under the radar. I also was a speaker myself, presenting my work on astropolitical risks and the politicisation of space.
Interviewed by Melissa Nour Khemilet onAL24 News for my expertise and analysis regarding the ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, increasing state interest in space activity, and the emerging competition over this from a geopolitical and astropolitical perspective, as well as a rundown of the space governance, policy, and security issues arising from this and their potential impact on Earth. This appeared on TV and the segment can be viewedhere, 13 April 2023
Interviewed by Jay Heisler fromVoice of Americafor expert analysis on the politics and geopolitics of the Canada-China relationship. This appeared in the VOA article"New Charges of Chinese Interference Embroil Canadian MP", 24 March 2023.
Interviewed by Melissa Nour Khemilet onAL24 News for my analysis and insight into the geopolitics of "near-space", its potential, political risk, and challenges in the context of the China-US surveillance balloon incident. This appeared on TV and the segment can be viewedhere, 3 March 2023
Interviewed byDialoguefor expert analysis on space policy and security, particularly from a competition perspective. This appeared inDialouge's Spring 2022Journal edition under "Interviews: Samuel Jardine Space Policy and Resources", pp.32-35* *note due to a typo from the journal, the Antarctic has been referenced as the Arctic.
Interviewed byVoice Of America(VOA) for expert analysis on Arctic geopolitics, particularly concerning the UK and Canada's Arctic relationship and interests. This appeared in the VOA article "UK-Canada Naval Training Pact Reflects Rising Interest in Arctic" by Jay Heisler, 28 October 2021
Special guest onThe Auxiliary Chamberpodcast (founded and hosted by Bram Burger), Episode 4 'Empires on thin ice, the Antarctic treaty', 30 April 2021 (available on all major podcasting services)
I have established this research programme to uncover the emerging and overlooked geopolitical arenas of space, the seabed, Arctic, and the Antarctic and integrate them into the wider global context of political and geopolitical risk. These four arenas share significant geopolitical similarities despite their obvious physical differences; most particularly, each steadily offers a new frontier for potentially lucrative economic opportunities while increasingly facing the full spectrum of great and small power competition.
My team and I provide actionable insight and analysis regarding the emerging trends, issues, opportunities and risks to be found in these frontiers from a geopolitical, commercial, security and policy perspective. We hope to provide the thought leadership for stakeholders to best understand, navigate, and successfully operate within these rapidly changing spheres.
Programme Director for- 'Ukraine Watch',London Politica,25 February 2022 - 30th July 2022,
As part of London Politica'seffortsto provide pro-bono support to humanitarian NGO's, charities, organizations, and those affected by Putin's invasion of Ukraine, particularly in the face of a potential deterioration of trusted information flowing out of the warzone, I and my project co-lead, Ollie Gordon-Brown (A Senior Analyst at London Politica) have set up, provided analysis for, organized, and co-ordinated, a publicly-accessible rolling feed of analysis and updates from teams of London Politica's Research Analysts who are;
Providing rolling updates on the situation in Ukraine
Carrying out analysis of key issues and trends within Ukraine and internationally from humanitarian, security, economic, political, geopolitical, and defence perspectives.
Sifting through the mass of information, intelligence, propaganda, and fake news to bring to the fore trusted sources of information.
Providing a pillar of macro analysis for London Politica's other analytical teams who are working directly on client projects with organisations involved in providing humanitarian support to Ukraine.
Outcomes-This project directly helped support through analytical services 14 Ukraine-related charities (some of which arenowregular clients) operating on the ground. We were also recommended as a "go-to" and trusted source of information by NGO's and Charities such asHumanAid. The project continues under an expanded remit with 40 Analysts and 4 Research Directors working to provide both local and global coverage of the Ukraine War and its impact.