Fit for Purpose: How Should the Higher Levels of Defence Be Organised in the Contemporary Strategic Environment?

This article examines models for the organisation of defence at the highest level and considers their suitability to operate in the contemporary strategic environment. We characterise the contemporary environment and test against this characterisation a separated model for strategic-level defence organisation, which contains distinct political strategic and military strategic structures and functions, and an integrated model in which these structures and functions have been brought together. From this analysis, and by drawing on the experiences of the commercial sector, we conclude that in matching the environment, an integrated model offers considerably more and clearer advantages than a separated one. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]