This 3 day interactive seminar series will examine the use of force in the modern era by exploring the nexus of foreign policy and military decision-making.

The Objective

The objective of this seminar series is to challenge current thinking on this topic and give course participants a greater appreciation of when the use of force is appropriate, and the implications of using the military instrument under a number of different traditional and non-traditional settings.

The program for each day will be split, with presentations in the morning followed by afternoon interactive workshops. These will enable participants to explore the topics in greater depth, apply new ideas presented to current problems and issues, and develop possible strategies for how to deal with them.

Key topics to be investigated are:

• the reality of the current international strategic environment
• ethics and morality of modern conflict
• institutional mindsets in the bureaucracy
• civil-military relations
• environmental security
• interrogation techniques
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• psychological operations
• interagency cooperation

"Should force have to be used or threatened, it should always be employed with precision, in a manner consistent with our international obligations, with clear goals in mind, and with a clear appreciation of the long-term consequences of its use. Assessing the consequences of the use of force, and planning to secure the peace and the post-conflict environment, are vital elements of effective statecraft - and often more important than the planning and conduct of military operations."

DEFENDING AUSTRALIA IN THE ASIA PACIFIC CENTURY: FORCE 2030, Department of Defence, Canberra, Australia, 2009, p.21, 2.10.

The Speakers

Specialist speakers include people who have experience in providing political and governmental advisories, diplomacy, military field craft, as well as backgrounds in geology/geophysics, psychology, philosophy, terrorism and governance.

We are pleased to announce the following special guest speakers as part of our program:

• Professor Alexander Downer, Former Australian Foreign Minister and currently Secretary General of the United Nations’ Special Envoy on Cyprus and Visiting Professor at the University of Adelaide

• Mr Bill Paterson, Australian Ambassador for Counter- Terrorism

Who should come?

Advisors, practitioners and policy makers from the Department of Defence, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, AusAID, State Government including the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Attorney General's Department, Embassy and Consulate representatives, Emergency Service providers, Australian Federal Police and State Police, policy advisors, journalists and university researchers and other professionals interested in this topic.

This event is a joint-venture between the University of Adelaide's Centre for Professional and Continuing Education (PCE) and SAGE International.

To register, please complete and return our registration form

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