Message from General The Lord Dannatt GCB CBE MC DL

By common consent it is now widely agreed that military interventions, and the long stabilisation operations that follow, are costly in both blood and treasure - costly to our soldiers as well as to the civilians caught up in the conflict - and are likely only to be embarked upon in the near to medium term if a state's vital interests or territorial integrity are directly threatened. This, therefore, places a significant premium on conflict prevention. In addition, there has been an increased recognition that both conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction need a more integrated approach, combining defence, development and diplomacy perspectives. These are messages that have come clearly out of the UK's 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Durham University, with its well-established global networks, its diverse community of scholars studying conflict, and its consistent record of research and teaching excellence, has recognised the need to spot potential fragile states and problem areas sooner, to understand these places and their people better and to build up indigenous capabilities more comprehensively through a whole-of-government approach so that conflicts can be prevented, not just their consequences managed. Durham University reached the view that there was an urgent need to bridge traditional war studies and peace studies and decided to bring together defence, development and diplomacy perspectives under a formal focus on Global Security. It therefore will launch the Durham Global Security Institute for Defence, Development and Diplomacy in February 2011.

The Institute (DGSI) offers a Masters Degree in Conflict Prevention, Sustainable Peace and Security and another in Defence, Development and Diplomacy from October 2011. There are also research opportunities leading to a Doctorate, and a range of short Professional Development Courses focussed on military, diplomatic and development personnel, both British and international, all of which are particularly suited for those about to deploy to troubled areas.

DGSI's purpose and commitment is to work towards a reduction in conflict and an increase in global security through integrating defence, development and diplomacy. In the pages that follow there is detailed description of the vision, opportunities and programme that this unique new initiative offers. I commend DGSI to all who share our objective to work "towards preventing conflict and building a more secure world".

General The Lord Dannatt GCB CBE MC DL

Honorary Fellow, Hatfield College