Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies

Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies
Name	Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies
Established	1996
Type	Research institute
Headquarters	Singapore
Leader title	Director

Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies is a Singapore-based research institute focused on strategic studies, regional security, and defence policy. The institute engages with academic, diplomatic, and defence communities including analysts from Association of Southeast Asian Nations, scholars linked to Harvard University, officials from Ministry of Defence (Singapore), and observers from United Nations missions. It contributes to policy debates involving actors such as People's Republic of China, United States Department of Defense, Australian Department of Defence, Japan Self-Defense Forces, and regional think tanks like S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, International Institute for Strategic Studies, and Center for Strategic and International Studies.

History

The institute was established in the late 20th century amid shifts following the End of the Cold War, regional crises such as the 1997 Asian financial crisis, and evolving security dynamics involving South China Sea dispute, East Timor crisis, and the expansion of Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Early engagements included dialogues with delegations from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and partners including United Kingdom Ministry of Defence and United States Pacific Command. Its formation paralleled developments at institutions like IISS and complemented academic centers at National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University. Over time, it expanded research strands to address issues raised by events such as the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, Iraq War, Global War on Terrorism, and tensions involving Taiwan Strait crisis.

Organization and Governance

The institute operates under governance arrangements tied to Singaporean statutory bodies and engages leaders drawn from diplomatic, academic, and military backgrounds. Its board and advisory panels have included figures associated with Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Singapore), retired officers from Singapore Armed Forces, scholars from London School of Economics, and visiting fellows from RAND Corporation, Hudson Institute, and Brookings Institution. Administrative structures coordinate research clusters that interface with units focused on South China Sea dispute, Maritime Southeast Asia, Counterterrorism, and Cybersecurity concerns relevant to actors such as People's Liberation Army Navy, Royal Australian Navy, and United States Indo-Pacific Command.

Research and Publications

Research outputs encompass policy briefs, working papers, and peer-reviewed analyses addressing topics tied to incidents like the Malacca Strait piracy incidents, the Sino-US trade tensions, and legal frameworks such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Publications have been disseminated in collaboration with journals and presses linked to Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, and periodicals like Survival (journal), International Security, and Asian Survey. Research fellows have produced studies referencing historical cases including the Vietnam War, Kargil War, and treaties like the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia to illuminate contemporary dilemmas involving ASEAN Regional Forum and East Asia Summit deliberations.

Education and Training Programs

The institute offers executive education, seminars, and fellowships aimed at civil servants, military officers, and diplomats from institutions such as Armed Forces of the Philippines, Royal Malaysian Navy, Indonesian National Armed Forces, and partner universities including Stanford University and Columbia University. Courses draw upon case studies from the Gulf War, the Falklands War, and operations by forces like United States Marine Corps and British Army. Training modules emphasize strategic analysis relevant to crises such as North Korean nuclear crisis and capacities to operate in domains highlighted by Department of Homeland Security-style resilience frameworks.

Partnerships and Collaboration

The institute maintains bilateral and multilateral ties with think tanks, research centers, and organizations including CSIS (Indonesia), Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Asian Development Bank, and military academies such as United States Naval War College and Australian War College. Collaborative activities include joint conferences on topics connected to South China Sea arbitration and tabletop exercises involving delegations from Philippine Navy, Royal Thai Armed Forces, and representatives from European External Action Service and North Atlantic Treaty Organization liaison teams.

Impact and Influence

The institute has informed policy dialogues within forums such as ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus, ASEAN Regional Forum, and contributed to public debates during episodes including Spratly Islands dispute escalations and the Myanmar coup d'état (2021). Its analyses have been cited by media outlets covering events involving People's Republic of China naval modernization, United States–China trade war, and regional responses to pandemics like COVID-19 pandemic where security implications intersected with health policy. The institute's convening power has shaped agenda-setting among regional capitals including Singapore, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Manila.

Notable Personnel and Alumni

Alumni and affiliates have included diplomats, military officers, and scholars who later served in positions at Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Singapore), Singapore Armed Forces, academic appointments at National University of Singapore, and roles at international think tanks such as Chatham House, RAND Corporation, and Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. Visiting fellows and lecturers have included individuals associated with Harvard Kennedy School, Yale University, King's College London, and practitioners formerly posted to missions like United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor and embassies in Washington, D.C., Beijing, and Canberra.

Category:Think tanks in Singapore