Institute of Defence

The Defence Institute at the Berkeley Global Society Institute seeks to advance a deep, comparative, and forward-looking understanding of contemporary defence, security, and diplomacy challenges in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
Rooted in an interdisciplinary approach, the Institute aims to connect academia, defence institutions, industry, and civil society to shed light on the strategic transformations shaping international relations.
Its objectives are to:
  • Analyze the interplay of power, technology, and governance that is redefining global security architectures;
  • Promote dialogue and cooperation among allies, partners, and experts across key defence domains — cyber, space, maritime, air, and informational;
  • Strengthen the practice of defence diplomacy and industrial diplomacy as essential tools for building trust, interoperability, and sustainable security partnerships;
  • Encourage responsible innovation and strategic endurance in the face of hybrid threats and technological disruption;
  • Support the development of a new generation of scholars, policymakers, and practitioners capable of envisioning defence within an inclusive, sustainable, and cooperative framework.
With its global outlook and commitment to bridging research and practice, the Defence Institute serves as a laboratory for ideas and action, fostering connections between knowledge, diplomacy, public policy, and operational practice.

Chair

Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé

Canada

Defence, Political Sciences, Strategy