AGENDA

Discussing and deliberating solutions to the newfound problem of 5th generation warfare

“The nation is burdened with the heavy curse on those who come afterwards. The generation before us was inspired by activism and a naive enthusiasm, which we cannot rekindle, because we confront tasks of a different kind from those which our fathers faced.” ~ Max Weber

Interpol was set up as a policing organisation with global jurisdiction in 1914, with the aim of working together with law enforcement agencies across the world to prevent and solve crime. Fast forward a century later and no one could have ever predicted the advances in technology, let alone policing technology. This has also brought along the threat of fifth-generation warfare. This can be conducted through multiple means, such as social engineering, misinformation, cyberattacks, etc. While the earlier generations of warfare relied on the might of military, speed, stealth, and surprise, in this modern warfare the lines between war and politics, military and civilian are blurred, leaving the world as a constant warzone.

The burgeoning digitalization of the world only intensifies the threat of 5th generation warfare. Whether it is a gas pipeline shutdown or a sensitive data hack, one can only imagine the damage a belligerent nation with the latest technology can inflict upon the world. Where patience is vital and time is the most valuable armour, do you, delegates, have what it takes to engage in a ‘war of perceptions?’ When the stakes are high and the focus is on shaping perceptions rather than strengthening defence, can you defy the threats posed by identity politics, misinformation and the rise of insurgencies to emerge victorious?