Defence Chiefs Could Learn From Darwin
The experts say that by adopting Darwinian principles of adapting to best suit an environment, nations could capitalise on their opponents’ mistakes and win conflict with flexibility instead of power.
A major conference held in Edinburgh earlier this week heard how the principle of competition and survival in nature could help nations develop flexible and speedy defence systems for conflicts in the 21st century.
Researchers say the process of adaptation, which explains how biological organisms reproduce and change over many generations, could inform defence strategy because it offers ideas for building organisations and strategies that track competitors shifting tactics and capitalise on opponents weaknesses.
Experts say that the primary security threats today do not follow systematic or predictable patterns so without a flexible and effective response battles and wars may be lost because we will be 'out adapted' by our enemies. The question is how to adapt faster than competitors.
Dr Dominic Johnson, from the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh, said: "The history of life on earth has tried and tested far more adaptive strategies than militaries could ever hope to. They are all around us to see and their secrets have been extensively studied. We would be wise to identify the most successful strategies and apply them to the fight against insurgency and terrorism."
The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.
