CBD Research Initiative In March 1993, the SISWO, a government sponsored inter-university research foundation, published the proposals for a research program on civilian-based defence (85 pages). It is written by Giliam de Valk, in close collaboration with Professor Niezing of the Free University of Brussels (Belgium). The Study and the Authors Giliam de Valk wrote his Master's thesis on "Strategy and Civilian-Based Defense" (University of Leyden, Netherlands); in this study the importance of developing a strategic framework for civilian-based defense was stressed. Johan Niezing is professor of Peace Research at the Free University of Brussels. He published several studies on civilian-based defense as a system of deterrence. His main book in this field (Sociale verdediging als logisch alternatief, Belgium/The Netherlands, 1987) will also be published in Russia and Germany, during 1993. Two approaches are supplementary to each other. According to Niezing, civilian-based defense has to be viewed primarily as a system of deterrence. His categorization stems from a formula originally developed by J.D. Singer: deterrence is the estimated capabilities times the estimated intentions as estimated by the opponent. With attention to the strategic approach this leads to the following frame for this study: la. Instrumental capabilities (fixed and added) in relation to civilian based defense: sources independent of people cooperating lb. Instrumental capabilities (variable) in relation to civilian-based defense: sources dependent on people cooperating 2. Psychological capabilities (existing and variable) in relation to civilian-based defense: sources dependent on people cooperating 3. Interaction of instrumental and psychological capabilities: processes for the making of civilian based defense 4. Strategy and the relation to an overall security policy 5. Security policy and its setting. In the strategic approach all the different elements are interconnected to direct them to the main aim of the conflict. The goal of this study is both to find out the different elements of civilian based defense and their overall interaction. Recent developments of research on civilian-based defense are taken into account. I mention. as an example, the proposals concerning intelligence services. At Harvard University Christopher Kruegler is furthering research on a comprehensive strategic approach. Kruegler pays attention to issues as clarifying the objective, the unity of command and the making of an operational plan. This study recognises the importance and wants to contribute to it by making supplementary proposals. Accurate intelligence is of utmost importance for the elements mentioned by Kruegler. Reliable intelligence not only leads to a more efficient way of deploying your means, it also gives you more possibilities of anticipating escalations, and thus the possibility of avoiding unnecessary violence. The study of organisations that will do the gathering of intelligence of a civilian-based defense security policy is uncommon and unusual. Moreover, it is simply totally neglected, probably because of the delicate position of intelligence services in today's security policy. In my view the study of issues that are both so important and touchy, are a primary aim of research. Therefore you will find research proposals like these in this study. History In its 1975 Memorandum on Disarmament, the Dutch government paid attention to the desirability of research into the possibilities of nonviolent conflict resolution in general and of civilian-based defense in particular. This has led to the appointment of the Advisory Group for Nonviolent Conflict Resolution, the Niezing committee. The members of the Niezing committee were scientists and members of the administration. Due to changes in the political climate at the dawn of the 1980's the Niezing committee ceased to operate. Out of the ten proposals the Committee suggested only one was carried out. The budget was cut from approximately Dfl. 3,500,000 to a mere tenth. One reason for initiating the SISWO/CBD-group was to continue the work of the Niezing committee. The group studied research proposals of the previous period. On May 13th, l987, an evaluation meeting was held. The formulation of new proposals was discussed to come to a theoretically sound program. Also, the possibilities of obtaining financial support for the program were considered. Their basic question was: if funding were available, which types of research should be given priority, given the new political situation in Europe ? Research on civilian-based defense is still relevant. Now, with the cold war over, politicians still think only within traditional frameworks instead of making use of this unique historical opportunity for the beginning of a common civilian-based defense type of security. Nuclear weapons still exist. Of all the proposed alternatives to military defense, only a civilian-based defense could make nuclear weapons obsolete. If you want to order a copy of the report please make a payment of DFl. 30 (inside the Netherlands: DFl 15) to the Postbank, account number 75083. Payment should be made out in the name of SISWO Amsterdam. Please indicate clearly your name, address and refer to publication number 368. SISWO, Plantage Muidergracht 4, 1018 TV AMSTERDAM, NL - Netherlands, tel: 31 20 527 0600. For further information: Giliam de Valk Van Octadestraat 45 H 1072 SN AMSTERDAM NL - Netherlands Tel: 31 20 675 6197.