The arrival of the 4th Industrial Age compels states (or non-states) to reinterpret the character of war. They need to discard the obsolete features of 3rd Industrial Age warfare and embrace the opportunities of a coming age of war, the 4th. Those that succeed first stand to become the dominant powers of the future and have the right to set the rules that define the age, and those that do not will struggle to secure their place in the world. For Australia, there is the potential to re-establish military advantages that are declining and to safeguard its security for the future. However, there are also risks and pitfalls that must be avoided if Australia is to continue to prosper.

About the Speaker:

Dr Albert Palazzo is the Director of War Studies in the Australian Army Research Centre. He has published widely on the history of the Australian Army and the contemporary character of war. His major works include The Australian Army: A History of its Organisation, 1901-2001; Moltke to bin Laden: The Relevance of Doctrine in Contemporary Military Environment, The Future of War Debate in Australia, and Forging Australian Land Power, A Primer. His current research is on climate change and war and the viability of multi-domain battle.