War and Psychological Preparedness: Are We Ready?
If the UK suddenly found itself at war, would you know what to do? Do you know what would be expected of you?
The Government is encouraging citizens to prepare for potential severe disruptions to their lives, including stockpiling canned food and water, strengthening civic resilience, and considering the possibility of war. They are updating the so-called "war book," last revised decades ago.
Sir Richard Knighton, the UK's most senior soldier, has recently warned that the current threat from Russia is the most dangerous he has faced in his 35-year career.
While the threat of a German invasion in 1940 was real, the current concern revolves around "asymmetric war" and "cyber war".
Historian Margaret MacMillan notes, "It's not the tanks you need to worry about... It's the cutting of cables on the ocean floor. It's the hacking into systems... The possibility for asymmetric war, for cyber war, is growing by leaps and bounds."
But are we ready? With 80 years without war on British soil, societal psychological preparation is questionable.
McMillan suggests we have become accustomed to peace as the norm, making war seem distant. General Sir Richard Shirreff draws a parallel to pre-World War One Europe, where the notion of war seemed far-fetched despite growing tensions.
The text highlights the stark contrast between the peaceful Edwardian era preceding World War One and the current climate of heightened concern.