Introducing the Finnish Comprehensive Security Model to the UK
The UK faces an increasingly complex security landscape. In response, the Strategic Defence Review, the Duchy of Lancaster and the Cabinet Office have all identified the urgent need to strengthen national resilience and social cohesion. Among the global models available, Finland’s Comprehensive Security Model (CSM) – built on the unique concept of Sisu – has emerged as the preferred template.
Finland’s approach is rooted in a culture of preparedness and bottom-up participation, shaped by its proximity to Russia and decades of whole-society resilience. But replicating this model in the UK presents significant challenges. To succeed, it will require an ambitious top-down implementation that can eventually grow into genuine bottom-up ownership.
Speakers
- Totti Karpela – Finnish CSM expert, setting the scene with first-hand insight into how Finland has built and sustained its resilience model.
- Laurence Marzell – Author of The Whole Systems Approach and researcher with Imperial College London, bringing a UK systems perspective.
- Ian Fox – Author of Project Resilience UK, outlining how the UK might bridge the gap between aspiration and delivery.
This session will explore what it would really take to embed a whole-society approach to security and resilience in the UK; the opportunities, the barriers, and the pathways to make it a reality.
