| Vital Ground: Valuable Insights at the Intersection of Defence, Strategy, and Economics |
Here are the topics I cover in this inaugural issue. Enjoy! I hope you will subscribe and feel free to share widely.
1. Strategic Thought and Action — The Strategic Action Framework: Adversarial, Cooperative, and Competitive Strategies
2. Focus on Canada — Canada’s Energy Potential: A Strategic Asset for Global Security
3. Economic Power in Defence — Total Economic Activity: The Key to National Power
4. Strategic Trends — Strategic Information Leverage and Epistemological Warfare: Shaping Perception and Influence
5. Historical Context — Understanding History – The Truth Behind World War II |
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1. Strategic Thought and Action: The Strategic Action Framework
At the heart of all strategic thinking lies the interaction between actors pursuing their own ends, often with conflicting or cooperative intentions. My Strategic Action Framework is designed to break down these interactions into three core modes: Adversarial Strategy, Cooperative Strategy, and Competition. Each mode focuses on how actors influence, align, or oppose each other to achieve their goals.
Adversarial Strategy involves actions taken to hinder or destroy an opponent’s capacity to achieve their ends. This mode is employed when conflicts cannot be resolved through cooperation or competition, requiring a direct approach to neutralize the threat.
Cooperative Strategy emphasizes collaboration and shared goals. This mode works when actors align their interests, working together to achieve mutual or complementary outcomes. Cooperation, especially in business and diplomacy, is the default mode in a peaceful and productive environment.
Competition, a subset of cooperation, occurs when actors strive for the same objective—such as market share—without direct interference or hostility. Competitors abide by agreed-upon rules and the focus is on outperforming others within these constraints.
The Strategic Action Framework provides a clear structure for understanding how to approach various challenges, whether they involve hostile threats, opportunities for collaboration, or competitive markets. As we develop this framework in future editions, I will explore the tools and methodologies needed to successfully navigate each mode, and how to strategically balance them to thrive in a complex, interconnected world. |
2. Focus on Canada: Canada’s Energy Potential—A Strategic Asset for Global Security
Canada has the potential to be an energy superpower, yet federal policies continue to block investment in energy production, particularly exports. This was recently highlighted when Prime Minister Trudeau declined Germany’s request for liquified natural gas (LNG) to ease their energy crisis, offering vague promises about future hydrogen exports instead.
Canada’s role in Western defence alliances—NATO, NORAD, and the Five Eyes—is well established. While our military contributions are vital, we must also recognize the strategic importance of Canada’s energy resources. These resources are essential for the energy security and supply of the free world. Currently, most of Canada’s oil and gas exports go to the U.S., but with the upcoming commissioning of the Trans Mountain and Coastal GasLink pipelines, Canada will have increased capacity to export to the Asia-Pacific region. While much attention is focused on China, we also have key allies in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and the Philippines who would benefit from secure energy supplies.
What about Europe? Canada’s energy resources could play a vital role in supporting our European allies, reducing their dependence on Russian and Middle Eastern oil and gas. Investing in transportation infrastructure to supply oil and gas to Europe would not only strengthen their energy security but also attract significant foreign investment to expand Canada’s production capacity and infrastructure. This is a strategic opportunity we can’t afford to miss.
Beyond oil and gas, Canada’s nuclear technology also presents a powerful solution to energy security. Countries like Romania and South Korea are already successfully operating Canadian-designed CANDU nuclear reactors. The Wolsong plant in South Korea generates about 7-8% of the country’s nuclear power, while Romania’s Cernavoda reactors supply 20% of its electricity. Romania, a NATO member, benefits significantly from this technology, which uses natural uranium, eliminating the need for costly refining infrastructure.
Canada is the second-largest producer of uranium in the world, after Kazakhstan, and we are well-positioned to ensure a reliable supply to our allies. Several NATO members, including Germany, Romania, and the Czech Republic, have their own uranium deposits, which could be re-exploited. By expanding CANDU reactor technology and supplying natural uranium, Canada can significantly boost the energy security of NATO allies, helping them reduce reliance on hostile or unstable energy suppliers.
Canada’s energy resources are not just an economic asset; they are a critical element of global security. If we seize this opportunity, we can reinforce our role as a strategic partner and safeguard the energy independence of our allies for the future. |
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3. Economic Power in Defence: Total Economic Activity—The Key to National Power
Total Economic Activity (TEA), as measured by Gross Output or Gross National Revenue, offers a more comprehensive understanding of a nation’s true economic strength than Gross Domestic Product (GDP) alone. While GDP focuses on final goods and services, TEA captures the entire production process, reflecting a nation’s capacity to sustain its strategic, military, and industrial goals. In this context, a robust TEA is crucial for national defence, enabling countries to scale production and maintain supply chains effectively.
Canada’s defence capability depends on much more than military spending—it relies on the strength of industries like energy, transportation, and advanced manufacturing. A deep understanding of TEA allows for better anticipation of economic vulnerabilities and ensures that Canada can sustain its military forces and support international missions, even in times of crisis.
As we look to the future, integrating insights from TEA into defence and economic planning will be essential for maintaining Canada’s global influence. Focusing on the full breadth of economic activity allows Canada to better navigate emerging threats and disruptions while building a stronger, more resilient economy capable of sustaining long-term national security. |
4. Strategic Trends: Strategic Information Leverage and Epistemological Warfare: Shaping Perception and Influence
In the evolving landscape of modern conflict, two core concepts are crucial to understanding how power is wielded: Strategic Information Leverage and Epistemological Warfare. These ideas revolve around the ability to shape narratives, manipulate information, and influence perceptions, ultimately determining the strategic outcomes of both adversarial and cooperative engagements.
Strategic Information Leverage refers to the deliberate use of information as a tool to achieve specific strategic objectives. It’s about understanding
the flow of information, controlling its dissemination, and amplifying the narratives that best serve one’s goals. This can include leveraging media, digital platforms, and intelligence networks to influence public opinion, decision-making, or even the morale of an opponent. In a world where information is abundant, controlling key pieces of knowledge becomes a decisive advantage. The goal of this leverage is not only to control the battlefield but to shape the thinking of those within it.
Epistemological Warfare, on the other hand, targets the very foundation of what we know and believe to be true. This form of warfare undermines the certainty and reliability of information by sowing doubt, confusion, or alternative realities. It is more than just propaganda—it is an attack on the frameworks and assumptions people use to make sense of the world. By questioning or distorting the underlying principles of truth and knowledge, epistemological warfare can erode trust, destabilize societies, and weaken strategic decision-making. This is especially potent when it comes to geopolitics, where competing versions of events can paralyze collective action or fracture alliances.
Strategic Information Leverage and Epistemological Warfare form a powerful combination in both adversarial and cooperative strategies. By mastering these tools, one can shape not only the actions of opponents but also the perceptions of allies and the broader public. In future analyses, I will delve into practical examples of these concepts in action, illustrating how they can be applied to maintain strategic advantage in a rapidly changing global environment. |
5. Historical Context: The Real History of World War II
A recent interview between Tucker Carlson and Darryl Cooper pushed a pseudo-historical narrative about World War II, making bold claims without any real evidence to back them up. This kind of revisionism is not new, but it’s important to recognize the difference between legitimate historical inquiry and cherry-picking facts to fit a pre-set agenda.
World War II has been studied from countless angles, with decades of research behind it. Unlike places where history is shaped by a single, mythologized narrative, in much of the world, we enjoy a more open and evolving understanding. Mistakes and biases may exist, but they are corrected over time by those committed to uncovering the truth.
When new claims surface, they need to be weighed against this mountain of existing evidence. As Carl Sagan wisely noted, “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence,” and without that evidence, these new stories are just noise.
Understanding history isn’t about sensationalism or rewriting the past to suit modern narratives; it’s about engaging with the facts, the evidence, and the experiences of those who lived through it. The history of World War II is vast and built on real evidence, from battlefield maps to personal letters, and continues to evolve as new information emerges. It’s up to serious historians to sift through this data, correct errors, and bring new insights—not to serve an agenda, but to get to the truth.In the end, true historical inquiry deepens our understanding, while pseudo-history only clouds it. |
About the Author
Richard Martin is a strategic advisor and consultant specializing in the intersection of defence, security, and economics. With a focus on human action and decision-making, he brings a deep understanding of how wealth, productivity, and innovation drive national power, defence, and strategic influence. Through his expertise, Richard helps organizations and leaders navigate complex environments and mitigate external threats. He is the founder of Vital Ground, where he shares insights on the critical forces shaping national and global security. |
