Why defence capabilities need a public case

Britain's pre-First World War 'We want eight' campaign shows that the public can understand a clearly explained defence requirement. The campaign succeeded without television, social media, or universal access to mass education, which challenges claims that defence is too complicated for public debate. Cold War threat shorthand may have allowed institutions to neglect the harder task of explaining national interests and capabilities. After the Soviet threat disappeared, accounting and management language often replaced that strategic case. Defence also differs from ordinary business because forces may have to risk enormously valuable assets against an enemy actively trying to destroy them.