Building National Resilience: Total Defence Approaches of Finland, Sweden and Singapore

As part of the Resilience Forum Agenda, Rabdan Security and Defence Institute is organizing a panel discussion on Total Defence as a strategic framework for strengthening national resilience against contemporary and emerging threats. Drawing on comparative insights from Finland, Sweden, and Singapore, the discussion explores how differing security environments shape whole-of-society defence models.

The panel will highlight best practices in integrating military and civilian capabilities, civil preparedness, public–private partnerships, and inter-agency coordination, while emphasising the importance of societal cohesion, public trust, and strategic communications in sustaining effective Total Defence systems.

Moderator:

1. Dr. Kristian P. Alexander, Lead Researcher, Rabdan Security and Defence Institute

Speakers:

1. Dr. Nils Norlander, Assistant Professor, Rabdan Academy
2. Dr. Olli Pekka Suorsa, Assistant Professor, Rabdan Academy
3. Dr. Abdul Rahman Yaacob, Fellow Researcher, Rabdan Security and Defence Institute