iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Latest publication: Hammers & Nails: Military Innovation as a Strategic Dead End In this article I argue that innovation has become an end-in-itself, supplanting the much harder challenge of defining a meaningful, justifiable and achievable strategy. www.militarystrategymagazine.com/article/hamm...

militarystrategymagazine.com

Hammers and Nails: Military Innovation as a Strategic Dead End - Military Strategy Magazine

This article argues that contemporary Western military innovation has become a strategic dead end. Tracing the evolution of military innovation from the Revolution in Military Affairs through counteri...

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David Strachan-Morris @drdavidsm.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Excellent article here by @warmatters.bsky.social on how continual technological innovation has allowed states to avoid the hard questions on strategy and force generation.

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Roland Smith @rolandmcs.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Timely...

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Allan @allanfriedman.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I really enjoyed this article: we have new toys, and those will guide tactics, rather than strategy. Leaving aside current challenges around “not having any strategy,” there is also a pretty large cyber-shaped hole in this line of thinking that scholars need to fill.

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Guy Yeomans @guyyeomans.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

"This orientation encourages a form of tunnel vision in which innovation increasingly substitutes for strategic choice when really it ought to be viewed as a means by which to create these choices..."

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

militarystrategymagazine.com

Hammers and Nails: Military Innovation as a Strategic Dead End - Military Strategy Magazine

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

The idea that war does not involve vast stockpiles of weaponry is absolute nonsense. What Brits are being sold is the idea that war - if it comes - will be over by Christmas. No. 100% wrong. Once we’ve blown our exquisite munitions all that will be left are rocks. observer.co.uk/news/columni...

observer.co.uk

Britain needs some of De Gaulle’s civic patriotism to sav...

The UK could learn from the French president’s drive for economic strength and military autonomy, not least by halting tech defence firm acquisitions by the US

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I believe in progress

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

From Stockholm to Ally Pally to see Public Service Broadcasting

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mlleeva.bsky.social @mlleeva.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

What is your role in Hashtag-wars? 💭 Think about this and learn more about the relation between war, media, and participation in the digital age during the #WARS seminar with Stein Tønnesson, @warmatters.bsky.social, @rhyscrilley.bsky.social and me. 📍Oct 29, 14:00 bergenglobal.no/events/hasht...

bergenglobal.no

Hashtag Wars: War, media and participation in the digital age - Bergen Global

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

AI is crap with live music. no doubt they are filming people playing to improve performance. Unfortunately that won’t help.

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Will Davies @will-davies.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

It’s always the ones you least expect

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Late Soviet Britain is cannibalising public institutions. These institutions would help Britain weather the wave of destruction to history and memory that follow from the introduction of AI. These institutions also make it possible to trace our public record and hold government accountable. Shame

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I wonder what the mood will be like at work today?😀

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

How is this dramatic? You can get AI to do all sorts of things. Doesn’t mean any of it actually works or can deliver consistent results. Military actors still need to build and field it. apnews.com/article/yeme...

apnews.com

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Great review of life in Wandsworth Common. 😀

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

For my American friends… the departure point for those who established the American colonies is now a pub. The Mayflower is a great place to enjoy a good British pint. And right on the Thames.

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Keir Giles @keirgiles.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I am the last person you will find overstating the influence of Aleksandr Dugin, or calling him "Putin's brain". But I couldn't ignore the exact match between the plan he laid out in 1997 for engineering US retreat from Europe, and what the US is doing today. www.youtube.com/shorts/DPNfT...

youtube.com

Russia's 1997 playbook for Trump

YouTube video by Chatham House

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

To Copenhagen. Pleased to be a reviewer at a PhD manuscript reading before it reaches its final defence.

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

So this was a BIG week. Yesterday my team went for an in-person interview in Brussels for an ERC Synergy Grant worth 10m euros. I don’t want to hex it so I’ll say no more until we find out if we get the grant. Until then, this was the biggest moment in my professional career.

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

First stop of my hectic week, a kind invitation from Professor Alexander Evans to talk at the Ratiu Dialogues conference. 31C outside so took a moment to walk around Turda and find out a little bit more about the Ratiu family.

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Conflict Research @conflictwatch.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Sometimes if you don’t have time to read, an audiobook is the way to go. Can’t recommend enough @warmatters.bsky.social “War in the Age of the Smartphone” open.spotify.com/show/2MoyGQF...

open.spotify.com

War in the Smartphone Age: Conflict, Connectivity and the Crises at Our Fingertips

Matthew Ford · Audiobook

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

This next week is the biggest week of my academic career. So time for a beer.

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Taking privatised businesses into whatever is meant by “public control” is only the start of Burnham’s problems. Addressing the mess that is Public-Private Finance Initiatives will be even more costly and painful. Think RAAC in schools/hospitals and then quadruple the costs.

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

As I predicted - and like night follows day - Healey toes the line.

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Hurst Publishers @hurstpublishers.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Tech-Gemony by Brad Glosserman & David S. Lee is out now! 'An indispensable book' — @warmatters.bsky.social Argues for a reconceptualisation of global security, to recognise its new forms & dimensions as global power is itself being redefined. Get 20% off w/code TECHGEMONY20: tinyurl.com/28sd5jr5

Book cover titled 'Tech-Gemony: Understanding the New National Security Economy' by Brad Glosserman and David S. Lee, featuring a digital blue camera and upward arrows at the bottom of the cover.

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Mighty fine in Margate today…

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

When in London have a pint of Harvey’s Sussex Best…

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Hurst Publishers @hurstpublishers.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

‘War in the Smartphone Age’ by @warmatters.bsky.social engages anyone interested in understanding more about the nature of modern tech’s intersection with modern warfare. ‘Stands out as a significant and timely contribution to contemporary war studies.’

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Hurst Publishers @hurstpublishers.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Just out in paperback, 'Original Sin: Power, Technology and War in Outer Space' by @bleddb.bsky.social: 'reasons that the more complex and complicated the new space ecosystem becomes, the more likely competition and potential conflict become.’

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Hurst Publishers @hurstpublishers.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

@olivierschmitt.bsky.social's ‘Preparing for War’ is noted for its timeliness: ‘As we in the United Kingdom await the much-presaged ‘national conversation’ on defence, those likely to participate (or wishing to do so) in that discussion would be well-served by reading this book.’

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Hurst Publishers @hurstpublishers.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Get 20% off Hurst titles featured in the UK Chief of the Air Staff’s reading list using code RAF20. hurstpublishers.com?s=raflist

Three book covers: 'Original Sin,' 'Preparing for War' and 'War in the Smartphone Age' under the banner 'The Chief of the Air Staff's Reading List.'

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Meduza in English @meduza.io · 22/07/2026

Ukraine just dismissed both its defense minister and its top general, but the real fight wasn't about personalities. It was about a basic question they couldn't agree on: What does winning the war against Russia actually look like? meduza.io/en/feature/2...

meduza.io

Why Ukraine’s military shake-up is really a fight over how to win the war — Meduza

An unexpected upheaval in Ukraine’s military leadership has ended with the dismissal of both the defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, and the commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi. The outcome…

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Given Farage's political implosion, Burnham might even stand a chance of defeating REFORM for another few years. Buying that time could be crucial for rebuilding government.

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Burnham has done a fantastic job of neutering the arguments about defence from inside cabinet. Healey has to tow the government line. Streeting can’t do anything to help MOD. But Burnham can’t square the tax circle. “If” he’s smart he’ll go back to the country sooner than later.

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Will Davies @will-davies.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

congratulations on the new hedge fund gig

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Lost in London @meadoak.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

HT @abnormal4norfolk.bsky.social @big-move-tracker.bsky.social @mrmjlewis.bsky.social @warmatters.bsky.social who all suggested on #BlueSky *4 weeks ago* that John Healey might be appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer

Bluesky posts suggesting John Healey for Chancellor

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Matthew Ford @warmatters.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Taps screen👇 Called it a month ago! 😀

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MTMcGurk @mtmcgurk.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r... Great points by Matthew Ford about participatory media and how it affects battles, narratives, and world leaders’ decisions.

podcasts.apple.com

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