COMPLEX DETERRENCE IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY: BANGLADESH ARMED FORCES PERSPECTI

This article provides a perspective from the Bangladesh Armed Forces on the concept of "complex deterrence" in the 21st century. It argues that the traditional, bipolar model of nuclear deterrence is no longer sufficient to understand the contemporary security environment. The study explores the new and more complex challenges of deterrence in a multipolar world, which is characterized by a wider range of state and non-state actors and the emergence of new domains of conflict, such as cyber and space. The research examines the implications of this new security environment for a middle-power country like Bangladesh. The paper posits that for the Bangladesh Armed Forces, a credible deterrence posture requires a more holistic and multi-dimensional approach, one that integrates conventional military capabilities with diplomatic, economic, and informational instruments of power. The analysis concludes that navigating the complexities of 21st-century deterrence is a central strategic challenge for the country.

The concept of deterrence, a cornerstone of strategic studies during the Cold War, has become significantly more complex in the 21st century. This paper offers a unique perspective on these new challenges from the viewpoint of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. The study begins by deconstructing the concept of "complex deterrence." It argues that in the contemporary era, deterrence is no longer just about preventing a nuclear war between two superpowers. It is a much more complex and multi-layered game, involving a wider range of actors (including non-state groups), a broader spectrum of threats (from conventional to asymmetric and hybrid), and a greater number of domains (including cyber). The core of the article is an analysis of what this new reality means for a country like Bangladesh. It moves beyond a simple focus on the conventional military balance to a more comprehensive assessment of the country's overall deterrent posture. The paper argues that a modern concept of deterrence for Bangladesh must be an integrated one. This would combine a credible conventional military capability (a "deterrence by denial" strategy) with a proactive foreign policy and a strong and resilient economy. The findings suggest that in the new security environment, a country's soft power and its network of international partnerships are as important to its deterrence posture as its hard military power. The paper concludes with a call for the development of a new, integrated national security strategy that is explicitly designed to meet the challenges of this new era of complex deterrence.