Collective defence: Women, peace and security in a divided world
Think tank: RUSI
Author(s): Claudia Wallner; Dr Jessica White; Balázs Gyimesi; Rachel Grimes MBE
August 18, 2026
This report from UK think tank RUSI provides actionable recommendations for NATO and its Allies to embed gender and identity analysis into core security practices.
In today’s divided security environment, adversaries exploit social divisions, gendered narratives and identity-based grievances to undermine democratic cohesion and NATO’s legitimacy. The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, if operationalised beyond its traditional protection focus, offers practical tools for strengthening collective defence and resilience.
This paper provides actionable recommendations for NATO and its Allies and partners to embed gender and identity analysis into core security practices, helping the Alliance to better anticipate and respond to evolving hybrid threats.
Key Recommendations
Modernise the strategic argument for WPS: Communicate WPS as central to operational effectiveness and resilience, not just protection.
Integrate gender and identity indicators: Embed gender- and identity-sensitive indicators into early warning and situational awareness systems to identify when gendered or identity-based activity is being coordinated, amplified or exploited for strategic effect.
Embed in training and exercises: Include gendered and identity-based hybrid threat scenarios in NATO exercises and training for all relevant personnel.
Strengthen cross-policy coordination: Improve collaboration between WPS, human security, hybrid threat, intelligence and resilience communities within NATO.
Support national resilience planning: Encourage Allies to incorporate gender and identity analysis into national resilience and civil preparedness strategies.
By making gender and identity analysis a routine part of threat assessment and operational planning, NATO can better anticipate, detect and counter the tactics adversaries use to destabilise societies and alliances.
