Then today President Putin anointed as his successor Dmitry Medvedev. Although relatively young, Medvedev does have a considerable domestic track record. But the significance here is more in who Putin didn't choose. His recent appointment of Viktor Zubkov suggested to some that he could be Putin's nominee, but effectively be a front for Putin's continuing control. The other widely touted possibility was First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov, who has a background in the security apparatus, marking him out as a likely hawk. Overall this suggests a more constitutional Russia, focused more directly on domestic concerns (too early to say reforms) than confrontational international posturing for a domestic audience.

Today also saw think tank Demos launch their major report on national security, partly in anticipation of a National Security Strategy promised by the government for the end of the year. IPPR are also in the midst of a major review, possibly on the same scale as the Comission on Social Justice they ran in the 90s.

So while evidence suggests traditional threats are retreating, the combination of instability in many regions alongside growing global interdependencies, means there is a growing recognition that traditional approaches to international relations and national security are increasingly risky.