Academic Profile : Faculty
Asst Prof Michael Raska
Assistant Professor
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Michael Raska is Assistant Professor in the Military Transformations Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. His research and teaching focus on defence and military innovation, specifically comparative analysis and net assessments of defence innovation strategies, technologies, and capabilities; projecting the impact of AI and emerging technologies on international security and future conflicts; and mapping security challenges posed by the cyber revolution, ranging from military cyber operations to hostile information campaigns and digital warfare.
He is the author of Military Innovation and Small States: Creating Reverse Asymmetry (Routledge, 2016), co-editor of the AI Wave in Defence Innovation (Routledge, 2023), Defence Innovation and the 4th Industrial Revolution (Routledge, 2022), and Security, Strategy and Military Change in the 21st Century: Cross-Regional Perspectives (Routledge, 2015). He has published in journals such as the Journal of Strategic Studies, Strategic Studies Quarterly, Prism – Journal of Complex Operations, Air Force Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs, Korea Journal of Defence Analysis, Pointer-Journal of Singapore Armed Forces, and Sirius – Journal of Strategic Analyses.
His contributions also include chapters in edited volumes, policy reports, and commentaries, including collaborative projects with the Center for New American Security, Defence AI Observatory at the Helmut Schmidt University of the Bundeswehr, EU Institute for Security Studies, Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University, International Institute for Strategic Studies, National Institute for Defence Studies Japan, Norwegian Institute of Defence Studies, Strategic Studies Institute at the US Army War College, Swedish Defence University, and UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation.
In 2024, he was selected as a member of the expert advisory group for the Global Commission on Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain (GC REAIM).
His commentaries and op-eds have been published by the ASPI Strategist, Asia Times, Defense News, Diplomat, East Asia Forum, Lowy Interpreter, National Interest, RSIS Commentaries, RUSI Newsbrief, and newspapers including the Straits Times, Korea Herald, Jakarta Post, and others. His media interviews and news appearances include the AFP, BBC World News, Bloomberg, Channel News Asia, CNBC, CNN, Die Welt, The Economist, The Guardian, Financial Times, Reuters, South China Morning Post, Straits Times, Time, and other news channels.
Dr Raska has previously taught courses and seminars at the SAF Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. His recent teaching experiences include visiting fellowships at the Australian Defence College, and invited lectures, seminars, and briefings for select professional military education institutions and defence colleges in Europe, Asia, and the U.S. In Singapore, he has contributed research and teaching for the Ministry of Defence, Defence Science and Technology Agency, Singapore Armed Forces, including the Special Operations Task Force, Republic of Singapore Air Force, Republic of Singapore Navy, and Digital and Intelligence Service.
He is an alumni of the Columbia University Summer Workshop on Analysis of Military Operations and Strategy (SWAMOS 2012), Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies Workshop at Basin Harbor (2013), Hertog Summer Study Program (2014), and the Young Strategists Forum (2017). He holds a Ph.D. from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, where he was a recipient of the President’s Graduate Fellowship.
He is the author of Military Innovation and Small States: Creating Reverse Asymmetry (Routledge, 2016), co-editor of the AI Wave in Defence Innovation (Routledge, 2023), Defence Innovation and the 4th Industrial Revolution (Routledge, 2022), and Security, Strategy and Military Change in the 21st Century: Cross-Regional Perspectives (Routledge, 2015). He has published in journals such as the Journal of Strategic Studies, Strategic Studies Quarterly, Prism – Journal of Complex Operations, Air Force Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs, Korea Journal of Defence Analysis, Pointer-Journal of Singapore Armed Forces, and Sirius – Journal of Strategic Analyses.
His contributions also include chapters in edited volumes, policy reports, and commentaries, including collaborative projects with the Center for New American Security, Defence AI Observatory at the Helmut Schmidt University of the Bundeswehr, EU Institute for Security Studies, Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University, International Institute for Strategic Studies, National Institute for Defence Studies Japan, Norwegian Institute of Defence Studies, Strategic Studies Institute at the US Army War College, Swedish Defence University, and UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation.
In 2024, he was selected as a member of the expert advisory group for the Global Commission on Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain (GC REAIM).
His commentaries and op-eds have been published by the ASPI Strategist, Asia Times, Defense News, Diplomat, East Asia Forum, Lowy Interpreter, National Interest, RSIS Commentaries, RUSI Newsbrief, and newspapers including the Straits Times, Korea Herald, Jakarta Post, and others. His media interviews and news appearances include the AFP, BBC World News, Bloomberg, Channel News Asia, CNBC, CNN, Die Welt, The Economist, The Guardian, Financial Times, Reuters, South China Morning Post, Straits Times, Time, and other news channels.
Dr Raska has previously taught courses and seminars at the SAF Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. His recent teaching experiences include visiting fellowships at the Australian Defence College, and invited lectures, seminars, and briefings for select professional military education institutions and defence colleges in Europe, Asia, and the U.S. In Singapore, he has contributed research and teaching for the Ministry of Defence, Defence Science and Technology Agency, Singapore Armed Forces, including the Special Operations Task Force, Republic of Singapore Air Force, Republic of Singapore Navy, and Digital and Intelligence Service.
He is an alumni of the Columbia University Summer Workshop on Analysis of Military Operations and Strategy (SWAMOS 2012), Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies Workshop at Basin Harbor (2013), Hertog Summer Study Program (2014), and the Young Strategists Forum (2017). He holds a Ph.D. from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, where he was a recipient of the President’s Graduate Fellowship.
• Defence and Military Innovation - Theory and Concepts
Developing conceptual and theoretical frameworks for comparative analysis and net assessments of defence innovation strategies, technologies, and capabilities.
• AI Revolution in Military Affairs - Strategies and Capabilities
Projecting the impact of AI and emerging technologies on international security and future conflicts; addressing responsible AI policy imperatives, challenges, and trajectories.
• Cyber Conflicts and Digital Warfare - The Future of Warfare
Mapping security challenges posed by the cyber revolution, ranging from military cyber operations to hostile information campaigns and digital warfare.
Developing conceptual and theoretical frameworks for comparative analysis and net assessments of defence innovation strategies, technologies, and capabilities.
• AI Revolution in Military Affairs - Strategies and Capabilities
Projecting the impact of AI and emerging technologies on international security and future conflicts; addressing responsible AI policy imperatives, challenges, and trajectories.
• Cyber Conflicts and Digital Warfare - The Future of Warfare
Mapping security challenges posed by the cyber revolution, ranging from military cyber operations to hostile information campaigns and digital warfare.
- Artificial Intelligence in Asian Armies: Technologies for Next Major Wars
Fellowships & Other Recognition
2024 Selected as a member of the expert advisory group for the Global Commission on Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain (GC REAIM).
2023 Visiting fellow - Australian Defence College, Canberra
2017 Selected as a participant in the Young Strategists Forum (YSF) by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, Tokyo, January 26-31, 2017.
The Young Strategists Forum seeks to develop a new generation of strategic thinkers for an age of constrained resources and mounting international challenges. Participants are selected through a competitive process.
2015 Selected as a participant in the Opinion Leader Invitation Programme by the Japan Ministry of Defence (MOD), Tokyo, March 23-26, 2015.
Selected by the Japan MOD for promoting Japan-ASEAN defence cooperation.
2014 Selected as a participant in the Summer Study Programme by the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, Washington D.C., USA. The SAIS Summer Study aims to develop a new generation of scholars and practitioners proficient in both regional and strategic studies. The Summer Study has a competitive selection process and takes place in a small seminar environment of approximately 20 attendees.
2013 Selected as a participant in the Summer Workshop on the Relationship between National Security and Technology in China by the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA. Project SITC’s summer training course at UC San Diego provides a comprehensive overview of the development, linkages, and roles that science, technology, and innovation play in China’s national security. Competitive selection.
2013 Selected as a participant in the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies Basin Harbour Teaching Seminar, The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), The Johns Hopkins University, Washington D.C., USA. The workshop selects approximately half a dozen senior and two dozen junior faculty for a four-day pedagogical colloquium designed to help prepare faculty who are new to the national security or strategic studies field.
2012 Selected as a participant in the Summer Workshop on Military Operations and Strategy (SWAMOS), Columbia / Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA. Sponsored by the Columbia University’s Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies, convened at Cornell University, SWAMOS aims to familiarize the next generation of scholars on the analysis of military policy. SWAMOS has a competitive selection of about 22 participants each year.
2023 Visiting fellow - Australian Defence College, Canberra
2017 Selected as a participant in the Young Strategists Forum (YSF) by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, Tokyo, January 26-31, 2017.
The Young Strategists Forum seeks to develop a new generation of strategic thinkers for an age of constrained resources and mounting international challenges. Participants are selected through a competitive process.
2015 Selected as a participant in the Opinion Leader Invitation Programme by the Japan Ministry of Defence (MOD), Tokyo, March 23-26, 2015.
Selected by the Japan MOD for promoting Japan-ASEAN defence cooperation.
2014 Selected as a participant in the Summer Study Programme by the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, Washington D.C., USA. The SAIS Summer Study aims to develop a new generation of scholars and practitioners proficient in both regional and strategic studies. The Summer Study has a competitive selection process and takes place in a small seminar environment of approximately 20 attendees.
2013 Selected as a participant in the Summer Workshop on the Relationship between National Security and Technology in China by the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA. Project SITC’s summer training course at UC San Diego provides a comprehensive overview of the development, linkages, and roles that science, technology, and innovation play in China’s national security. Competitive selection.
2013 Selected as a participant in the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies Basin Harbour Teaching Seminar, The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), The Johns Hopkins University, Washington D.C., USA. The workshop selects approximately half a dozen senior and two dozen junior faculty for a four-day pedagogical colloquium designed to help prepare faculty who are new to the national security or strategic studies field.
2012 Selected as a participant in the Summer Workshop on Military Operations and Strategy (SWAMOS), Columbia / Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA. Sponsored by the Columbia University’s Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies, convened at Cornell University, SWAMOS aims to familiarize the next generation of scholars on the analysis of military policy. SWAMOS has a competitive selection of about 22 participants each year.
Courses Taught
S6010 The Revolution in Military Affairs and Force Transformation in the 21st Century
S6038 Conflicts in the Digital Age: Information and Cyberwarfare
IR6036 International Relations of Korea: Searching For Security, Autonomy, and Independence
S6038 Conflicts in the Digital Age: Information and Cyberwarfare
IR6036 International Relations of Korea: Searching For Security, Autonomy, and Independence