The British Army is recognising a truth that extends far beyond warfare. The future will not belong simply to large, expensive, centralised systems. Increasingly, success will depend upon many smaller, more adaptable units, able to respond quickly to changing circumstances. In military terms this means autonomous drones, artificial intelligence and dispersed capabilities rather than relying solely upon a small number of costly platforms.

There is an interesting parallel with localism.

For more than a century Britain has concentrated economic activity into large organisations, long supply chains and highly centralised institutions. These have delivered efficiencies during times of growth, but they have also created fragility. When resources become constrained, whether energy, finance or materials, large systems become increasingly difficult to sustain.

Localism offers the civilian equivalent of the Army’s new thinking. Instead of relying upon a few giant organisations, it encourages thousands of capable local communities, producing more of what they need close to home. Food, energy, repair skills, woodland products, local enterprises and mutual support all become part of a distributed network that is naturally resilient.

The lesson is the same in both defence and society. Resilience does not come from putting all our resources into a handful of powerful assets. It comes from diversity, adaptability and the ability of many smaller units to act independently when circumstances demand.

As the economy enters an age where growth can no longer be taken for granted, the principles now emerging in military thinking may prove equally important in civilian life. Localism is not simply an alternative way of organising society. It is the civilian expression of resilience.