In January last year, the Russian Navy brushed aside pleas from Dublin by announcing a major military exercise slap bang in the middle of Ireland’s fishing grounds. The country’s fishermen had other ideas: they refused to leave waters to the south of the country and maintained a round-the-clock presence, thus preventing the Russian warships from carrying out the drill.

Now it’s happened again. Norwegian fishermen have pulled off a similar victory against the might of the Russian Navy. Their successful efforts are a reminder that national security involves the whole of society — and that the best ideas don’t always come from the government or think tanks.