Meaning, Myth, and Force Design in U.S. Special Operations
Editor's note: The "Short of War" Podcast discussing this article is AI-generated. The debate over the future of U.S. Army Special Forces (SF) has increasingly become a debate about its past. Critics argue that decades of counterterrorism, security force assistance, and persistent global engagement
A Case for Cyber Privateering
Editor's note: The "Short of War" Podcast discussing this article is AI-generated. The United States should employ cyber corsairs to deter exploitation and attacks in the cyber domain. Malicious activity such as economic espionage, ransomware attacks, and fraud results in trillions of dollars’ worth of
What Iran's Crypto Insurance Proposal Means for Irregular Warfare and Shipping in Asia
Editor's note: The "Short of War" Podcast discussing this article is AI-generated. On May 17, 2026, Iran proposed a “Hormuz Safe” platform for ships seeking to cross the Strait of Hormuz. This Bitcoin-denominated platform would enable cargo owners to purchase cryptographically-backed insurance instead
Pakistan’s Nuclear Arsenal is Becoming More Vulnerable
Editor's note: The "Short of War" Podcast discussing this article is AI-generated. “We call on the Pakistani army and security services not to obey Pakistan’s corrupt political and military leadership and urge them to overthrow it,” al-Qaeda declared in an April appeal to
Why Iranian Propaganda Is Getting Uncomfortably Good
Editor's note: The "Short of War" Podcast discussing this article is AI-generated. How did Iran’s regime not just master social media but come to dominate the information space? Their propaganda rarely traveled far outside sympathetic political audiences until recently. Viewers recognized the visuals quickly.
IWI’s Summer 2026 Reading List
The Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI) provides a reading list curated by its leadership and editors. It features a diverse mix of fiction and nonfiction spanning irregular warfare, history, memoirs, and sci-fi, tailored for leisure reading, long travel, or upcoming academic preparation.
IWI Editorial’s Year in Review: Looking Back at 2025
Where else would you find pirates, space special forces, sharp debates over Operation Spider’s Web, cultural heritage protection as a means of outcompeting China, and even an AI chatbot designed to anticipate Beijing’s next grand-strategic move …all under one roof? In 2025, that place was the Irregular
Announcing the Winners of the IWI Summer 2025 Writing Contest
In late June, IWI announced our first writing contest that focused on a tailored, real-world scenario. We were excited to follow through on a key priority for our editorial team and the impact we hoped it would have on the community of practitioners, academics, and policymakers that comprise IWI.
Irregular Warfare Initiative Writing Contest: "Irregular Allies: Strengthening Regional Partnerships through Unconventional Means"
Note from the Editor: This is our first writing contest emphasizing short responses to a tailored, real-world scenario. We hope this challenge will pull forward research ideas and professional observations, and focus them into actionable recommendations for policymakers or practitioners to take to the next level. We are also
Bridging the gap between irregular warfare scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.
