Space and Ice: Envisioning Special Operations Forces’ Role in Future Operational Environments
New frontiers of strategic competition beckon for immediate special operations forces (SOF) transformation to prevail in the space domain and the polar regions. Aligned with Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict Colby Jenkins’ call to think differently and work together, this article proposes two enhanced
Russia’s Rogue Warriors: A Paramilitary Legacy
Editor’s Note: this article is being republished with the permission of Small Wars Journal as part of a republishing arrangement between IWI and SWJ. The original article was published on 06.24.2025 and is available here. A rather puzzling and dramatic event gripped the world's attention
Book Review - Into the Void: Special Operations Forces after the War on Terror
This book review was originally published by the US Army War College Press in the Summer 2025 issue of The US Army War College Quarterly, Parameters at https://press.armywarcollege.edu/parameters/vol55/iss2/1/ and in the online book review forum Parameters Bookshelf at https://press.armywarcollege.edu/parameters_
Development or Dependence? Rethinking China’s Economic Playbook in the Americas
Editor’s Note: This article was written in anticipation of the Irregular Warfare Initiative’s South America in Competition Conference, which will feature keynote speakers and expert panels examining the region’s role in strategic competition, including a focus on China's economic influence in Latin America. One of
Guido Torres Warns of Strategic Risks in China’s Expanding Space Presence in South America
Executive Director Guido Torres was featured in Expediente Público (link in spanish) for his analysis of China’s growing influence in Latin America’s space domain. In the interview, Torres raised urgent concerns about the long-term implications of opaque agreements between China and countries like Argentina and Chile, including
Executive Director Guido Torres Moderates Panel on Hemispheric Security
Guido Torres, Executive Director of the Irregular Warfare Initiative, recently moderated a high-level panel examining the future of space security. The event, part of the 10th Annual Hemispheric Security Conference hosted by Florida International University, brought together more than 80 experts to explore challenges ranging from cyber threats to
Security Hybridization: U.S., China, and the Future of Global Security Assistance
This episode of the Irregular Warfare Podcast explores the growing phenomenon of "security hybridization," where countries receive simultaneous security assistance from both the United States and the People’s Republic of China. While the U.S. tends to emphasize regional defense, interoperability, and support for the global commons,
Project Europe Summer Reading—2025
Summer is upon us—but are you still searching for a compelling poolside or beach-side read? If you’re interested in irregular warfare or European security, the Irregular Warfare Initiative’s Project Europe has got you covered! Presenting the 2025 Summer Reading List, curated by the Project Europe Team:
Quantifying the Gray Zone: A Framework for Measuring Hybrid Warfare Power Balances
Editor’s Note: this article is being republished with the permission of Small Wars Journal as part of a republishing arrangement between IWI and SWJ. The original article was published on 06.17.2025 and is available here. The contemporary security environment defies traditional categorizations of war and peace. We
Hezbollah’s Hybrid Model Under Strain: Relative Decline and the Evolving Dynamics of Irregular Warfare in Lebanon
Since its founding in 1985, Hezbollah has stood out as a prototype of the modern hybrid actor. Hezbollah seamlessly blended irregular warfare tactics, conventional capabilities, political participation, and a deep-rooted social service network. In irregular warfare theory, such actors derive their strength from asymmetry, population control, and strategically using
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