Neutrality as Vulnerability: Russia’s Hybrid Playbook in Moldova
Moldova’s September elections reaffirmed its pro-EU course, but continued and increased Russian hybrid and military pressure make constitutional neutrality untenable. Russia’s continued “peacekeeping” presence within the internationally recognized Moldovan territory of Transnistria is a daily direct violation of its constitutional neutrality clause. Expressly stated in Article 11, this
Credibility vs. Speed: Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Information War
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 03.20.2026 and is available here. The Gaza conflict underscores a central fact of modern war. The Decisive
Q&A with Robert D. Kaplan
Editor’s Note: This article is presented in a question-and-answer format, with the Irregular Warfare Initiative’s Maritime Program (facilitated by Christopher Booth) interviewing Robert D. Kaplan. This piece has been edited for clarity and readability, as spoken language differs from how text is read on the page. “Robert D.
Irregular Warfare: If We Ever Stop Arguing About IW, Then IW Will Be Dead
"Large-scale combat operations win through maneuver warfare and war of attrition. Irregular, unconventional, and political warfare wins through exhaustion. They target will, cohesion, legitimacy, and endurance. They erode the foundations of power rather than destroying its visible structures." Irregular warfare (IW) refuses to sit still. It shifts with
Where the Lion Can’t Reach: Unconventional Warfare in Major War
Description Episode 153 examines the role of unconventional warfare and special operations forces in conventional major war. Summary This conversation explores how unconventional warfare can support, shape, and sometimes substitute for conventional military operations in large-scale combat. Our guests examine what unconventional warfare is and why it matters beyond the
Chinese Eyes, Iranian Missiles: Intelligence Cooperation in the US/Israel–Iran War 2026
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 03.20.2026 and is available here. The 2026 war between the United States, Israel, and Iran represents one
Geoeconomics of Irregular Warfare: Iran and the Global Ripple Effects — Part VII
In Part Seven of Irregular Warfare Initiative’s series on the Iran conflict, produced by IWI’s Economic & Legal Warfare team, the focus turns to how escalation is being applied across economic, legal, and cognitive domains. The discussion features an expert panel including, Gianni Koskinas (CEO, Hoplite Group), Hamlet
What the Hell Is Irregular Warfare Anyway?
Episode 152 of the Irregular Warfare Podcast grapples with the many definitions of irregular warfare used across the community of interest. In this episode, our guests discuss why the concept of irregular warfare has resisted a stable definition across decades of changing doctrine, and what that persistent confusion has cost
Economic Warfare Reimagined: Insurance as a Tool of U.S. Strategic Influence
The U.S. is losing the war on sentiment in the Global South, where the world’s most economically vulnerable countries rely on larger powers for economic support and security. Russia and China have capitalized on this dynamic by seizing the economic initiative in this region, often at the expense
Conflict Has Memory: Why Local Wars Follow Distinct Trajectories
A map can tell you where a conflict is happening today, but it is blind to where that war has been - and where it is stubbornly determined to go. Analysts and planners assess geopolitical fault lines, patterns of violence, human factors, and threat networks to understand the dynamics of
Bridging the gap between irregular warfare scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.
