Secret Cyber Wars: Why States Are Increasingly Turning to Economic Espionage and How Cyber Proxies Play a Key Role
Editor’s note: This article is part of Project Proxies and Partners, which explores the promises and pitfalls of security cooperation in war, at peace, and in between. We invite you to contribute to the discussion, explore the difficult questions, and help influence the future of proxies and partners. Please
Drones, Automation, and how ARSOF is Adapting
Episode 106 of the Irregular Warfare Podcast examines how drones, robotics, and automation are changing the battlefield in Ukraine and how ARSOF has adapted. Our guests begin by outlining the significance of robotics and autonomous systems on the Ukrainian battlefield. From there, they delve into how US Special Operations formations
Israel, Iran, and the Failure of Irregular (and Conventional) Warfare in Gaza
On April 1, 2024, an Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus killed several Iranian military advisors, including a senior revolutionary guards commander. The world awaited Iran’s response and feared the worst. About two weeks later on April 13, Iran launched a barrage of missiles, rockets, and drones
From the Shadows to the Social Sphere: Ukraine’s Strategy of Engagement
Conventional wisdom suggests intelligence services should maintain a discreet profile to avoid drawing undue attention to the secretive nature of their work. However, 'Intelligence Laboratory Express,' a Russian journal focused on intelligence studies, recently spotlighted Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) as an exception. It portrayed HUR as
The Failure of Israel’s “Strategy” in Gaza Continues
Despite decades of demonstrated failure of military operations to achieve Israeli security, Israel continues to prioritize use of its military in its conflict with the Palestinians rather than pursue political processes—such as negotiations, mediation, conciliation, or concessions—that have a chance to achieve peace. The Palestinians’ lack of self-determination
Four Years of Growth and Impact: The Irregular Warfare Initiative
Editor's Note: Today marks four years since the launch of the Irregular Warfare Podcast. What started as a small project by three military graduate students has grown into the Irregular Warfare Initiative, an influential platform for scholars and practitioners to share ideas on topics ranging from information warfare
Lessons from the Eastern Front: Security Force Assistance in Ukraine
Episode 105 of the Irregular Warfare Podcast contrasts security force assistance (SFA) efforts in Ukraine and Afghanistan. Our guests begin by outlining the significance of security force assistance and its pivotal role in Washington’s wider national security strategy. From there, they delve into a detailed analysis of SFA in
Multi-Dimensional Modeling for Irregular Warfare
In a recent wargame designed to simulate a major invasion in the Indo-Pacific region, organizers deliberately removed the civilian population from the battlefield. This surprising decision was made to focus exclusively on large-scale combat operations (LSCO), allowing for a direct, seemingly unobstructed contest between the American-made M1 Abrams against Chinese
Harnessing GRAT for Irregular Warfare in Great Power Competition
In a recent Irregular Warfare Initiative podcast, Dr. Jake Shapiro and Dr. Frances Brown highlighted the critical role of irregular warfare (IW) in great power competition. They emphasized the risk of neglecting IW, noting that from 1975 to 1991, irregular conflicts comprised 87 percent of all armed conflicts, with great
Proxies and Partners Kickoff Event with GEN (Ret.) Votel
The "IWI Partners and Proxies Special Project Kickoff Event" held on May 10, 2023, featured an insightful discussion on the complexities of working with proxies and partners in irregular warfare. The event commenced with an introduction of the keynote speakers: General Joseph Votel, a retired U.S. Army
Bridging the gap between irregular warfare scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.
