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
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
Insiders, Outsiders and Enablers: Intelligence Support to Irregular Warfare
Episode 104 examines the role of intelligence professionals and agencies at the tactical and operational levels of irregular warfare while diving deeply into the links between US SOF and the CIA. Our guests begin with an overview of the history of the CIA and the development in intelligence capabilities throughout
Arctic Defense: The US Needs Polar Special Operations Forces Aligned with the 5 SOF Truths
In 1935, General (Retired) William “Billy” Mitchell testified before a secret hearing of the House Military Affairs Committee. During that closed-door testimony, General Mitchell stated, “I believe that in the future, whoever holds Alaska will hold the world. I think it is the most important strategic place in the
Harnessing Insurgent and Narco-Criminal Drone Tactics for Special Operations
Editor’s note: This article is part of Project Air Power, which explores and advocates for the totality of air, aviation, and space power in irregular, hybrid, and gray-zone environments. We invite you to contribute to the discussion, explore the difficult questions, and help influence the future of air
Proxy Wars from a Global Perspective: Non-State Actors and Armed Conflicts (Book Review)
Proxy Wars from a Global Perspective: Non-State Actors and Armed Conflict needs to be on the bookshelves at all military academies and special warfare centers across the world. The book advances the idea that definitions and understandings of proxy warfare from a bipolar era fail to explain the application
Cold War Lessons for a New Era: Connecting IW and Great Power Competition
Episode 103 of the Irregular Warfare Podcast examines the role that irregular conflicts played during the Cold War to inform today’s era of strategic competition. Our guests begin by explaining how irregular conflicts and capabilities play a role in strategic competition, despite policy structures in Washington that often silo
Bridging the gap between irregular warfare scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.
