The Future of Conflict: How Super-Empowered Populations Will Change Warfare
Though it claims to support local populations in warfare, the US military nonetheless tends toward enemy-centric operational behavior. That is, units spend most of their time focused on destroying the enemy and comparatively little on local civilian populations’ needs, behavior, and interests. This can be said of most American conflicts
Divided by a Common Language: How Europe Views Irregular Warfare
With the return of strategic competition, Irregular Warfare (IW) has become the focus of attention in defense circles around the world. Some argue that mastery in this field will decide who emerges victorious in such competition. However, IW is an elusive concept across the US government and among US allies
Gray Zone – The Alliance is the Message
Episode 79 of the Irregular Warfare Podcast explores the gray zone and how the US-Australia alliance enables irregular warfare campaigns in the Indo-Pacific theater of operations. Our guests begin by defining the gray zone and what is meant by the term influence. They then discuss examples of China’s gray
History Rhymes: Lessons from Indo-Pacific Competition and Confrontation in the Gray Zone
“I said that I was accustomed to hear that statement [‘peaceful rise’], and that it meant, and was not infrequently stated to mean, that it would be peaceful if all Japanese demands were conceded, but that if they were refused ‘a different situation would arise.’” These undiplomatic words were spoken
Planes, Trains, Automobiles, and Bodabodas: Transportation Workers and Irregular Warfare
Movement is political. Whether it’s the movement of 190,000 Russian troops across borders in an act of war, the Maduro regime’s displacement of more than 6.1 million Venezuelan refugees across South and Central America, or the refusal of four black students to leave a Woolworth lunch
The Cyber-SOF-Space Triad and the Future of Army Special Operations
Episode 78 of the Irregular Warfare Podcast explores the evolution of Army special operations forces (ARSOF) and the ways that ARSOF can contribute to future irregular warfare campaigns around the world. Our guests begin by addressing current geopolitical trends and future threats to the United States and its allies. They
The Digital Bear in Ukraine: Russian Cyber Operations Since 2014
Episode 77 of the Irregular Warfare Podcast, which is also the second installment of the IWI Project on Cyber, explores cyber operations in the war in Ukraine. Our guests examine the use of cyber warfare and digital information operations in Ukraine since 2014. They begin by highlighting the differences between
Local Partners Are Not Proxies: The Case for Rethinking Proxy War
Despite being a scholar of “proxy wars” in Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq, I rarely use the term. Here’s why. Work on security partnerships is expanding in response to a shifting US defense posture emphasizing the benefits of working “by, with, and through” allies and partners. This research is essential,
Campaigning Through (Security) Cooperation: A Roadmap for Implementing the National Defense Strategy in Lower Priority Theaters
“As we face complex challenges that span across borders, our success will depend on how closely we work with our friends around the world to secure our common interests and promote our shared values.” – Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III, Message to the Force, March 2021 Campaigning through cooperation is
Putin’s Mobilization of Masculinity in the Invasion of Ukraine—and the Role of Ukrainian Women in Stopping Him
Her statue watching over Kyiv’s Saint Michael’s Square, Saint Olga has played an important role in inspiring the defenders who have protected Ukraine since Russia’s invasion a year ago. In the 10th century, Olga avenged the killing of her husband Igor of Kyiv at the hands of
Bridging the gap between irregular warfare scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.
