The Arctic Heats Up: Global Competition In The High North
Benjamin Jebb and Jeff Phaneuf Episode 69 of the Irregular Warfare Podcast examines the evolving relationship between climate change, Arctic security, and geopolitical competition. Our guests begin by describing America’s interests in the Arctic and the traditional institutions that have governed interstate relations in the High North. They then
Resist To Deter: Why Taiwan Needs To Focus On Irregular Warfare
Aidan L. P. Greer and Chris Bassler Taiwan and the United States appear to have reached the decade of maximum danger with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). While Taiwan has mostly accepted the need to shift to a “porcupine strategy” to deter a potential Chinese invasion—an approach that emphasizes
Aviation Advising: Access and Influence Through Air Power
Laura Jones and Jeff Phaneuf Episode 68 of the Irregular Warfare Podcast explores aviation advising and how airpower can be a critical aspect of building partner capacity. Our guests begin by highlighting past success of air advising and explaining aviation’s role in establishing access and influence with partner nations.
In The Gray Zone, This Much Is Black And White: SOF Must Develop Partner And Ally Nation Capabilities
Clifford Lucas Irregular warfare is fundamental to strategic competition with China and Russia. In his recent congressional testimony, General Richard Clarke described the critical space in which this competition will unfold and who should play a key role: “SOF [special operations forces] remain ideally suited to identify an adversary’s
Transmitting Values: Can US Security Force Assistance Export Democratic Norms?
Benjamin Jebb and Kyle Atwell Episode 67 of the Irregular Warfare Podcast explores the complicated relationship between US foreign policy and democratic values, and the risks and opportunities associated with exporting liberal norms through security force assistance. Our guests begin by describing the role that promoting liberal values, such as
The Tyranny Of Color Coded Maps: What We Get Wrong About Measuring Control During Armed Conflict
Ibraheem Bahiss, Ashley Jackson, Leigh Mayhew and Florian Weigand After a stunning military advance, the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021. This seemingly sudden takeover, with hundreds of districts falling like dominos, took most observers by surprise. After all, maps had long shown most of Afghanistan’s
Slow Burn: How US Security Cooperation Shapes Operational Environments
Benjamin Jebb and Barbara Elias Episode 66 of the Irregular Warfare Podcast explores how America’s security cooperation programs can help shape regional security environments by training foreign militaries. Our guests begin by addressing why America settled on a global strategy of exporting its security to allied and partner militaries.
Teaching Irregular Warfare In The Era Of Strategic Competition
Elena Pokalova The 2022 National Security Strategy focuses on US leadership in strategic competition over the future of international order. The document lays out the threats and challenges the United States faces today from adversaries such as Russia and China. In order to prevail over such competitors and secure US
Teaching Irregular Warfare In The Era Of Strategic Competition
This Irregular Warfare Initiative article was originally posted through our partner organization, the Modern War Institute at West Point. The 2022 National Security Strategy focuses on US leadership in strategic competition over the future of international order. The document lays out the threats and challenges the United States faces today
From Street Fights To World Wars: What Gang Violence Can Teach Us About Conflict
Laura Jones and Benjamin Jebb Episode 65 of the Irregular Warfare Podcast explores why violence occurs from the local to the geopolitical level and how conflict can revert back to peace. Our guests today begin by asserting that peace—and not war—is the natural order of things for the
Bridging the gap between irregular warfare scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.
