Articles
Our articles cut through the noise on irregular warfare to connect strategic theory to operational reality and translate complexity into insight for practitioners and policymakers. No time to read? Check out our podcast, "Insider: Short of War," which transforms our articles into concise, engaging audio pieces you can listen to anywhere. Available directly in most of our articles and on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms.
Quantifying the Gray Zone: A Framework for Measuring Hybrid Warfare Power Balances
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 06.17.2025 and is available here. The contemporary security environment defies traditional categorizations of war and peace. We
Hezbollah’s Hybrid Model Under Strain: Relative Decline and the Evolving Dynamics of Irregular Warfare in Lebanon
Since its founding in 1985, Hezbollah has stood out as a prototype of the modern hybrid actor. Hezbollah seamlessly blended irregular warfare tactics, conventional capabilities, political participation, and a deep-rooted social service network. In irregular warfare theory, such actors derive their strength from asymmetry, population control, and strategically using
Exploring African Perspectives on Irregular Warfare
Across Africa, “conventional warfare […] is irregular and irregular warfare is conventional.” That is how a Nigerian general officer described the state of warfare in his region to the United States Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) Irregular Warfare Center (IWC). While key U.S. strategy documents call on U.S.
Irregular Warfare Initiative Writing Contest: "Irregular Allies: Strengthening Regional Partnerships through Unconventional Means"
Note from the Editor: This is our first writing contest emphasizing short responses to a tailored, real-world scenario. We hope this challenge will pull forward research ideas and professional observations, and focus them into actionable recommendations for policymakers or practitioners to take to the next level. We are also
Preparedness and Parallels: Lessons in Crisis Preparedness from Sweden and Latin America
Europe’s current geopolitical instability amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 has awakened fears of a larger war. The region’s growing complacency following decades of stability was largely a product of strong alliances, economic power, and NATO’s protective presence. But this period of calm
Once Upon a Proxy War: Chinese Support to the People’s Army of Vietnam (Book Review)
The Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI) Editorial Team is proud to present the third installment in our series featuring leading thinkers in the irregular warfare community critically engaging with recent IW-related publications. Curated by IWI editors Barbara Elias and Lewis Fraser, this series goes beyond traditional book reviews. Contributors are
Putting Operation Spider’s Web in Context
On June 1, 2025, the Ukrainian special intelligence services launched Operation Spider’s Web, a remotely triggered drone attack that may have damaged or destroyed over 40 Russian strategic aircraft at four air bases deep inside the Russian Federation’s borders. Spider’s Web was undeniably successful: Russia’s capacity
Nine Critical Lessons from Israel’s October 7 War and What They Mean for SOF
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 05.23.2025 and is available here. Early on the morning of October 7, 2023, Hamas launched one of
The Balkans Model and Conditions for Peace in Ukraine
Editor’s note: This article is part of Project Europe which focuses on European and European-adjacent security issues to deter and defend against irregular threats, develop IW knowledge, and advance the American understanding of allied, partner and competitor practices of IW. We invite you to contribute to the discussion,
Influence by Design: Reassessing U.S. Military Advising
The Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI) Editorial Team is proud to present the second installment in our series featuring leading thinkers in the irregular warfare community critically engaging with recent IW-related publications. Curated by IWI editors Barbara Elias and Lewis Fraser, this series goes beyond traditional book reviews. Contributors are
Bridging the gap between irregular warfare scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.
