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.
Dry Pipes, Liberated Water, and Struggles for Legitimacy: A Lesser-Known Story of the United States in Cuba
Sixty years ago, the only US sea power platform in a communist country experienced a non-kinetic attack by a nation-state with the dual purposes of both influencing international opinion against its presence and making it uninhabitable. On February 6, 1964, just over a year after the Cuban Missile
Dragons in the West: Chinese Communist Party Threats in Europe and the Imperative of a Strategic Pivot
The Polish Hussars, with their winged lances and unwavering courage, are celebrated as the saviors of Vienna, halting the Ottoman siege in 1683. Their resolute defense marked a turning point for Europe, guarding the continent from eastern threats. Fast forward to the present day, and once again, Poland and the
IWI Responds: The Two-Year Anniversary of Russia's Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine
As the world marks the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, lights are blinking red in Kyiv. Ukraine’s much-anticipated summer offensive petered out with disappointing results, and Russia’s relentless attacks, particularly around Avdiivka, echo the grim tactics seen in Bakhmut, where “meat wave”
Two Years On: Russia's Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine and the Continuing Lessons for the Future of Irregular Warfare
Introduction – Russia's Invasion of Ukraine in Context Russia’s escalating war against Ukraine, especially the past two years since the full-scale invasion in 2022, has highlighted several critical lessons regarding irregular warfare and its broader implications for global security and stability. While irregular warfare is widely understood
Exploring the Cyber Dimension of the Current U.S.-Iran Crisis
Editor’s note: This article is part of Project Cyber, which explores modern challenges and opportunities in and through cyberspace at the intersection of irregular warfare and strategic competition. We warmly invite your participation and engagement as we embark on this project. Please submit articles here. In the wake of
The Key to Ukrainian Victory is Partnering (not Ukrainifying)
Speaking recently at the National Defense University, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the basis for Ukraine’s continued fight against Russian aggression: domestic resilience and international perseverance. Despite significant improvements in Ukraine’s strategic position, these central themes have remained consistent since early 2022. Largely due to the combined impact
Air and Space Power in the Gray Zone
Introducing Project Air Power: Exploring the totality of air, aviation, and space opportunities for air-minded approaches to irregular, hybrid, and gray-zone threats to security and stability. Introduction Since the dawn of military aviation, air power has been, and continues to be, a predominant psychological weapon with the power
Selling the War at Home (Book Review)
In the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Russia has suffered substantial setbacks. Supplies of clothing, body armor, and food are unreliable. Open-source intelligence indicates Russia has lost over 2,000 armored vehicles and hundreds of aircraft. Estimates of personnel losses are even more extensive, with one U.S. intelligence report
Shifting Sands: The Future of West Africa’s Power Dynamics and the Sahel Alliance
If there is a way to conduct irregular warfare in the Sahel without the UN and France, Mali has yet to crack the code. Despite the assistance of Turkish Bayraktar drones and Russian mercenaries, the Malian Armed Forces are taking heavy losses from extremist groups and making limited gains against
Letter From The Editor
Last week, the IWI Board of Directors approved me to take on the role of Editorial Director, succeeding Hope Hodge Seck, who is returning to her career in national security journalism. Jacob Ware will remain on as Deputy Director and Senior Editor Sam Rosenberg will fleet up to share those
Bridging the gap between irregular warfare scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.