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.
Understanding Insurgency and Counterinsurgency Through the Lens of Civil War
Editor’s Note: This article is adapted from “Counterinsurgency as order-making: refining the concepts of insurgency and counterinsurgency in light of the Somali Civil War,” published in Small Wars and Insurgencies. Civil war is a complex, messy and intensely political phenomenon whereby established orders are challenged and new ones
When a CEO Plays President: Musk, Starlink, and the War in Ukraine
Explosive reports from major news outlets in September declared that, last year, tech guru and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk had shut down the Starlink service for the Ukrainian military in Crimea, thwarting Ukraine’s ability to conduct a major counteroffensive against the Russian navy. Following these reports, Musk publicly acknowledged
The Irregular Warfare Implications of the Israel-Hamas Conflict
In the immediate aftermath of Hamas’ devastating surprise assault on Israel this past weekend, it is tempting to focus exclusively on the horrific carnage and wanton destruction on both sides of this now only days-old conflict. Beyond the bloodshed and sorrow, however, there are far broader irregular warfare implications
Law as Force in Hybrid Warfare
The Westphalian paradigm of warfare exists in the belief in the dichotomy between open war with stretches of peace in between. This Western perspective of warfare is traditionally linked to conflicts employing force through kinetic means to achieve military objectives, and by extension, political objectives. The existence of nuclear weapons
To Coup or Not to Coup: The Cold War Hangover of US Security Assistance
With recent military coups in July in Niger and in August in Gabon, commentators have heaped blame on the United States. Last year it was a coup in Mali and two in Burkina Faso, and, according to The Intercept, “at least 14 US-trained officers have taken part in coups
Wither Political Warfare: The Future of Gray Zone Competition
“Nothing becomes a General more than to anticipate the Enemy’s plans.” -- Niccolò Machiavelli, The Discourses, Book 3, Verse 18. The term “grey zone” was a curious absentee from this year’s Australian Defence Strategic Review (DSR). Nor were similar terms, like “political warfare,” “subversion,” or “irregular warfare,” even once
Lessons in Maritime Insurgency from the Mukti Bahini Freedom Fighters of 1971
Editor’s note: This article is part of Project Maritime, which explores modern challenges and opportunities in the maritime dimension at the intersection of irregular warfare and strategic competition. We warmly invite your participation and engagement as we embark on this project. Please send submissions to submissions@irregularwarfare.org with
Solving for the Missing Element of Maritime Campaigning
Editor’s note: This article is part of Project Maritime, which explores modern challenges and opportunities in the maritime dimension at the intersection of irregular warfare and strategic competition. We warmly invite your participation and engagement as we embark on this project. Please send submissions to submissions@irregularwarfare.org with
Determining the True Extent of Terrorism’s Existential Threat
The apocalyptic cult Aum Shinrikyo sought to ignite a cataclysmic war between the United States and the Soviet Union. Asahara Shoko, the cult’s leader, believed Aum would incite the apocalypse, and he would emerge from the wreckage of humanity as a new Jesus Christ. This belief motivated Aum’s
A Backdoor Call to Arms: Foreign Fighters in National Defense
If you believe that activating irregulars, militias, and mercenaries to augment the security arm of the state is a dreadful policy idea, you are having a good year. The spectacle of the late Yevgeni Prigozhin and his quasi-rogue Wagner Group fighting externally and then threatening internally, is a chilling
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