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.
The Waiting Game: Signposts of Russia’s Coming Failure in Africa
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 01.01.2026 and is available here. Russia has expanded its footprint in Africa in recent years. In the
China’s Digital Yuan and the Fight for Southeast Asia’s Financial Infrastructure
While China’s Belt and Road Initiative often emerges in headlines, a far less visible but potentially more critical campaign is underway in the digital domain. Across Southeast Asia, Beijing is expanding its financial infrastructure reach through the digital yuan, operating firmly in the gray zone by leveraging emerging technology
What I Learned from Being a Planner in an Advisory Command: Reflections from the Security Assistance Group – Ukraine
✉️ Email header below is auto-generated from this post’s author tag. It only appears in the newsletter — please don’t edit or delete it. “Plans are worthless, but planning is everything.” General Eisenhower’s famous words echoed in my mind as I embarked on a challenging six-month stint
The Colombia Case Study: Legitimacy, Naming, and Irregular Warfare
“Conflict does not end… it reclassifies.” Abstract Information and influence operations are often described as modern capabilities shaped by post‑9/11 irregular warfare doctrine. In practice, they represent a longstanding function of statecraft that predates current terminology and frequently persists long after formal conflict ends. This article uses Colombia
Northern Approaches: Finland, Sweden, and the Growing Opportunities for Allied Irregular Warfare
“Irregular warfare enhances posture and options to counter an adversary’s gray zone activities and their counterintervention strategies” -Senate Armed Services Committee testimony of former Assistant Secretary of Defense Christopher Maier and GEN (R) Bryan Fenton, 10 April 2024 Galvanized by Russia’s war of conquest in Ukraine, the two
American Samoa is America’s Strategic Hub in the South Pacific
American Samoa is home to Pago Pago Harbor, a rare natural deepwater port in the South Pacific. One hundred twenty-five years ago, Samoan leaders agreed to place American Samoa under US Navy jurisdiction for its own security, and it later became a US territory. The island played a vital
Schrödinger's Security Partner: The Paradox of Measuring Security Force Assistance
U.S. security cooperation
Emerging Technology and Irregular Warfare: Launching a New Focus Area
Technology Is Redefining Irregular Warfare. Here's What That Means There's no agreed-upon playbook for emerging technology in the gray zone, and no consensus on what's next. Experts debate competing timelines. The policy community commissions studies that become outdated before publication. And those working
The Role of Foreign Fighters in a Taiwan Resistance Scenario
"Taiwanese veterans who fought in Ukraine’s International Legion against Russia have returned with a stark warning: Taiwan is not ready for war with China." While diplomatic efforts and military deterrence strategies dominate headlines on Taiwan, a less explored area is the potential role of foreign fighters should
Finding the Signal within the Noise: What Information Warriors Need to Know About Human Pattern Recognition.
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 12.18.2025 and is available here. In 2022, Russian state media launched a coordinated narrative campaign portraying Ukraine’
Bridging the gap between irregular warfare scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.
