Decisive Point Podcast

Decisive Point Podcast | Nov. 21, 2024

"Restoring Priority on Cultural Skill Sets for Modern Military Professio...

In this episode, Colonel Daniel W. Henk (US Army, retired), PhD, and Dr. Allison Abbe discuss cultural education in the US military. They emphasize the importance of cultural capability across the competition and conflict continuum and address how

Decisive Point Podcast | Nov. 6, 2024

“Avoiding the Escalatory Trap: Managing Escalation During the Israel-Ha...

In this episode, Dr. C. Anthony Pfaff, interim director of the Strategic Studies Institute at the US Army War College, discusses his work on managing escalation during the Israel-Hamas War. The conversation covers the complexities of Israel’s

Decisive Point Podcast | Nov. 5, 2024

“The Challenges of Next-Gen Insurgency”

In this episode, Steven Metz discusses his article, “The Challenges of Next-Gen Insurgency,” which was published in the Autumn 2024 issue of Parameters. We discuss how generational conflict may drive future insurgencies, particularly tensions between

Decisive Point Podcast | Oct. 29, 2024

“Operating Successfully Within the Bureaucracy Domain of Warfare: Part T...

In this episode, Dr. Jeff McManus discusses his article, “Operating Successfully Within the Bureaucracy Domain of Warfare: Part Two.” He addresses seven key fundamentals for navigating bureaucracy, emphasizing the importance of principles,

Decisive Point Podcast | Oct. 23, 2024

“The Military and the Election: Thinking Through Retired Flag Officer En...

With the 2024 US presidential election fast approaching, Dr. Carrie A. Lee takes on the topic of retired flag officer endorsements and political campaigns and how public servant endorsements influence public trust in the military. Is there a way for

Decisive Point Podcast | Oct. 7, 2024

“Exploring the Nexus of Military and Society at a 50-Year Milestone”

In this episode, Patricia M. Shields, a Regents Professor at Texas State University, discusses the evolving dynamics between military institutions and civilian society over the last 50 years. She explores key themes such as recruitment strategies,

Decisive Point Podcast | Oct. 1, 2024

“Introduction to the US Army War College Civil-Military Relations Center”

The United States is experiencing an era characterized by civil-military tension and conflict. From the increasing politicization of the military, to declining public trust in the military and the recruiting crisis, to the erosion of norms meant to

Decisive Point Podcast | Sept. 24, 2024

“Professional Discourse Is Shaping the Force”

In this episode, Majors Brennan Devereaux and Cliff R. Parsons discuss the influence of professional military writing on strategy and decision making. Devereaux previews his article on military discourse, while Parsons discusses his recent work on

Decisive Point Podcast | Sept. 9, 2024

Podcast: “The Forward Edge of the Fifth US Army War College”

In this episode, Major General David C. Hill, Dr. David D. Dworak, and Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Blair Wilcox discuss their article, “The Forward Edge of the Fifth US Army War College.” They address the evolution of the War College, focusing on

Decisive Point Podcast | Aug. 29, 2024

“Operating Successfully Within the Bureaucracy Domain of Warfare: Part One”

In this episode of Decisive Point, Dr. Jeff McManus, an expert in strategic studies, explores his compelling argument for recognizing bureaucracy as a sixth domain of warfare. The conversation highlights how this perspective can reshape the

Decisive Point Podcast | Aug. 28, 2024

“Closing the Gap: Officer Advanced Education STEM+M (Management)”

The Army has made insufficient progress in arming its officers with science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and management (STEM+M) knowledge. The contemporary battlefield is faster paced, technologically enabled, and data driven, requiring

Decisive Point Podcast | Aug. 15, 2024

“The Combat Path: Sustaining Mental Readiness in Ukrainian Soldiers”

Oleh Hukovskyy, a Ukrainian military officer and psychiatrist, shares insights on the Russia-Ukraine War’s impact on soldiers’ mental health. He discusses the daily challenges faced by troops and highlights signs of post-combat stressors. Hukovskyy

Decisive Point Podcast | July 30, 2024

“Raven Sentry: Employing AI for Indications and Warnings in Afghanistan”

US Army Colonel Thomas W. Spahr discusses the development and implementation of the AI model, Raven Sentry, to predict attacks on Afghan centers using unclassified data sources. He highlights the need for innovative solutions in Afghanistan as

Decisive Point Podcast | July 22, 2024

“Iraq’s Ministry of Interior: NATO, Capability Building, and Reform”

Andrea Malouf, a consultant and adviser, discusses her article, “Iraq’s Ministry of Interior: NATO, Capability Building, and Reform.” She emphasizes the importance of defining clear end states for successful reform, avoiding a sole focus on training,

Decisive Point Podcast | July 10, 2024

“What American Policymakers Misunderstand about the Belt and Road Initia...

American accounts of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) contend that it is a coherent grand strategy that reflects Beijing’s geopolitical ambitions. These accounts ignore the BRI’s fragmented nature, whereby Chinese provinces have been pivotal actors

Decisive Point Podcast | July 2, 2024

Understanding Russian Disinformation and How the Joint Force Can Address It

Russia will dominate information warfare if the United States does not treat disinformation as central to Russian strategy. This podcast examines the vital role disinformation played in post–Cold War Russian strategy, including its strategy in the

Decisive Point Podcast | June 18, 2024

"Building a Purposeful Research Agenda”

The China Landpower Studies Center Director Richard Butler and Joshua Arostegui, the center’s research director and chair, discuss the center’s research agenda. Previously, Butler outlined the center’s mission and how the research agenda answers

Decisive Point Podcast | June 13, 2024

“Taiwan’s Contribution to Liberal Order and the Future of US-Taiwan Rela...

Strengthening ties with Taiwan is the best chance the United States has to preserve the liberal international order in Asia and improve its security relative to China. This study offers a normative perspective on how Taiwan can contribute to US-led

Decisive Point Podcast | May 30, 2024

“Recognizing the Increasing Importance of the US-ROK Alliance”

The essay this podcast episode is based on sets the stage for the Strategic Studies Institute’s research on the growing importance of South Korea to the US alliance system and security objectives across the Indo-Pacific region, provides reasons why

Decisive Point Podcast | May 23, 2024

“International Law, Self-Defense, and the Israel-Hamas Conflict”

This podcast examines the international law of self-defense as it applies to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict to determine whether the October 2023 attacks by Hamas against Israel can be interpreted under Article 51 of the UN Charter as an “armed

Decisive Point Podcast | May 9, 2024

China’s Use of Nontraditional Strategic Landpower in Asia

This article argues that the People’s Republic of China uses its police and internal security forces as a nontraditional means of projecting strategic Landpower in the Indo-Pacific and Central Asia. Instead of limiting analysis of China’s power

Decisive Point Podcast | May 2, 2024

The Politics of Restraint in the Middle East

Domestic constraints make it difficult for the United States to pursue a coherent program of restraint in the Middle East. As events in Gaza revive debates about the appropriate size and scope of the military footprint in the region, this article

Decisive Point Podcast | April 24, 2024

Rethinking the Relevance of Self-Deterrence

Self-deterrence is critically understudied in deterrence theory. Similarly, deterrence practitioners prefer to focus on adversaries’ threats rather than seeking to account for the full scope of fears influencing the decision calculus of policymakers.

Decisive Point Podcast | April 9, 2024

Strategy as Problem-Solving

This article proposes a new definition of strategy as problem-solving that challenges the focus on goals and assumptions of order within many post–Cold War approaches to strategy. It argues that the military needs strategy to diagnose the complex

Decisive Point Podcast | April 2, 2024

“Toward a Strategic Art for Sanctions”

New strategic art is required to maneuver political economies to meet the demands of future engagements and campaigns. Current discussions of the projection of political-economic power are typically abstract, high-level, and policy-focused or present

Decisive Point Podcast | March 27, 2024

“Ukraine: The Case for Urgency”

If the United States and its allies seek to deny Vladimir Putin an objective victory in the Russia-Ukraine War, they must commit to providing sufficient aid to the Ukrainian army soon because the window of opportunity to provide sufficient resources

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