Recent Publications

Russian Security Strategy under Putin: U.S. and Russian Perspectives
November 1, 2007 — Author: Dr R Craig Nation, Mr Dmitri Trenin The authors illustrate the degree to which great power rivalry in Eurasia has become a major security issue and source of growing Russo-American tensions. Dr. R. Craig Nation lays out some of the fundamental macro-strategic issues of this rivalry and U.S. goals in Eurasia, as well as the consequences... MORE

Force and Restraint in Strategic Deterrence: A Game-Theorist’s Perspective
November 1, 2007 — Author: Dr Roger B Myerson A great power’s use of its military forces may be rendered ineffective or even counterproductive when there are no clear internationally recognizable limits on this use of force. Professor Myerson derives this conclusion from the basic observation that our ability to influence potential rivals depends on a balanced mix of... MORE

AFRICOM’s Dilemma: The “Global War on Terrorism” “Capacity Building,” Humanitarianism, and the Future of U.S. Security Policy in Africa
November 1, 2007 — Author: Mr Robert G Berschinski Africa is a continent of growing economic, social, political, and geostrategic importance. The establishment of a new Combatant Command for Africa–AFRICOM–marks an important milestone in the evolution of relations between the United States and the governments of Africa. Through AFRICOM, the U.S. Department of Defense... MORE

Regional Threats and Security Strategy: The Troubling Case of Today’s Middle East
November 1, 2007 — Author: Mr James A Russell The United States needs to undertake a strategic regional net assessment that examines the following issues as it seeks to construct a regional security strategy to protect its interests and mitigate wider threats to international security. That net assessment should include reviewing the role of security guarantees in... MORE

On the Uses of Cultural Knowledge
November 1, 2007 — Author: Dr Sheila Miyoshi Jager The author explores the role that cultural knowledge must play in thinking about a new strategy for counterinsurgency. Although the importance of cultural awareness and understanding of adversary societies has been widely recognized as essential to operations and tactics on the battlefield, its significance has been... MORE

Working and Playing Well with Others: A Strategy-Policy Mismatch in Export Controls
November 1, 2007 — Author: LTC Charles H Wilson Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the November 2007 newsletter.Read Now MORE

The Evolution of U.S.-Turkish Relations in a Transatlantic Context
November 1, 2007 — Author: Dr W Andrew Terrill Key Insights:• Turkish accession to the European Union (EU) remains a central question in determining the future of Turkish relations with Western Europe and the United States. Any support that the United States can give to the acceleration of Turkish accession will be valuable and helpful to these ties.• While... MORE

The “People” in the PLA: Recruitment, Training, and Education in China’s 80-Year-Old Military
November 1, 2007 — Author: Mr Justin B Liang, Dr Sarah K Snyder Three conclusions were reached: (1) China’s ideal “new type” of military officer is university educated and possesses the technical competence and physical ability to handle actual combat against a modern, high-tech adversary. (2) Driven by the understanding of the critical and integral role of soldiers... MORE

Transformation Under Fire: A Historical Case Study with Modern Parallels
October 1, 2007 — Author: Major Raymond A Kimball The Bolshevik leaders who built the Red Army from the shattered remnants of the Imperial Russian Army after World War I were far more innovative and pragmatic than usually believed. These men had a clear vision of what they needed from their armed forces and sustained that vision through years of sustained combat... MORE

The Military Strategy of Global Jihad
October 1, 2007 — Author: LTC Sarah E Zabel America entered the Global War on Terrorism with little understanding of the enemy it faced. Al-Qaeda is a splinter faction of militant Islamism intent on establishing its vision of strict Islamic rule in the Muslim world through armed action. Global jihadis have spent more than 40 years refining their philosophy, gaining... MORE

Opium and Afghanistan: Reassessing U.S. Counternarcotics Strategy
October 1, 2007 — Author: LTC John A Glaze Cultivation and production of opium in Afghanistan have skyrocketed since the Taliban were toppled in 2001 such that Afghanistan now supplies 92 percent of the world’s illicit opium. The expanding opium trade is threatening to destabilize the Afghan government and turn the conflict-ridden country back into a safe haven for... MORE

Making Riflemen from Mud: Restoring the Army’s Culture of Irregular Warfare
October 1, 2007 — Author: LTC James D Campbell Prior to World War II, the Army had a deeply ingrained facility with and acceptance of what we now term unconventional warfare—raising, training, advising, and cooperating with tribal militias, local paramilitaries, and other nonstate armed groups. This culture of irregular warfare was attributable to nearly 300 years... MORE