Recent Publications

Book Review: The Spy and the State: The History of American Intelligence
March 18, 2026 — From the Revolutionary War to the digital age, The Spy and the State by Jeffrey P. Rogg traces the evolution of American intelligence as a central force in shaping national security and foreign policy. With rich historical detail and sharp analysis, Rogg reveals how espionage has empowered and challenged democratic governance. This compelling narrative offers a fresh lens on the hidden machinery behind America’s global influence... MORE

Cover of The Spy and the State: The History of American Intelligence

Book Review: Securing Space: A Plan for U.S. Action
March 18, 2026 — Securing Space presents an argument for the importance of US advances in the space domain and offers recommendations for achieving them. The reviewer sees this report “as a critical waypoint in identifying the threats in space and reiterating the importance of this domain to our collective way of life.”... MORE

Cover of Securing Space: A Plan for U.S. Action

Book Review: The Impossible Mission: The Office of Security Cooperation and the U.S. Forces Drawdown in Iraq
March 18, 2026 — A gripping look at the chaotic final chapter of the Iraq War, revealing how bureaucracy, urgency, and geopolitical pressure collided at the moment the US mission needed clarity most... MORE

Cover of The Impossible Mission: The Office of Security Cooperation and the U.S. Forces Drawdown in Iraq

Book Review: The Army: A Primer to Our Profession of Arms – Field Manual 1
March 18, 2026 — Field Manual 1 lays the foundation for understanding the Army’s core values, mission, and enduring role in defending the nation. It offers a clear and compelling guide to what it means to be a professional soldier, emphasizing duty, discipline, and the moral commitment to service. This essential primer inspires new recruits and seasoned leaders to uphold the legacy and the future of the Army profession... MORE

Cover of The Army: A Primer to Our Profession of Arms – Field Manual 1

Deploying and Supplying the Joint Force from a Contested Homeland
March 18, 2026 — In this podcast, Bruce Busler and Ryan Samuelson argue that the United States must prepare for “the fight to get to the fight,” focusing on deploying and maintaining military forces from a contested homeland amid near-peer threats... MORE

Decisive Point episode: Deploying and Supplying the Joint Force from a Contested Homeland

The 2026 National Defense Strategy
March 17, 2026 — Military strategists Dr. Frank G. Hoffman (retired) and Dr. Antulio J. Echevarria II analyze the 2026 National Defense Strategy... MORE

Decisive Point episode: The 2026 National Defense Strategy

The New Reserve Personnel ID Card: How the PLA is Streamlining Mobilization and Improving the Status of Military Reservists in Chinese Society
March 16, 2026 — Joshua Arostegui... MORE

Slide for CLSC Quick Take, The New Reserve Personnel ID Card: How the PLA is Streamlining Mobilization and Improving the Status of Military Reservists in Chinese Society

Ukraine’s Not-So-Whole-of-Society at War: Force Generation in Modern Developed Societies
March 11, 2026 — This podcast argues that Ukraine offers a cautionary tale regarding the two main modern models of force generation. Neither the professional high-tech war model, favored by Western militaries, nor the whole-of-society war approach, said to have saved Ukraine in 2014 and 2022, proved successful formulas for Ukraine. Considering that Ukraine is fighting for survival, with Russian forces inside the country, the failure of both models in action has serious implications for NATO member states as they deliberate their choices regarding future force generation... MORE

Decisive Point episode: Ukraine’s Not-So-Whole-of-Society at War: Force Generation in Modern Developed Societies

Russian Arctic Land Forces and Defense Trends Redefined by NATO and Ukraine
March 9, 2026 — This podcast argues that Russia’s Arctic land forces have been weakened by the Russia-Ukraine War and NATO’s northern expansion, creating a strategic window for Western militaries to bolster their Arctic capabilities. Unlike existing studies that focus on maritime operations and the Northern Sea Route, it integrates technical assessments of ground-based Arctic platforms with analysis of military-district reforms. Using a mixed methodology that incorporates equipment specifications, Russian government documents, media reports, and NATO strategic-response evaluations, this podcast constructs a comprehensive baseline understanding of Russia’s Arctic land-force potential and readiness. Policy and military practitioners will benefit from actionable insights into Arctic force-design shifts, equipment vulnerabilities, and strategic recommendations to exploit the temporary imbalance between NATO and Russian readiness... MORE

Decisive Point episode: Russian Arctic Land Forces and Defense Trends Redefined by NATO and Ukraine, Troy J. Bouffard and Lester W. Grau

Strategic Rivalries: How Are They Won?
March 6, 2026 — This article argues strategic rivalries—distinct from general strategic competition—are best understood as contests in which states prioritize weakening a specific opponent’s capacity to compete. It departs from existing work by critiquing the Joint Concept for Competing’s narrow definition and by emphasizing rivalry termination as a central but understudied dimension. Drawing on decades of international relations scholarship and historical datasets of interstate rivalries since 1815, the article analyzes how rivalries end and identifies strategic preclusion as a proactive approach for winning them. Its insights offer policy and military practitioners guidance for shaping competitive strategies short of war... MORE

Slide for the article Strategic Rivalries: How Are They Won?

Parameters | Spring 2026
March 6, 2026 — Welcome to the Spring 2026 issue of Parameters, which consists of an In Focus special commentary, three forums (Clausewitz and Modern Warfare, Operational Considerations, and Historical Studies), and the Strategic Competition Corner... MORE

Book Review: War Ethics: Theory, Practice, and Memoir
March 5, 2026 — Blending philosophical insight, real-world application, and personal reflection, this volume offers a comprehensive exploration of the ethics of war. From just war theory to the lived experiences of soldiers and civilians, it bridges the gap between abstract principles and battlefield realities. It is a compelling resource for scholars, practitioners, and anyone grappling with the moral dimensions of armed conflict... MORE

Cover of War Ethics: Theory, Practice, and Memoir edited by Brian Orend