Recent Publications

The Evolution of U.S. Turkish Relations in a Transatlantic Context
April 1, 2008 — Author: Dr Frances G Burwell The relationship between Turkey and the United States is complicated because of differing core purposes and somewhat differing memberships, i.e., NATO and the European Union. Current Turkey-U.S. diplomatic and military relations are strained, but both countries recognize how vital it is to address issues of mutual... MORE

Global Climate Change National Security Implications
April 1, 2008 — Author: Dr Carolyn Pumphrey On March 29-31, 2007, the Strategic Studies Institute and the Triangle Institute for Security Studies conducted a colloquium on “Global Climate Change: National Security Implications” held in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. This volume is based on the proceedings of this conference. Chapter 1 addresses the growing... MORE

Precision in the Global War on Terror: Inciting Muslims through the War of Ideas
April 1, 2008 — Author: Dr Sherifa D Zuhur Never before have Americans paid so much attention to Islam and Muslim ideology. Although efforts have been made to separate mainsteam views from extremist principles, Muslims feel that many of their basic beliefs are under attack in the ongoing war of ideas. The author explores why, surveying a broad swath of accusations... MORE

Baloch Nationalism and the Geopolitics of Energy Resources: The Changing Context of Separatism in Pakistan
April 1, 2008 — Author: Dr Robert J Wirsing The author examines the energy context of the simmering Baloch separatist insurgency that has surfaced in recent years in Pakistan’s sprawling Balochistan province. In particular, he looks at how Pakistan’s mounting energy insecurity--a product of rapid increase in demand coupled with rising scarcity and the region’s... MORE

Prospects from Korean Unification
April 1, 2008 — Author: COL (Australian Army) David Coghlan Throughout the 1990s, predictions of Korean reunification were rife. Since then, enthusiasm for such predictions have faded, and although the underlying assumption of reunification remains, forecasts of when and how this will occur have been more subdued. Reunification poses two distinct yet... MORE

The Strategy Deficit
March 20, 2008 — Author: Mr Nathan P Freier Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the April 2008 newsletter.Read Now MORE

Opportunities for Engaging Minorities
March 1, 2008 — Author: Dr Dallas D Owens Five aspects of minority community engagement in national security issues were examined: two concerned engagement in specific minority communities (Muslim and Latino), one a “field” of engagement (public health), one a traditional type of engagement (military service), and one a prerequisite for successful community... MORE

After Fidel, The Deluge?
March 1, 2008 — Author: Dr Alex Crowther Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the March 2008 newsletter.Read Now MORE

Security Sector Reform in Liberia: Mixed Results from Humble Beginnings
March 1, 2008 — Author: Mr Mark Malan The author presents an explanatory overview and analysis of progress made with the process of security sector reform in Liberia--with particular reference to the armed forces and the police. The author begins with a concise review of what the theory of SSR and its application in the Liberian context and follows with a... MORE

Projecting Pyongyang: The Future of North Korea’s Kim Jong Il Regime
March 1, 2008 — Author: Dr Andrew Scobell The author seeks to assist planners and decisionmakers in thinking about and preparing for possible future contingencies concerning North Korea. He does not dwell on war or conflict scenarios involving North Korea because military planners have already focused considerable effort and attention on these. It is entirely... MORE

Drug Intoxicated Irregular Fighters: Complications, Dangers, and Responses
March 1, 2008 — Author: Dr Paul Rexton Kan The presence of drugged fighters is not unknown in the history of warfare. Yet widespread drug use on the battlefield is now part of protracted conflicts largely fought by nonprofessional combatants that take place in an international system characterized by the process of globalization. From marijuana, khat,... MORE

The Political Context Behind Successful Revolutionary Movements, Three Case Studies: Vietnam (1955-63), Algeria (1945-62), and Nicaragua (1967-79)
March 1, 2008 — Author: LTC Raymond A Millen Following the collapse of the Soviet Empire, the new world order did not bring about a closure of revolutionary warfare. In fact, the Soviet-inspired wars of liberation against imperialism have been eclipsed by reactionary, jihadist wars. By all indications in Afghanistan, Chechnya, Somalia, and Iraq, Islamic militants... MORE