Recent Publications

Parameters VOL. 46 NO. 1 SPRING 2016
April 1, 2016 — Editor: Dr Antulio J Echevarria IISpecial Commentary: Making Sense of the “Long Wars”Tami Davis BiddleUS Leadership and NATOLuis Simón, Alexander Mattelaer, John R. Deni, Magnus PeterssonIs Nation-Building a Myth?Charles J. Sullivan, M. Chris MasonLearning from Today’s WarsBen Nimmo, Roger N. McDermott, Erik W. GoepnerRead Now MORE

Cover for Parameters VOL. 46 NO. 1 SPRING 2016

Operating in the Gray Zone: An Alternative Paradigm for U.S. Military Strategy
April 1, 2016 — Author: Dr Antulio J Echevarria IISo-called gray zone wars are not new, but they have highlighted shortcomings in the way the West thinks about war and strategy. This monograph proposes an alternative to the U.S. military's current campaign-planning framework, one oriented on achieving positional advantages over rival powers and built around the... MORE

Cover for Operating in the Gray Zone: An Alternative Paradigm for U.S. Military Strategy

Starting Strong: Talent-Based Branching of Newly Commissioned U.S. Army Officers
April 1, 2016 — Authors: LTC Michael J Colarusso, LTC Kenneth G Heckel, COL David S Lyle, LTC William L SkimmyhornBecause the U.S. military's long-held advantage in physical capital and equipment is waning, cutting-edge human capital management is more critical than ever before. The authors of "Starting Strong" argue that by gathering detailed information on the... MORE

Cover for Starting Strong: Talent-Based Branching of Newly Commissioned U.S. Army Officers

Strategic Insights: Mexico—New Directions, Continuity, and Obstacles in the Fight Against Transnational Organized Crime
March 31, 2016 — Dr. R. Evan EllisFrom February 15-23, 2016, I1 had the opportunity to travel to Mexico to conduct interviews with Mexican security experts about the evolution of transnational organized crime in the country and the work of Mexico's current government to combat it.My trip to Mexico coincided with the February 12-17 visit to Mexico by Pope Francis... MORE

Cover for Strategic Insights: Mexico—New Directions, Continuity, and Obstacles in the Fight Against Transnational Organized Crime

Old and New Insurgency Forms
March 1, 2016 — Author: Dr Robert J BunkerThis monograph creates a proposed insurgency typology divided into legacy, contemporary, and emergent and potential insurgency forms, and provides strategic implications for U.S. defense policy as they relate to each of these forms. The typology clusters, insurgency forms identified, and their starting dates are as... MORE

The East Mediterranean Triangle at Crossroads
March 1, 2016 — Author: Dr Jean-Loup SamaanThe collapse of Israel-Turkey relations over the last decade has led to a reshuffling of the power plays in the East Mediterranean region. Following the dismantlement of the Ankara-Jerusalem axis, Greece has entered the game by becoming the new ally of Israel in the area. As a result, the new strategic triangle that... MORE

Cover for The East Mediterranean Triangle at Crossroads

The Army War College Review Vol. 2 No. 1
February 1, 2016 — Author: Dr Larry D MillerThe Army War College Review, a refereed publication of student work, is produced under the purview of the Strategic Studies Institute and the United States Army War College. An electronic quarterly, The AWC Review connects student intellectual work with professionals invested in U.S. national security, Landpower, strategic... MORE

Cover for The Army War College Review Vol. 2 No. 1

Strategic Insights: The Sinister Shadow of Escalating Middle Eastern Sectarianism
January 21, 2016 — Dr. W. Andrew Terrill In one of the opening scenes of the 1973 movie, The Exorcist, an older Catholic priest stands among the ruins of the ancient Mesopotamian city of Hatra.1 In the movie, he views an ancient statue of an Assyrian wind demon and stares directly into the stone representation of his enemy’s face. In the background, two extremely... MORE

Cover for Strategic Insights: The Sinister Shadow of Escalating Middle Eastern Sectarianism

Military Engagement and Forward Presence: Down but Not Out as Tools to Shape and Win
January 1, 2016 — Author: Dr John R DeniMilitary engagement and forward-based U.S. military forces offer decisionmakers effective and efficient mechanisms for maintaining American influence, deterring aggression, assuring allies, building tomorrow’s coalitions, managing the challenge of disorder in the security environment, mitigating the risk of a major interstate... MORE

The Limits of Military Officers’ Duty to Obey Civilian Orders: A Neo-Classical Perspective
July 30, 2015 — Author: Mr Robert E Atkinson, JrView the Executive SummaryThis monograph offers a neo-classically republican perspective on a perennial problem of civilian/military relations: limitations on military officers’ obligation to obey civilian authorities. All commentators agree that military officers are generally obliged—morally, professionally, and... MORE

Reassessing the Barriers to Islamic Radicalization in Kazakhstan
July 29, 2015 — Authors: Ms Zhulduz Baizakova, Mr Roger N McDermott View the Executive SummaryCentral Asia has been experiencing an increase or activation of radical Islamic movements over the last decade or so. These complex processes include increasing urbanization, institutional and individual corruption, the growing gap between rich and poor, the inability of... MORE

China's Rise and Reconfiguration of Central Asia's Geopolitics: A Case for U.S. "Pivot" to Eurasia
July 29, 2015 — Author: Mr Roman Muzalevsky View the Executive SummaryChina’s emergence as a global actor has questioned the position of the United States as the strongest power and the future of the Washington-led global order. To achieve the status of a truly global player wielding influence in all dimensions of power would require China to leverage its regional... MORE