Recent Publications

Gauging U.S.-Indian Strategic Cooperation
March 1, 2007 — Author: Mr Henry D Sokolski This volume consists of research that the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center (NPEC) commissioned and vetted throughout 2006. For at least half of the chapters, authors presented versions of their work as testimony before Congressional oversight committees. No matter what one’s point of view, these chapters deserve... MORE

Exploring the “Right Size” for China’s Military: PLA Missions, Functions, and Organizations
February 1, 2007 — Authors: Mr Justin B Liang, Dr Sarah K Snyder On October 6, 2006, more than 60 leading experts on China's People’s Liberation Army (PLA) convened at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, for a two-day discussion of the drivers of PLA force modernization. The 2006 PLA Conference was co-sponsored by National Bureau of Asian Research and the Strategic... MORE

Colombia and the United States–The Partnership: But What Is the Endgame?
February 1, 2007 — Author: AMB Myles R R Frechette American Ambassador to Colombia, 1994-97, Myles R. R. Frechette provides authoritative, eloquent, and impassioned perspectives on both the achievements and failures of American and Colombian efforts. He argues that American policy made analytical errors that need to be rectified, including underestimating the... MORE

Russia and the European Union: The Sources and Limits of “Special Relationships”
February 1, 2007 — Author: Dr Cynthia A Roberts Russia and the West have avoided renewed confrontation despite many post Cold War crises, but illiberal trends in Russia rule out any prospect of developing a mutual agenda for closer integration. Russian engagement with the leading Euro-Atlantic institutions on a special, but still subordinate, nonmember basis remains... MORE

The Iraq War: Learning from the Past, Adapting to the Present, and Planning for the Future
February 1, 2007 — Author: Dr Thomas R Mockaitis Taking full account of the factors beyond the control of the U.S. military and avoiding glib comparisons with Vietnam, the author examines how the American approach to the war in Iraq has affected operations there. He also draws on the experience of other nations, particularly the United Kingdom, to identify broad... MORE

Understanding Indian Insurgencies: Implications for Counterinsurgency Operations in the Third World
February 1, 2007 — Author: Deputy Inspector General Durga Madhab (John) Mitra A simple linear model for India has been developed to demonstratehow the degree of inaccessibility of an area, the strength of separate social identity of its population, and the amount of external influence on the area determine the propensity of that area for insurgency. Implications of... MORE

Globalization and Its Implications for the Defense Industrial Base
February 1, 2007 — Author: Dr Terrence R Guay The forces of globalization present challenges, risks, and opportunities to virtually every industry in every country. One of the most important implications of globalization is its effect on the economic competitiveness of countries and particular industries. The author explores how key elements of globalization have... MORE

Russia, the United States, and the Caucasus
February 1, 2007 — Author: Dr R Craig Nation In the post-Soviet period, the Caucasus region has been a source of chronic instability and conflict. Many factors have ensured that the region would become a source of significant international engagement and concern. Conflicting interests that have made Russian-American relations in the region highly competitive are... MORE

In Defense of Rational Risk Assessment
February 1, 2007 — 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 February 2007 newsletter.Read Now MORE

The Other Special Relationship: The United States and Australia at the Start of the 21st Century
February 1, 2007 — Authors: Dr Jeffrey D McCausland, Dr Douglas Stuart, Prof William T Tow, Prof Michael Wesley This volume summarizes the major findings of the conference participants over the last year. Beyond the thematic resemblance between this volume and the previous study of U.S.-UK relations,another similarity is the importance of two events in determining... MORE

The New Totalitarians: Social Identities and Radical islamist Political Grand Strategy
January 1, 2007 — Author: Dr Douglas J Macdonald The author argues that the social identity theory behind the “clash of civilizations” thesis is useful for analyzing the tasks before us in the “Long War” on Terrorism. The “clash of civilizations” is not actually occurring, he argues, but is rather the end goal of radical Islamist political grand strategy.Radical... MORE

Negotiating with Iran and Syria over Iraq
January 1, 2007 — Author: Dr W Andrew Terrill Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the January 2007 newsletter.Read Now MORE