Recent Publications

Deterring Cybertrespass and Securing Cyberspace: Lessons from United States Border Control Strategies
December 2, 2016 — Author: Dr Mary ManjikianView the Executive SummaryPerhaps the best starting point for those looking to “borrow” a deterrent strategy for cyberspace from other fields is not the example of nuclear deterrence but instead the example of United States-Mexican border security. The nuclear deterrent analogy is not the best fit for understanding... MORE

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The Quest for Military Cooperation in North Africa: Prospects and Challenges
October 25, 2016 — Author: Dr Mohammed El-KatiriView the Executive SummaryNorth Africa's security landscape has worsened in the aftermath of the political events of the Arab Spring. Libya's dire state of affairs has had significant repercussions not only on its internal security and stability, but also on that of its neighboring countries, particularly the ones with... MORE

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An Arab NATO in the Making? Middle Eastern Military Cooperation Since 2011
September 6, 2016 — Author: Dr Florence GaubView the Executive SummaryArab military cooperation has been, over the past century, mostly a history of failures. Whether the Arab League’s Defence Pact or the Middle East Command, ideas for collective security in the region all failed to move beyond the state of declarations. Most of the time, Arab states were either at... MORE

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Taking the Fight to the Enemy: Chinese Thinking about Long-Distance and Expeditionary Operations
July 14, 2016 — Author: Dr Larry M WortzelView the Executive SummaryAccording to many analysts of China’s military, when an officer of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) suggests new forms of operations, expanded domains of warfare, or new weapons systems, American security planners can dismiss these projections as merely “aspirational” thinking. This... MORE

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India's Evolving Nuclear Force and Implications for U.S. Strategy in the Asia-Pacific
June 22, 2016 — Authors: Mr Yogesh Joshi, Dr Frank O'Donnell, Dr Harsh V PantView the Executive SummarySince India declared itself a nuclear weapon state in May 1998, its nuclear capabilities have grown significantly. India is now on the verge of acquiring a triad of nuclear delivery systems. Its increasing nuclear profile has also stirred a debate on its stated... MORE

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The East Mediterranean Triangle at Crossroads
March 31, 2016 — Author: Dr Jean-Loup SamaanView the Executive SummaryThe 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... MORE

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Autonomous Weapon Systems: A Brief Survey of Developmental, Operational, Legal, and Ethical Issues
December 16, 2015 — Author: Mr Jeffrey L CatonView the Executive Summary What does the Department of Defense hope to gain from the use of autonomous weapon systems (AWS)? This Letort Paper explores a diverse set of complex issues related to the developmental, operational, legal, and ethical aspects of AWS. It explores the recent history of the development and... MORE

Cyber Defense: An International View
September 14, 2015 — Authors: Mr Keir Giles, Ms Kim HartmannView the Executive Summary An overview of four different national approaches to cyber defense are discussed: those of Norway, Estonia, Germany and Sweden. While providing a useful guide for engagement with the relevant governmental and other organizations in each of these countries, the Paper also compares and... MORE

Using Target Audience Analysis to Aid Strategic Level Decisionmaking
August 25, 2015 — Author: Dr Steve TathamView the Executive Summary The author explains how sophisticated social science research and behavioral profiling can be used to warn us of impeding issues and how that information might be used by senior strategy makers as a tool for testing and refining strategy. He makes a compelling case that the science of Target... MORE

The Strategic Importance of the Global Oil Market
June 4, 2015 — Author: Dr Leif Rosenberger View the Executive SummaryThis Letort Paper analyzes the new global oil market. It shows how the price of oil reflects the confluence of four interrelated factors. First, the Paper explores why the supply of oil has been soaring in the world. Second, it explains why the demand for oil has been relatively weak. Third, it... MORE

Parsing Chinese-Russian Military Exercises
April 15, 2015 — Author: Dr Richard Weitz View the Executive SummaryChina and Russia have engaged in an increasing number of joint exercises in recent years. These drills aim to help them deter and, if necessary, defeat potential threats, such as Islamist terrorists trying to destabilize a Central Asian government, while at the same time reassuring their allies... MORE

Another Brick in the Wall: The Israeli Experience in Missile Defense
April 13, 2015 — Author: Dr Jean-Loup Samaan View the Executive SummaryFor the last 4 decades, Israel has been challenged by the rise of ballistic arsenals in the Middle East. If, at first, the country kept relying on its traditional offensive doctrines, it eventually developed missile defense programs in the early-1980s through U.S.-Israel cooperation and then in... MORE