Recent Publications

A Russian View on Landpower
April 9, 2015 — Authors: Mr Keir Giles, Maj Gen Aleksandr V RogovoyView the Executive SummaryRussia’s seizure of Crimea, and ongoing operations in eastern Ukraine, have refocused attention on the Russian military as a potential cause for concern in Europe. This Letort Paper, by an influential Russian general and military academic, lays out specifically Russian... MORE

Prospects for Iran’s New Direction
February 20, 2015 — Author: Mr Keir Giles View the Executive SummaryThis monograph, completed ahead of the November 2014 deadline, examines some of the underlying factors which will be constant in dealing with a nuclear capable Iran under President Hassan Rouhani, and which will help determine the success or failure of talks in 2015. It analyzes Rouhani's eventful... MORE

Operationalizing Counter Threat Finance Strategies
December 15, 2014 — Author: Dr Shima D KeeneView the Executive Summary This Letort Paper describes effective Counter Threat Finance strategies as a specific area where the capability of U.S. and allied militaries can be augmented for the purpose of targeted action against adversaries. With appropriate analysis and exploitation, financial data can be used to reveal... MORE

Cover for Operationalizing Counter Threat Finance Strategies

Countering Radicalization and Recruitment to Al-Qaeda: Fighting the War of Deeds
June 13, 2014 — Author: Dr Paul Kamolnick View the Executive SummaryThis Letort Paper proposes that actions, policies, and deeds—those of the U.S. Government and al-Qaeda—be leveraged as a means of delegitimizing al-Qaeda terrorist propaganda. Two chief fronts—changing deeds and challenging deeds—is proposed. Changing deeds requires that the United States... MORE

Cover for Countering Radicalization and Recruitment to Al-Qaeda: Fighting the War of Deeds

Russian Military Transformation – Goal In Sight?
May 5, 2014 — Authors: Mr Keir Giles, Dr Andrew Monaghan View the Executive SummaryThe Russian Armed Forces have been undergoing major structural reform since 2008. Despite change at the most senior levels of leadership, the desired endstate for Russia's military is now clear; but this endstate is determined by a flawed political perception of the key threats... MORE

Cover for Russian Military Transformation - Goal In Sight?

Legality in Cyberspace: An Adversary View
March 11, 2014 — Author: Mr Keir Giles, Dr Andrew MonaghanView the Executive Summary While conflict in cyberspace is not new, the legality of hostile cyber activity at a state level remains imperfectly defined. While there is broad agreement among the United States and its allies that cyber warfare would be governed by existing laws of armed conflict, with no need... MORE

A Typology of Arguments about Drone Ethics

Reforming the Police in Post-Soviet States: Georgia and Kyrgyzstan
November 6, 2013 — Author: Dr Erica Marat View the Executive SummaryThis report identifies and explains the determinants of police reform in former Soviet states by examining the cases of Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. The two cases were chosen to show two drastically different approaches to reform played out in countries facing arguably similar problems with state-crime... MORE

The Real “Long War”: The Illicit Drug Trade and the Role of the Military
September 24, 2013 — Author: Prof Geoffrey Till View the Executive SummaryThe 21st century has seen the growth of a number of nontraditional threats to international stability on which, trade, and thus U.S. peace and security, depends, and for the moment at least a reduced likelihood of continental scale warfighting operations, and something of a de-emphasis on major... MORE

The Security Concerns of the Baltic States as NATO Allies
August 27, 2013 — Author: Dr James S Corum View the Executive SummaryIf the United States is likely to fight in a coalition with small allies in the future, then it is useful to understand the experience, capabilities, and perspectives of those allies. Since regaining independence in 1991, the countries of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania have been very active in... MORE

Cartel Car Bombings in Mexico
August 16, 2013 — Authors: Dr Robert J Bunker, Mr John P Sullivan View the Executive SummaryContemporary Mexican cartel use of car bombs began in mid-July 2010 and has since escalated. Given the proximity to the United States, some literally within miles of the border, the car bombings, with about 20 incidents identified over the last 2 1/2 years, should be of... MORE

AFRICOM at 5 Years: The Maturation of a New U.S. Combatant Command
August 8, 2013 — Author: Mr David E Brown View the Executive SummaryThe U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), newest of the six U.S. Department of Defense geographic combatant commands (CCMDs), was created in 2007 amid great controversy in both Africa and the United States over its location and mission. Over the last 5 years, AFRICOM has matured greatly, overcoming much... MORE

Russian Interests in Sub-Saharan Africa
July 12, 2013 — Author: Mr Keir Giles View the Executive SummaryAn apparent lack of interest by Russia in Sub-Saharan Africa over recent years masks persistent key strategic drivers for Moscow to re-establish lost influence in the region. A preoccupation with more immediate foreign policy concerns has temporarily interrupted a process of Russia reclaiming... MORE