Recent Publications

Re-examining the Roles of Landpower in the 21st Century and Their Implications
November 26, 2014 — Author: Dr William T Johnsen View the Executive SummaryAfter 13 years of prolonged ground combat, a weary American public is leery of further interventions requiring land forces. Shifting geostrategic conditions, such as a revanchist Russia and a rising China, reinforce this reluctance. At the same time, technological innovation once more offers... MORE

European Security: Washington’s Shaping Strategy in Action
March 1, 2000 — Authors: Dr Stephen J Blank, Dr William T Johnsen, Dr Thomas-Durell Young Notwithstanding the claims of some in the United States, European affairs continue to dominate U.S. foreign policy and strategic thinking. The end of the Cold War has not seen any blurring of the focus of U.S. officials on European affairs. Managing the implications of the... MORE

Redefining Land Power for the 21st Century
May 1, 1998 — Author: Dr William T Johnsen Divisive debates over the future force structures of the U.S. Armed Forces have continued despite the Report of the Commission on Roles and Missions for the Armed Forces (May 1995) and the more recent reports of the Quadrennial Defense Review (May 1997) and the National Defense Panel (December 1997). Part of the reason... MORE

Force Planning Considerations for Army XXI
February 1, 1998 — Author: Dr William T Johnsen The U.S. Army has moved along the path of preparing for the 21st century. This process began with the conceptual examinations and assessments carried out under the "Louisiana Maneuvers" and the Army's Battle Labs, and matured through the Force XXI process. The Army recently completed its first series of Advanced... MORE

The Future Roles of U.S. Military Power and Their Implications
April 18, 1997 — Author: Dr William T Johnsen As the daily headlines attest, the Department of Defense is in the midst of a Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR). Charged by Congress, the Department of Defense is examining a broad range of issues concerning U.S. military policy and strategy (inter alia, future national defense strategy, the force structure necessary to... MORE

U.S. Participation in IFOR: A Marathon, not a Sprint
June 1, 1996 — Author: Dr William T Johnsen The U.S. decision to join the Implementation Force (IFOR) for the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Hercegovina (familiarly known as the Dayton Accords) marked a crucial milestone toward achieving the U.S. national objective of a lasting political settlement to the conflict in Bosnia. Equally critical... MORE

The Future of American Landpower: Strategic Challenges for the 21st Century Army
March 1, 1996 — Authors: Dr William T Johnsen, Dr Douglas V Johnson II, LTC James Kievit, Prof Douglas C Lovelace Jr, Dr Steven Metz Armies historically have been criticized for preparing for the last war. Since the early 1980s, however, the U.S. Army has broken this pattern and created a force capable of winning the next war. But, in an era characterized by a... MORE

Deciphering the Balkan Enigma: Using History to Inform Policy
November 7, 1995 — Author: Dr William T Johnsen After having been fueled by the events of the distant and recent past, the current wars in the former Yugoslavia finally may be grinding to a halt. An understanding of that past, and of how history and myth combine to influence the present and help to define the future in the Balkans, is no less relevant today than it... MORE

U.S. Policy in the Balkans: A Hobson’s Choice
August 28, 1995 — Authors: Dr Stephen J Blank, Dr William T Johnsen, Dr Earl H Tilford Jr At this writing, the strategic balance may have shifted in the ongoing war in the former Yugoslavia, and the region could be on the verge of a settlement. But, the "window of opportunity" may be fleeting, and the failures and frustrations of the past four years temper any... MORE

The Principles of War in the 21st Century: Strategic Considerations
August 1, 1995 — Authors: Dr William T Johnsen, Dr Douglas V Johnson II, LTC James Kievit, Prof Douglas C Lovelace Jr, Dr Steven Metz For nearly two centuries, the principles of war have guided practitioners of the military art. During the last 55 years the principles of war have been a key element of U.S. Army doctrine, and recently they have been incorporated... MORE

NATO Strategy in the 1990s: Reaping the Peace Dividend or the Whirlwind?
May 25, 1995 — Author: Dr William T Johnsen Each April the Strategic Studies Institute hosts a conference that addresses key strategic issues facing the Armed Forces and the Nation. This year's theme, "Strategy During the Lean Years: Learning from the Past and the Present," brought together scholars, serving and retired military officers, and civilian defense... MORE

Pandora’s Box Reopened: Ethnic Conflict in Europe and Its Implications
December 1, 1994 — Author: Dr William T Johnsen The resurgence of ethnic animosities in Europe has substantial consequences for the United States, which has a vital interest in maintaining peace and stability in Europe. Because ethnic conflict potentially represents a significant threat to those national objectives, a strong likelihood exists that the United States... MORE