Recent Publications

Reform, Conflict, and Security in Zaire
June 1, 1996 — Author: Dr Steven Metz U.S. foreign policy in Sub-Saharan Africa seeks stability, democracy, and economic development. Despite recent positive trends, it is clear that not all African countries will move in this direction; some will sink into greater violence and misery. In the central part of the continent, Zaire is the linchpin. Because of its... 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

The Strategist and the Web: Guide to Internet Resources
February 1, 1996 — Authors: LTC James Kievit, Dr Steven Metz Lieutenant Colonel James Kievit and Dr. Steven Metz begin the effort to construct guideposts for strategists to follow. They provide basic information explaining the most important features of the Internet, and a critical review of more than a hundred of the electronic sites most likely to be of interest to... MORE

Armies and Democracy in the New Africa: Lessons from Nigeria and South Africa
January 1, 1996 — Authors: Dr Kent Hughes Butts, Dr Steven Metz In October 1994, the Strategic Studies Institute sponsored a roundtable on democratization in Sub-Saharan Africa. Particular attention was paid to the role the U.S. military and Department of Defense played in democracy support. This study developed from a paper presented at the roundtable. Dr. Butts... 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

Strategy and the Revolution in Military Affairs: From Theory to Policy
June 25, 1995 — Authors: LTC James Kievit, Dr Steven Metz A small band of "RMA" analysts has emerged in the military and Department of Defense, in the academic strategic studies community, and in defense-related think-tanks and consulting firms. To these analysts, the Gulf War provided a vision of a potential revolution in military affairs (RMA) in which... MORE

American Civil-Military Relations: New Issues, Enduring Problems
April 1, 1995 — Authors: Dr Douglas V Johnson II, Dr Steven Metz The authors were invited to prepare a paper for a conference on Civil-Military Relations in the fall, 1994. That paper was translated into an article for the Winter, 1995 edition of The Washington Quarterly under the title "Civil-Military Relations in the United States: The State of the Debate."... MORE

Counterinsurgency: Strategy and the Phoenix of American Capability
February 1, 1995 — Author: Dr Steven Metz Dr. Steven Metz argues that the way the Department of Defense and U.S. military spend the time when counterinsurgency support is not an important part of American national security strategy determines how quickly and easily they react when policymakers commit the nation to such activity. If analysis and debate continues, at... MORE

Disaster and Intervention in Sub-Saharan Africa: Learning from Rwanda
September 1, 1994 — Author: Dr Steven Metz Rwanda's horrific civil war suggests that human disasters requiring outside intervention will remain common in Sub-Saharan Africa. The American people want a prompt and effective response to human disasters when the United States becomes involved. The Army is taking steps to enhance its demonstrated effectiveness at such... MORE

The Revolution in Military Affairs and Conflict Short of War
July 1, 1994 — Authors: LTC James Kievit, Dr Steven Metz The authors concede that the revolution in military affairs holds great promise for conventional, combined-arms warfare, but conclude that its potential value in conflict short of war, whether terrorism, insurgency, or violence associated with narcotrafficking, is not so clear-cut. Given this, national... MORE

America in the Third World: Strategic Alternatives and Military Implications
May 1, 1994 — Author: Dr Steven Metz The author examines the problems of the Third World and the debates that exist regarding the most effective U.S. response to these problems. He has concluded that the Third World is undergoing such significant change that most of the basic assumptions undergirding past and current U.S. policy are no longer viable. He urges a... MORE

World View: The 1994 Strategic Assessment from the Strategic Studies Institute
April 1, 1994 — Authors: Dr Steven Metz, Dr Earl H Tilford Jr Every year the analysts at the Strategic Studies Institute prepare current strategic assessments for their particular areas of interest. These assessments are the bedrock of the annual SSI Study Program. This year's assessments seem especially crucial as the strategic situation throughout the world is... MORE