Recent Publications

Parameters | Summer 2025
June 18, 2025 — Welcome to the Summer 2025 issue of Parameters. This issue consists of an In Focus special commentary, three forums (Indo-Pacific Challenges, Russia-Ukraine Issues, and Historical Studies)... MORE

The Strategic Questions Research List (SQRL)
August 21, 2025 — In this episode, Major Brennan Deveraux interviews Dr. C. Anthony Pfaff, Colonel Michael Shekleton, and Colonel Clayton T. Manning on the recently published Strategic Questions Research List (SQRL). They discuss the contents of the SQRL, how it differs from previous years’ compendiums to the Annual Estimate of the Strategic Security Environment, and how it can be used by students during their research... MORE

Slide for Conversations on Strategy Podcast – Ep 58 – Dr. C. Anthony Pfaff, COL Michael Shekleton, and COL Clayton T. Manning – The Strategic Questions Research List (SQRL)

The Economic Argument for Keeping US Forces in Europe
August 15, 2025 — NATO’s Hague summit earlier this summer has generally been viewed as a qualified success, despite — or perhaps because of — its unusually short and focused agenda. The new 5 percent defense spending commitment deserves most of the credit for this perception, but there’s no escaping the conclusion that the lack of major disruptions also explains why... MORE

Slide for The Economic Argument for Keeping US Forces in Europe

A New World Cop on the Beat? China’s Internal Security Outreach Under the Global Security Initiative
August 13, 2025 — Global outreach by China’s internal security agencies is expanding. This nonmilitary security diplomacy plays a crucial yet overlooked role in Chinese foreign security policy. Watch Now MORE

Election, Crisis, and U.S. Opportunity in Bolivia
August 13, 2025 — Bolivia, strategically at the center of South America, faces a critical election that will define its direction in its current profound economic, political and security crisis, its future relationship with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), its engagement with the United States and Western institutions, and its role in the Americas and... MORE

Slide for "Election, Crisis, and US Opportunity"

Understanding, Deterring, and Preparing for a Great-Power War in the Twenty-First Century
August 6, 2025 — This integrated research project highlights gaps in the US Army’s understanding of, and preparations for, a great-power war in the twenty-first century. The project employs historical analysis to enhance Army leaders’ understanding of great-power wars, provides novel ways to improve US strategies for deterring a great-power war, and explores ways the United States can better prepare for a great-power war... MORE

Slide for Understanding, Deterring, and Preparing for a Great-Power War in the Twenty-First Century

SSI Live 116 – Exterminating ISIS: A Memoir on Technology and Warfare
August 4, 2025 — From January to August 2016, Army strategist and SSI National Security Researcher Major Brennan Deveraux served in Iraq in a strike cell as the theater-level rocket artillery liaison for Operation Inherent Resolve, firing over 500 rockets that killed hundreds of enemy fighters. His recently published memoir of that experience, Exterminating ISIS:... MORE

SSI Live 115 – Argentina Under Milei: Success, Failure, or Something in Between?
July 30, 2025 — A year and a half ago, Javier Milei shocked Latin America by winning a landslide election in Argentina. His libertarian approach and dogmatic style worried many as he assumed the presidency starting in December 2023 – so how have things turned out so far? Dr. Evan Ellis, SSI’s Research Professor of Latin American Studies, joined SSI Live host Dr... MORE

More Than a Numbers Game: Comparing US and Chinese Landpower in the Pacific Requires Context
July 22, 2025 — As the US Army organizes, trains, and equips for an unforeseen future, service decisions should create or amplify relative operational advantages over the US military’s rising foe—the People’s Liberation Army. Discerning critical differences between American and Chinese land forces is a prerequisite for such efforts... MORE

Slide for More Than a Numbers Game: Comparing US and Chinese Landpower in the Pacific Requires Context

Weaponizing Risk: Recalibrating Western Deterrence
July 22, 2025 — Can NATO increase the risks and costs of war for an adversary without unduly raising the alliance’s own? Can the alliance strengthen the credibility of NATO’s extended deterrence through a proxy strategy of “waging war without going to war”? ... MORE

Slide for Weaponizing Risk: Recalibrating Western Deterrence

Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Technologies into Common Operating Picture and Course of Action Development
July 15, 2025 — Explore artificial intelligence’s potential for military planning! This study examines how artificial intelligence and machine learning can enhance the US Army’s common operational picture and course of action development. Learn how advanced technologies streamline decision making, improve situational awareness, and tackle resource challenges for the modern battlefield... MORE

Slide for Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Technologies into Common Operating Picture and Course of Action Development

Academic Year 2025–26 Annual Estimate of the Strategic Security Environment
July 9, 2025 — The United States faces a complex and ever-changing global environment. The Annual Estimate of the Strategic Security Environment is designed to guide the collective defense community to research and write about critical national security challenges to help the Army prepare for a wide range of potential conflicts and threats... MORE

Slide for the Academic Year 2025–26 Annual Estimate of the Strategic Security Environment