Recent Publications

Parameters | Spring 2026
March 6, 2026 — Welcome to the Spring 2026 issue of Parameters, which consists of an In Focus special commentary, three forums (Clausewitz and Modern Warfare, Operational Considerations, and Historical Studies), and the Strategic Competition Corner... MORE

Book Review: War Ethics: Theory, Practice, and Memoir
March 5, 2026 — Blending philosophical insight, real-world application, and personal reflection, this volume offers a comprehensive exploration of the ethics of war. From just war theory to the lived experiences of soldiers and civilians, it bridges the gap between abstract principles and battlefield realities. It is a compelling resource for scholars, practitioners, and anyone grappling with the moral dimensions of armed conflict... MORE

Cover of War Ethics: Theory, Practice, and Memoir edited by Brian Orend

Book Review: Who Will Defend Europe?: An Awakened Russia and a Sleeping Continent
March 5, 2026 — As Russia re-arms and the US retreats from its traditional role, Europe faces a chilling question: Can it defend itself against a rising threat? Keir Giles delivers a forceful wake-up call, exposing decades of complacency and the urgent need for renewed leadership and military investment. This gripping analysis warns that without decisive action, the continent risks sleepwalking into disaster... MORE

Cover of Who Will Defend Europe?: An Awakened Russia and a Sleeping Continent by Keir Giles

Book Review: The Ageless Call to Serve: Rethinking Military Service for A Changing World
March 5, 2026 — At age 63, psychiatrist Lanny Snodgrass defied convention by joining the Army, challenging long-held beliefs about age and military readiness. Drawing on decades of clinical experience with veterans and young soldiers, he exposes the psychological toll of sending teenagers to war while advocating for the wisdom and resilience older recruits can bring. This provocative and inspiring book reimagines military service for a modern world, urging a shift from age-based limits to capability-based inclusion... MORE

Cover of The Ageless Call to Serve: Rethinking Military Service for A Changing World by LTC Lanny Snodgrass, MD, PhD

Book Review: The Airborne Mafia: The Paratroopers Who Shaped America’s Cold War Army
March 5, 2026 — In this gripping organizational history, Robert F. Williams reveals how a tight-knit group of World War II paratroopers rose to dominate the US Army’s leadership and reshape its doctrine during the Cold War. Through bold innovation and a fiercely held airborne culture, figures like Ridgway, Taylor, and Gavin transformed civil-military relations, atomic warfare planning, and airmobile strategy. The Airborne Mafia uncovers how subcultures can wield extraordinary influence, leaving a legacy that still echoes through today’s military institutions... MORE

Cover of The Airborne Mafia: The Paratroopers Who Shaped America’s Cold War Army by Robert F. Williams

Book Review: Hard Broke: Asymmetric Warfare, Great Power Competition, and Institutional Paralysis
March 5, 2026 — Institutional inertia can be as dangerous as enemy fire—discover why rapid adaptation remains critical for future conflicts. From IEDs to unmanned systems, this analysis asks: Can the Army evolve fast enough to meet tomorrow’s threats?... MORE

Cover for Hard Broke: Asymmetric Warfare, Great Power Competition, and Institutional Paralysis by Colonel Matthew D. Matter, US Army (Ret.)

Book Review: Cornerstone of the Nation: The Defense Industry and the Building of Modern Korea under Park Chung Hee
March 5, 2026 — In this groundbreaking study, Peter Banseok Kwon uncovers how South Korea’s defense industry became the engine of its rapid modernization under President Park Chung Hee. Drawing on declassified archives and firsthand interviews, Kwon reveals a hidden alliance of military, scientific, and industrial forces that transformed Korea into a global economic power. Cornerstone of the Nation reframes the “Miracle on the Han River” as a story of militarized industrialization, offering fresh insights into authoritarian development and Cold War geopolitics... MORE

Cover of Cornerstone of the Nation: The Defense Industry and the Building of Modern Korea under Park Chung Hee by Peter Banseok Kwon

Book Review: The Unfinished Quest: India’s Search for Major Power Status from Nehru to Modi
March 5, 2026 — In this sweeping analysis, T. V. Paul traces India’s decades-long journey to global prominence, revealing how aspirations for major power status have been shaped—and often stalled—by internal contradictions and external constraints. Blending hard-power metrics with soft-power dynamics, Paul explores India’s evolving role as a “swing power” in the Indo-Pacific and its complex rivalry with China. From Nehru’s nonalignment to Modi’s assertive nationalism, this book offers a compelling framework for understanding India’s place in the shifting global order... MORE

Cover of The Unfinished Quest: India’s Search for Major Power Status from Nehru to Modi by T.V. Paul

Book Review: Women in Intelligence: The Hidden History of Two World Wars
March 5, 2026 — Fry’s book, Women in Intelligence, uncovers stories of women working in intelligence and espionage during wartime. Using recently declassified files, she brings to light stories of individuals and the advances in women’s suffrage during the two World Wars. The reviewer sees this as an essential work that makes a significant contribution to the history of intelligence efforts and recommends it to practitioners of the military profession... MORE

Cover of Women in Intelligence: The Hidden History of Two World Wars by Helen Fry

Book Review: Strategy and Grand Strategy
March 5, 2026 — Joshua Rovner’s Strategy and Grand Strategy is a compelling and essential exploration of how nations succeed—or fail—when aligning military strategy with broader security goals. Through vivid historical case studies and sharp analysis, Rovner reveals how misunderstanding or ignoring the relationship between strategy (a theory of victory) and grand strategy (a theory of security) can lead to disastrous outcomes. This book is a must-read for anyone involved in national security, defense planning, or the study of statecraft in an era of technological and geopolitical complexity... MORE

Cover of Strategy and Grand Strategy by Joshua Rovner

Book Review: Countdown: The Blinding Future of Nuclear Weapons
March 5, 2026 — Countdown: The Blinding Future of Nuclear Weapons discusses the American nuclear weapons enterprise by analyzing arguments from the past and situations in the present. The author explains the field of nuclear anthropology and the effects of having a long-term nuclear stockpile, as well as how research of nuclear weapons has developed over time, computer modeling, and nuclear forensics. The reviewer considers it “a readable, thought-provoking book that makes this dense subject accessible.”... MORE

Cover of COUNTDOWN: The Blinding Future of Nuclear Weapons by Sarah Scoles

SSI Live 122 – On Iran
March 5, 2026 — In this episode of SSI Live, Major Brennan Deveraux interviews Dr. Jacob Stoil, a research professor of Middle East Security Studies at the Strategic Studies Institute, regarding the ongoing operations against Iran. The conversation explores the historical context of tensions with Iran and examines current and futures challenges that region may face in light of recent events... MORE

Slide for SSI Live Podcast Episode122: On Iran