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From The Acting Editor In Chief, Conrad C. Crane

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Welcome to the Autumn 2023 issue of Parameters. This issue includes two In Focus special commentaries, a Strategic Challenges forum, a Historical Studies forum, and the SRAD Director’s Corner.

Autumn Book Reviews, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

The Strategic Importance Of Taiwan To The United States And Its Allies: Part Two – Policy Since The Start Of The Russia-Ukraine War, Luke P. Bellocchi

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Taiwan has become increasingly important to the United States and its allies as the Russia-Ukraine War has united democracies against authoritarian expansionism and indeed has developed an international democracy-authoritarianism dynamic in global affairs. Part one of this article clearly outlined the geopolitical, economic, and soft-power reasons why Taiwan is strategically important. Part two reviews the development of US and allied policy statements on Taiwan—from the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 to the present—and provides policymakers and military strategists with incremental but realistic recommendations for understanding the current dynamic of the region and fashioning responses to deter further authoritarian aggression.

Parameters Autumn 2023, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

The Chechen Kadyrovtsy’S Coercive Violence In Ukraine, Wilson A. Jones

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Russia pioneered exploiting civilian inequalities to maximize military effectiveness in Chechnya, contributing to the Kadyrovtsy blocking detachments observed in Ukraine. Kadyrovtsy, pro-Russian Chechens, are drawn from a unique political order enabling this specialized military role. Military inequality literature typically ignores how minority-ethnic forces often serve in specialized combat roles. Understanding the Chechen Wars, the Kadyrov regime, and living standards in Russia helps explain these minority-ethnic blocking detachments in Ukraine. Analysis of this vital section of Putin’s regime offers actionable recommendations for Western actors to undermine Russian military efforts and identifies the potential risks of those actions.

Us-Russia Foreign Policy: Confronting Russia’S Geographic Anxieties, Caitlin P. Irby

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

The United States must place Russia’s focus on geographic concerns at the center of future strategy development to build a constructive relationship with Russia and achieve US regional goals. This article analyzes Russia’s geography and historical impact on Russian foreign policy, outlines Moscow’s current foreign policy goals, and highlights underlying concerns for US policymakers and military practitioners. By pursuing policies that support Russian goals of economic integration, mitigation of demographic concerns, and security of national borders, the United States can set the foundation for productive engagement on critical issues.

2023 Annual Estimate Of The Strategic Security Environment, Usawc Ssi

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

The Annual Estimate of the Strategic Security Environment serves as a guide for academics and practitioners in the defense community on the current challenges and opportunities in the strategic environment. This year’s publication outlines key strategic issues across the four broad themes of Regional Challenges and Opportunities, Domestic Challenges, Institutional Challenges, and Domains Impacting US Strategic Advantage. These themes represent a wide range of topics affecting national security and provide a global assessment of the strategic environment to help focus the defense community on research and publication. Strategic competition with the People’s Republic of China and the implications of …

Peacekeeping For Peace: Effectiveness And Impacts, Santosh Sapkota

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This dissertation examines three aspects of peacekeeping research within the overall framework of peacekeeping effectiveness and its impacts on troop-contributing countries (TCC). This dissertation comprises three different papers that employ three different methodological approaches. The first paper investigates why the military failed to achieve its primary mandate of the protection of civilians (POC) in the wake of continued killings of civilians despite the presence of peacekeepers. The general expectation from the military is to contain or eliminate violent incidents and civilian deaths in areas of responsibility (AOR). Utilizing a case study of Beni, DRC —a highly violent and militarized area …

A Call To Action: Lessons From Ukraine For The Future Force, Katie Crombe, John A. Nagl

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Fifty years ago, the US Army faced a strategic inflection point after a failed counterinsurgency effort in Vietnam. In response to lessons learned from the Yom Kippur War, the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command was created to reorient thinking and doctrine around the conventional Soviet threat. Today’s Army must embrace the Russo-Ukrainian conflict as an opportunity to reorient the force into one as forward-thinking and formidable as the Army that won Operation Desert Storm. This article suggests changes the Army should make to enable success in multidomain large-scale combat operations at today’s strategic inflection point.

Never Enough: Eu Military Spending Challenges In The Face Of Open Conflict, Katherine Wallentine

The Journal of International Relations, Peace Studies, and Development

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 sent a jolt of tension and anxiety throughout the European Union, as well as the rest of the world. Lawmakers and strategists scrambled to find a suitable response in the immediate aftermath and now, a year later, the conversation continues as to what the best course of action is for the EU. Should it amplify and radically increase its supranational defense budget and if so, how should it accomplish this monumental task? How much of it should fall on the Member States to meet the two percent threshold as laid out by …

Domain Restriction Zones: An Evolution Of The Military Exclusion Zone, Cole M. Mooty, Robert A. Bettinger, Mark G. Reith

Faculty Publications

Since the early part of the twenty-first century, US adversaries have expanded their military capabilities within and their access to new warfighting domains. When faced with the growth of adversaries’ asymmetric capabilities, the means, tactics, and strategies previously used by the US military lose their proportional effectiveness. To avoid such degradation of capability, the operational concept of the military exclusion zone (MEZ) should be revised to suit the modern battlespace while also addressing the shifts in national policy that encourage diplomacy over military force. The concept and development of domain restriction zones (DRZs) increase the relevancy of traditional MEZs in …

Book Review: Military Virtues, George J. Fust

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Editors: Michael Skerker, David Whetham, and Don Carrick

Reviewed by Major George J. Fust, active-duty US Army officer

Filling the gap between theoretical and practical application, this collection of essays by leading scholars and practitioners revitalizes the application of virtue to the modern military environment and answers the question, “Why did the service component choose this value?” Case studies and vignettes in each chapter reinforce main arguments and drive further reflection. After reading this book, readers will not have to accept military-prescribed virtues at face value; they will have obtained an understanding and a moral map for dealing with ethical …

Book Review: The Age Of Ai And Our Human Future, Russell W. Glenn

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Authors: Henry A. Kissinger, Eric Schmidt, and Daniel Huttenlocher

Reviewed by Dr. Russell W. Glenn, principal, Innovative Defense Research LLC

Notable for its authoritative arguments and analysis of the nature and potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI), this short, effective primer complements many longer treatments and journal articles on the subject. Readers well-versed in AI will find little new here, but the book’s national security implications merit consideration. Primary themes include the transformative character and criticality of establishing international agreements regarding the application of AI. The authors remind readers of humanity’s control of AI development and the contingent responsibility to …

Book Review: The Weaponisation Of Everything: A Field Guide To The New Way Of War, Robert J. Bunker

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Mark Galeottii

Reviewed by Dr. Robert J. Bunker, director of research and analysis, managing partner, C/O Futures LLC

In this field guide, Galeotti departs from his customary focus on Russia and covers a broad area of new ways—or emerging twenty-first-century means—of warfare. His expertise and penchant for illustrative and entertaining vignettes allows him to inject informed insights into his work and syncretize military historical and contemporary examples pulled from time and space.

Transformasi Sistem Pertahanan Siber Indonesia Dengan Bssn Sebagai Poros & Motor Penggerak Menuju Angkatan Siber Mandiri Di Masa Depan, Arinaldo Adma, Yusuf Marsel Surbakti, Puspita Sari

Jurnal Kajian Stratejik Ketahanan Nasional

Abstract

Cyber threats are becoming more widespread due to the increasing digitalization in all sectors and entities which include individuals, businesses, and government. To maintain stability, economic growth, and national sovereignty, it is essential for country to have a comprehensive and effective cyber threat prevention and management system. In 2023, Lemhanas proposed a strategy to develop cyber forces as a new branch in the Indonesian national army structure to face the dynamics of the strategic environment. However, the current limitations in digital talent, ICT infrastructure, management systems, and funding pose challenges in implementing this strategy. This research aims to find …

The Impact Of Russia-Ukraine War On Energy Policy Maneuvers To Strengthen Energy Security And Cybersecurity In Indonesia, Bobby Adhityo Rizaldi, Abdi Manab Idris, Nurbaiti Nurbaiti

Journal of Terrorism Studies

The war between Russia and Ukraine is highly discussed in global geopolitics and geostrategy. The strategy of attacking Russia directly at the point of a vital national object, namely the power plant, which was preceded by a cyber attack at the Nuclear Power Plant in Chornobyl, followed by a conventional physical attack from the air, resulted in an energy crisis in Ukraine. The resulting war affects many sectors, such as the energy sector, food, and supply chains, especially (at the end of 2021) before the war. WTI oil price was only around 75$/barrel, but when the war broke out, the …

The Failure Of Asean Counter-Terrorism Cooperation In Preventing The Arrival Of Foreign Terrorist Fighters In The Marawi Conflict, Andri Siallagan

Journal of Terrorism Studies

This article examined the elements that contributed to ASEAN counter-terrorism cooperation's failure to prevent the presence of Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTF) in the Marawi conflict in 2017. The massive ISIS propaganda resulted in an increase in FTF mobilization from several countries to unite the Abu Sayyaf and Maute groups in taking control of Marawi City. This study used a qualitative method and deductive analysis technique by compiling relevant literature on ASEAN's cooperation in counter-terrorism, the FTF problem, and the Marawi conflict. This article would discuss the dynamics of ASEAN cooperation in combating terrorism and the unpreparedness in anticipating the involvement …

The Path Of Securitization: Transformation Of Free Papua Movement (Opm) Terminology From Armed Criminal Groups To Separatist And Terrorist Groups, I Putu Hadi Pradnyana

Journal of Terrorism Studies

The purpose of this study is to analyze the pattern of securitization in Papua using the speech act framework. Regarding the response to the change in status or terminology of the Free Papua Movement or Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM) to the Separatist Terrorist Group. The Securitization Theory of the Copenhagen School defines security as a social construction and process, not as an objective condition. This contrasts with the traditional security studies approach which defines security in terms of the threat, use, and control of military force by state actors. This research will focus on the pattern of securitization of the …

Geniuses Dare To Ride Their Luck: Clausewitz’S Card Game Analogies, Nicholas A. A. Murray

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Scholars have been using the wrong card games to analyze Carl von Clausewitz’s analogies in On War, which has led to errors in understanding his ideas. This article identifies the games Clausewitz discusses, allowing for a more accurate interpretation of his original meaning for the study of war. Since Clausewitz’s ideas underpin strategy development within service education systems, it is critical his ideas are fully understood in context.

Americans And The Dragon: Lessons In Coalition Warfighting From The Boxer Uprising, Mitchell G. Klingenberg

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

©2023 Mitchell G. Klingenberg

Drawing from archival materials at the US Army Heritage and Education Center and the United States Military Academy at West Point, numerous published primary sources, and a range of secondary sources, this monograph offers an overview of the China Relief Expedition from June 1900 to the moment of liberation in August. Its considerations range from the geopolitical to the strategic and down to the tactical levels of war. US forces partnered alongside the combined naval and land forces of multiple nations, thus constituting the first contingency, expeditionary, and multinational coalition in American military history. In the …

Comparing The Evolution, Form, And Function Of Russian And Chinese Information Operations, Briana Berger Slowinski, Marissa J. Skulsky

Honors Theses

Russia and China are critical actors who deploy far-reaching and impactful information operations in pursuit of their national interests. Their use of information operations is multifaceted and should be subject to study due to how influential these operations are and how significant the effects can be. In pursuit of this knowledge, the aim of this study was to conduct an in-depth analysis of these two countries' information operations and how their operations differ. The first area analyzed was the evolution of these countries' modern day information operations, primarily looking for the factors and historical context which influenced the development of …

The Future Of Integrated Air And Missile Defense (Iamd) Against China, Carl Rehberg

Helm's School of Government Conference - 2021-2024

Over the last two decades, China's People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) and other PLA entities have provided the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) with a complex array of offensive capabilities, focused primarily on the U.S., allies, and partners in the Pacific. There has been explosive growth in ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, supersonic cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons, HGVs, and other threats. These salvo attacks are explicitly designed to attack theater air bases, seaports, and other facilities critical to U.S. military operations. These PLA weapon systems undermine U.S. security assurances with its allies and partners. They could incentivize China to strike first …

What Senior U.S. Leaders Say We Should Know About Cyber, Dr. Joseph H. Schafer

Military Cyber Affairs

On April 6, 2023, the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative hosted a panel discussion on the new National Cybersecurity Strategy. The panel featured four senior officials from the Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD), the Department of State (DoS), the Department of Justice (DoJ), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The author attended and asked each official to identify the most important elements that policymakers and strategists must understand about cyber. This article highlights historical and recent struggles to express cyber policy, the responses from these officials, and the author’s ongoing research to improve national security cyber policy.

Musculoskeletal Injury Concealment In The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, Joshua D. Wooldridge

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

INTRODUCTION: Among service members, musculoskeletal injuries threaten military readiness and place a substantial burden on medical and financial resources. While musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) are a leading threat to military readiness, service members’ unwillingness to seek care constrains current prevention and surveillance efforts. A growing body of evidence shows US service members conceal a large proportion of injuries, especially in training environments. The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps is a critical training environment for future US military commissioned officers. Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) is the largest commissioning source of new officers for the US military. ROTC cadets are college students concurrently …

China’S Future Military Capabilities, Roger Cliff

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

The 2022 National Defense Strategy of the United States of America identifies China as the “pacing challenge” for the US military. This monograph examines the process by which China’s military capabilities are developed, the capabilities China’s military is seeking to acquire in the future, and the resulting implications for the US military. To date, all the extant studies have merely described the capabilities the People’s Liberation Army is currently acquiring. This monograph goes further by drawing on the Chinese military’s publications to identify and discuss the capabilities the People’s Liberation Army seeks to acquire in the future. The monograph finds …

A Fake Future: The Threat Of Foreign Disinformation On The U.S. And Its Allies, Brandon M. Rubsamen

Global Tides

This paper attempts to explain the threat that foreign disinformation poses for the United States Intelligence Community and its allies. The paper examines Russian disinformation from both a historical and contemporary context and how its effect on Western democracies may only be exacerbated in light of Chinese involvement and evolving technologies. Fortunately, the paper also studies practices and strategies that the United States Intelligence Community and its allied foreign counterparts may use to respond. It is hoped that this study will help shed further light on Russian and Chinese disinformation campaigns and explain how the Intelligence Community can efficiently react.

Book Review: Clear, Hold, And Destroy: Pacification In Phú Yên And The American War In Vietnam, Samantha A. Taylor

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Robert J. Thompson III

Reviewed by Dr. Samantha A. Taylor, assistant professor of military and security studies, Air Command and Staff College

Published on April 20, 2023. There is no shortage of books that explore the Vietnam War and why it ended the way it did. This book does not focus on strategy or events but on the middle-level US and South Vietnamese pacification policy in the Phú Yên province and the communist strategy to counter it.

Understand Interactive Relationship Between S&T Security And Economic Security, Establish S&T Security Monitoring And Early Warning System, Qiuyi Guo, Guangrong You

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The overall concept of national security is an open strategic thought system, which is constantly developing with the practice of national security. Science and technology (S&T) security and economic security are both important areas of national security. They are important components of national security to support and safeguard overall national security. This study analyzes the interactive relationship between S&T security and economic security, and puts forward some suggestions to accelerate the development of S&T security monitoring and early warning system in view of the risks and challenges to ensure S&T security in the process of realizing high-quality development.

Book Review: Old & New Battlespaces: Society, Military Power, And War, Robert J. Bunker

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Authors: Jahara Matisek and Buddhika Jayamaha

Reviewed by Dr. Robert J. Bunker, director of research and analysis and managing partner, C/O Futures, LLC

Published on April 7, 2023. In Old & New Battlespaces: Society, Military Power, and War, Drs. Jahara Matisek and Buddhika Jayamaha, examine the nature of battlespace and how one can make sense of it across space, through well-known and emergent domains, and along the various levels of war, asking where one should look, how one should look, and for what one should look. Reviewer Dr. Robert J. Bunker shows how the book executes well in its modernist …

Book Review: Useful Captives: The Role Of Pows In American Military Conflicts, Michael E. Lynch

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Editors: Daniel Krebs and Lorien Foote

Reviewed by Dr. Michael E. Lynch, senior historian, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College

Published on April 7, 2023. A book of useful and thought-provoking essays, Useful Captives: The Role of POWs in American Military History explores 300 years of wars and the role POWs have played in them. Reviewer Dr. Michael Lynch walks readers through more than half of the groups featured in the book.