Defense and Security Studies Commons^™

Out Of The Shadows: Us Intelligence Sharing And The Russia-Ukraine War, 2021–24, Frank Leith Jones

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

Focusing on the period from 2021 to 2024, this monograph argues the declassification and public disclosure of US intelligence in anticipation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—together with the subsequent sharing of intelligence with Ukraine during the conflict—have significant implications for national security policy making and military operations in future support of allies and partners. The monograph differs from previous studies in three ways. First, it examines public disclosure as a tool of strategic messaging in information warfare. Second, it serves as a model for intelligence sharing for both reassurance and operational support, with the latter highlighting the role of intelligence …

The Impact Of The Interaction Between Negotiation Strategies And Tactics On Enhancing Security Crisis Management At The General Headquarters Of Ras Al Khaimah Police, Abdulrahman Obeid Al Khatri

Journal of Police and Legal Sciences

The study falls within the context of emphasis on negotiation as a strategic tool in the management of security crises owing to challenges that have become so complicated and dynamic against security institutions. According to reports by the UAE Ministry of Interior, more than 1,200 different types of security crises have been recorded within the last five years. This can range from field to organizational and emergency crises. Therefore, there is an immediate requirement for developing new negotiation methodologies through which response capacities can be boosted to make swift and precise decisions during critical moments.

This study has tried to …

Economic Warfare: A Foundation For Twenty-First-Century Strategic Practice, Greg Kennedy, Antulio J. Echevarria Ii, Anna Brinkman-Schwartz

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

For over a decade and a half, concerns and tensions between states have been arising over the use of the economic domain in the peer-to-peer competition between large powers. Through this competition, powers aim to gain an economic advantage in their relative positions in the international order. The peer-to-peer competition between large powers has been seen as a growing facet of the strategic competition between the United States and China. The beginning of the Russia-Ukraine War in February 2022 elevated the Sino-American peacetime economic competition from one that could be classified as a hybrid form of warfare, a condition of …

Book Review: A Military History Of The New World Disorder: 1989–2022, James Andrew Nichols

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Author: Jonathan M. House

Reviewed by: Lieutenant Colonel James Andrew Nichols, US Army War College class of 2024

In A Military History of the New World Disorder: 1989–2022, Jonathan M. House explores how the collapse of the Soviet Union gave rise not to global stability, but to a chaotic new era of fragmented conflicts and shifting military strategies. From Iraq and Afghanistan to Syria and Ukraine, House examines how world powers adapted—or failed to adapt—to a world without a clear strategic framework. This sweeping analysis reveals the complex interplay between political decisions and battlefield realities in the post–Cold War …

Book Review: Death Before Dismount: U.S. Army Tanks In Iraq, James Stultz

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Author: Andrew Eric Wright Sr.

Reviewed by: Colonel James Stultz, deputy commanding officer- support, 4th Infantry Division

In this powerful account of armored warfare, Dr. Andrew Eric Wright Sr. chronicles the role of US Army tank crews during the Iraq War, highlighting their resilience, tactics, and battlefield innovation. Through firsthand narratives and operational analysis, the book captures the grit and complexity of mechanized combat in a volatile theater. It is a compelling tribute to the soldiers who lived by the creed: “Death Before Dismount.”

©2026 James Stultz

Book Review: No Peer Rivals: American Grand Strategy In The Era Of Great Power Competition, Mark Vicik

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Author: Ionut Popescu

Reviewed by: Captain Mark Vicik, US Army

Great-power competition demands more than military might—it requires a grand strategy. In No Peer Rivals, Ionut Popescu argues that the United States must embrace a bold, offensive realist approach to maintain its global leadership against rising challengers like China and Russia. This provocative book offers a clear roadmap for navigating the strategic complexities of a multipolar world.

©2026 Mark Vicik

Book Review: A War Of Their Own: Fulro: The Other National Liberation Front, Vietnam 1955–75, William Thomas Allison

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Author: William H. Chickering

Reviewed by: Dr. William Thomas Allison, professor of history, Georgia Southern University

William H. Chickering brings to light the untold story of FULRO, a coalition of Vietnam’s indigenous minorities who fought for autonomy amid the chaos of Cold War conflict. Through meticulous research and compelling narrative, the book reveals how these fighters navigated betrayal, shifting alliances, and global indifference. It’s a powerful account of resistance and identity in one of the most complex theaters of the Vietnam War.

©2026 William Thomas Allison

Book Review: Us Coercive Diplomacy And The Global Order: A Critical Analysis Of Post–Cold War Strategies, Salih Işık Bora

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Author: Richard Outzen

Reviewed by: Dr. Salih Işık Bora, Free University of Brussels

Sanctions, threats, and isolation have become staples of US foreign policy—but are they working? In US Coercive Diplomacy and the Global Order, Richard Outzen delivers a sharp critique of post–Cold War American strategy, revealing how overreliance on coercive tools has often undermined global influence and strategic credibility. Drawing on case studies and firsthand experience, this book offers a vital roadmap for more disciplined and effective statecraft in an era of renewed great-power competition.

©2026 Salih Işık Bora

Scraping The Earth: Testing Ndvi As An Indicator Of Military Ground Maneuver Within The Israeli Invasion Of The Gaza Strip, Thomas A. Bergeron

LSU Master's Theses

The advancement of open-source (OSINT) and geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) has allowed independent researchers to study human conflict in new ways, with tools that were previously reserved only for state intelligence agencies. In order to advance methodologies, researchers must continue to evaluate new tools to study war.  Valued for its accessibility and moderate spatial resolution, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is one such tool that has not been widely systematically tested for its use in an open-source GEOINT investigation of modern conflict. This study tests NDVI as an indicator of military maneuver by leveraging a mixed-method approach against open-source kinetic …

Defense Science And Technology Intelligence From The National Security Perspective: Connotation Reconstruction And Strategic Transformation, Fanglu Luo, Pengyu Huang, Zhiwei Wang, Dongbo Zhu

Journal of Scientific Information Research

[Purpose/significance] Grounded in the strategic height of national security, this paper explores the connotation reconstruction and strategic transformation of national defense science and technology intelligence in the new era. It aims to respond to the evolution of international competition and the security landscape, and to promote the adaptation of the defense technology intelligence system to the requirements of the modernization of national security governance. [Method/process] By critically examining the limitations of its traditional connotations, this study systematically reconstructs the new connotations of defense technology intelligence across five dimensions: strategic orientation, content expansion, methods and technologies, system integration, and functional extension. …

Academic Year 2026–27 Annual Estimate Of The Strategic Security Environment, Us Army War College

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

The Academic Year 2026–27 Annual Estimate of the Strategic Security Environment provides a framework for those aspiring to tackle the Department of War’s most pressing challenges. This year’s authors highlight trending challenges and identify potential tension points across 10 sections organized under the broad themes of 1) Regional Challenges and Opportunities and 2) Institutional Challenges. This assessment represents the collective expertise of the US Army War College. The narrative is supplemented by a tailored list of 105 command-sponsored questions from 47 different Army and Joint organizations from across the Department of War. Combined, the distinct yet complementary narrative and question …

Book Review: A Violent Peace: A Global Military History Of The Interwar Peace, Ryan Wadle

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Edited by Ian Ona Johnson and Robert Clemm

Reviewed by: Dr. Ryan Wadle, John B. Hattendorf Center for Maritime Historical Research, US Naval War College

In A Violent Peace: A Global Military History of the Interwar Peace, editors Ian Ona Johnson and Robert Clemm challenge the myth of a tranquil interlude between the world wars by revealing a landscape of persistent and widespread conflict. Spanning four continents, the book uncovers forgotten wars, ideological clashes, and military transformations that shaped the global order long before 1939. This compelling volume reframes the interwar years as a violent and formative era, essential …

Book Review: The Boundaries Of War: Local And Global Perspectives In Military History, Stephen G. Harlan

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Edited by Lee L. Brice and Timothy M. Roberts

Reviewed by: Stephen G. Harlan, historian, 99th Readiness Division

The Boundaries of War: Local and Global Perspectives in Military History, edited by Lee L. Brice and Timothy M. Roberts, challenges traditional narratives by exploring how warfare is shaped by both local conditions and global forces. Through case studies ranging from ancient Rome to the World Wars, the book asks whether military history should be understood through regional uniqueness or broader transnational patterns. This thought-provoking collection redefines how we study conflict by bridging the gap between micro-level experiences and macro-level trends.

Book Review: War In The Smartphone Age: Conflict, Connectivity And The Crises At Our Fingertips, Caitlan Fealing

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Author: Matthew Ford

Reviewed by: Caitlan Fealing

This review of War in the Smartphone Age highlights Matthew Ford’s argument that mass smartphone use is transforming modern warfare. Using recent conflicts, the book shows how civilian-generated data and connectivity accelerate decision making and reshape the conduct of war.

©2026 Caitlan Fealing

Book Review: Chokepoints: American Power In The Age Of Economic Warfare, Jared Massie

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Author: Edward Fishman

Reviewed by: Major Jared Massie

Economic tools are reshaping global power in ways military professionals cannot ignore. From sanctions to tech controls, modern statecraft is increasingly defined by financial and industrial leverage.

©2026 Jared Massie

Book Review: Blood, Mud, And Oil Paint: The Remarkable Year That Made Winston Churchill, Kevin J. Weddle

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Author: J. Furman Daniel III

Reviewed by: Kevin J. Weddle, Distinguished Fellow, US Army War College

In Blood, Mud, and Oil Paint, J. Furman Daniel III captures the transformative year that shaped Winston Churchill’s resilience, leadership, and artistry. From the trenches of World War I to the quiet refuge of his painting studio, Churchill’s journey reveals a man grappling with failure, reinvention, and the pursuit of purpose. This compelling portrait blends military history with personal introspection, offering a fresh lens on one of the 20th century’s most iconic figures.

©2026 Kevin J. Weddle

Book Review: Total Defense: The New Deal And The Invention Of National Security, Michael S. Neiberg

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Author: Andrew Preston

Reviewed by: Dr. Michael S. Neiberg, Chair of War Studies, US Army War College

In Total Defense: The New Deal and the Invention of National Security, Andrew Preston reveals how Franklin D. Roosevelt’s domestic reforms laid the groundwork for America’s modern national security state. Blending political history with strategic insight, the book uncovers how the New Deal reshaped the U.S. approach to global threats long before World War II. It’s a compelling story of how internal crises forged a new vision of American power on the world stage.

Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems And The Principles Of Distinction And Proportionality, Nicholas Cromie

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) challenge the core principles of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), distinction and proportionality, by delegating life-and-death decisions to algorithms rather than human judgment.  This dissertation examines whether LAWS can conform to these principles and, if so, under what conditions.  Through process tracing, the study traces the historical integration of disruptive weapons technologies, including chemical, biological, nuclear, and armed drones, into IHL-compliant frameworks or their exclusion via prohibition.  Each case reveals distinct pathways: outright bans for indiscriminate or inherently inhumane systems (chemical and biological weapons), normative restraint and limited acceptance despite destructive power (nuclear weapons) and phased …

Book Review: Obama And The Bomb: New Start, Russia And The Politics Of Post-Cold War Arms Control, Brennan Deveraux

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Author: Frank Leith Jones

Reviewed by: Brennan Deveraux, US Army Strategist

A close examination of how nuclear arms control shaped military planning, diplomacy, and domestic politics during a pivotal moment in post–Cold War relations. This review explores how treaty negotiations became a test of trust, strategy, and civil-military engagement at the highest levels of US national security decision making.

Book Review: The New Calculus Of Escalation: Avoiding Armageddon In Great Power Conflict, Darren W. Buss

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Author: Martin C. Libicki

Reviewed by: Colonel Darren W. Buss, faculty instructor, Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations, US Army War College

In The New Calculus of Escalation, Martin C. Libicki redefines how we understand the thresholds between peace, conventional war, and nuclear conflict in an era shaped by cyber warfare and emerging technologies. Drawing lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war and Cold War doctrines, he offers a fresh framework for managing escalation to prevent catastrophic outcomes. This timely and thought-provoking book is essential reading for strategists, policymakers, and anyone concerned with the future of great power conflict.

Book Review: Beyond Black Hawk Down: Intervention, Nation-Building, And Insurgency In Somalia, 1992-1995, Christian Werner

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Author: Jonathan Carroll

Reviewed by: Colonel Christian Werner, director of European studies, Department of National Security and Strategy, US Army War College

In this groundbreaking military history, Jonathan Carroll moves beyond the infamous Battle of Mogadishu to uncover the full scope of the US and UN intervention in Somalia. Drawing on newly available sources and the Somali perspective, Carroll reveals how a promising humanitarian mission unraveled into a cautionary tale of political missteps and failed nation-building. Beyond Black Hawk Down offers vital lessons for future interventions in fragile states, making it essential reading for policymakers, historians, and military strategists alike. …

Book Review: Lessons Learned And Unlearned: The Drivers Of Us Indirect-Fire Innovation, Michael E. Lynch

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Author: Brennan S. Deveraux

Reviewed by: Dr. Michael E. Lynch

How does military innovation really happen—and what causes it to stall? In Lessons Learned and Unlearned, Brennan S. Deveraux traces the evolution of U.S. indirect-fire systems, revealing how institutional memory, battlefield experience, and strategic priorities shape technological progress. This sharp analysis offers vital insights for defense planners, historians, and anyone interested in the mechanics of military adaptation.

Review Essay: World War Ii Generals, John A. Bonin

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Books Reviewed:

1. Tubby: Raymond O. Barton and the United States Army, 1889–1963 by Stephen A. Bourque

2. Patton’s Tactician: The War Diary of Lieutenant General Geoffrey Keyes edited by James W. Holsinger Jr.

Reviewed by: Dr. John A. Bonin, distinguished fellow, US Army War College

Two revealing studies shed light on overlooked World War II commanders whose leadership shaped key moments from Normandy to the early Cold War. These dual studies uncover the complexities of senior Army leadership—showing how personal relationships, hard‑won experiences, and strategic insights shaped victory in Europe.

©2026 John A. Bonin

Book Review: Occupation: Russian Rule In South-Eastern Ukraine, Christopher J. Hickey

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Author: David Lewis

Reviewed by: Colonel Christopher J. Hickey, PhD, associate professor, Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations, US Army War College

In this timely and penetrating study, David Lewis examines the mechanisms and consequences of Russian governance in occupied southeastern Ukraine. Through on-the-ground analysis and geopolitical insight, the book reveals how local institutions, identity, and resistance are reshaped under foreign rule. It’s an essential read for understanding the evolving dynamics of power, control, and legitimacy in one of Europe’s most contested regions.

Jihad As Discourse: The Houthi Movement's Official Rhetoric On The 2023–2024 Red Sea Attacks, Moh. Iqbal Bulgini, Imam Khomaeni Hayatullah

Journal of Terrorism Studies

This study examines how Ansar Allah (the Houthi movement) constructs and legitimises a jihad discourse through official speeches and formal statements issued by military spokesperson Yahya Sarea and the movement's official platforms during the 2023–2024 Red Sea attacks. Employing Norman Fairclough's three-dimensional Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) framework—integrating textual analysis, discursive practice, and sociocultural context—the study analyses a purposive corpus of 45 verified institutional texts. Three dominant and mutually reinforcing discursive formations are identified: (1) the Humanitarian-Juridical Discourse, which reconstitutes armed attacks as legally and morally obligatory acts of protection; (2) the Anti-Hegemonic Resistance Discourse, which constructs the movement as a …

Indonesia And The Global Maritime Fulcrum: Structural Crisis Of The Four Pillars Of Maritime Power, Frisca Ayu Suciandika

Journal of Terrorism Studies

This article critically examines Indonesia’s position in realizing its vision as a Global Maritime Fulcrum through an analysis of four main pillars of maritime power: maritime science, financial strength, maritime industry, and naval defense. The study is motivated by the paradox between Indonesia’s vast geographical and historical potential as an archipelagic state and its limited structural capacity to build modern maritime power. This research employs a qualitative descriptive approach using library research and critical analysis of academic literature, international data, and Indonesian maritime policy documents. The findings show that Indonesia still faces an epistemic deficit in maritime science due to …

Critical Geopolitics And The Reconstruction Of Meaning: A Discourse Analysis Of The 'Terrorism' Label Applied To Hamas By Western Hegemony, Cahaya Mulyani Sakti, M.Hamdan Basyar

Journal of Terrorism Studies

The emergence of Hamas in 1987 cannot be separated from the configuration of modern colonialism and the continuity of occupation that shaped the political reality. Hamas’s early phase was rooted in socio-religious activities through education and community empowerment programs, before evolving into armed resistance against the occupation. The labeling of Hamas as a “terrorist” organization began in the mid-1990s in U.S. legal documents, which subsequently generated debate and gave rise to counter-narratives. This study employs the frameworks of critical geopolitics (Ó Tuathail & Agnew) and the Discourse-Historical Approach (Wodak) to analyze the labeling of Hamas as “terrorist” by Western hegemony. …

Governance Structures And Conflict Mitigation Strategies In Food Supply Chains: Evidence From Niger State, Nigeria, Araoye Olarinkoye Ajiboye, Aminu Kandi Suleiman, Habila Daniel Diko, Tayo Moses Adebayo

Journal of Terrorism Studies

Food supply chains in fragile and semi-institutionalised economies continue to experience persistent instability driven by weak governance structures and recurring conflicts among market actors. However, despite extensive studies on food system challenges in Nigeria, there remains limited empirical understanding of how governance structures interact with conflict mitigation mechanisms to shape system stability at the local market level. Available literature tends to treat governance and conflict management as separate processes, thus overlooking their interdependent dynamics within everyday market operations. This study addresses this gap by examining governance structures and conflict mitigation strategies in food supply chains in Niger State, Nigeria. Anchored …

The Effect Of Incompatibility Types On The Escalation Of Global Armed Conflicts, Michael Haratua Rajagukguk, Ruben Cornelius Siagian Rcs

Journal of Terrorism Studies

Global armed conflicts show variations in intensity influenced by the type of issue incompatibility. This study aims to analyze the influence of territorial, ideological, and combined incompatibilities on the probability of high-intensity conflict escalation, as well as its implications for conflict mitigation strategies. Global conflict dyadic data were analyzed using a multilevel logistic regression model with controls for time, region, and conflict type. The results show that ideology-based conflicts have a lower probability of reaching high intensity than territorial conflicts (OR ≈ 0.51, p < 0.05), while conflicts with a combination of ideology and territory tend to be at greater risk of high escalation (AM effect ≈ +26.6 points), although the effect is not yet statistically significant. Temporal analysis shows a downward trend in conflict intensity over time, especially in the post-Cold War period, while regional effects and conflict types show significant variation. These findings fill a gap in the literature on the dual interaction of ideological and territorial claims, showing that the highest escalation of violence occurs when symbolic and material dimensions are intertwined. In conclusion, conflict escalation is more influenced by a combination of issues and structural characteristics of conflict than by ideology alone. The novelty of this research lies in the identification of the strengthening effect of dual incompatibility and the downward trend in conflict intensity after the Cold War, which emphasizes the importance of a relational and temporal context-based mitigation approach in global conflict management.

Hybrid Threats In The Lake Chad Basin: The Nexus Between Terrorism, Illicit Wealth, And Transborder Crime, Cletus C. N. Nwadiogbu

Journal of Terrorism Studies

Threats to security in the Lake Chad Basin have changed over the years and hybrid elements have become interweaved. Sustained Boko Haram and ISWAP activities have increased the insecurity in the region, enabling the mixing of armed insurgency and organized criminals, including narcotics dealers, extortion rackets, arms trafficking, drugs production and smuggling, kidnapping and fuel smuggling among Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon states. Nexus elements of illicit wealth, illicit transborder crime and terrorism were thus analysed as interdependent and contributing elements to Hybrid threats in the Basin. The study used a hybrid design (qualitative-quantitative) documenting data from the following institutions: …