Defense and Security Studies Commons^™

Us Blindness To Russian, Chinese Cultural Motives Risks Nuclear Escalation And Ill-Fit Response, Ryan C. Bushman

Space and Defense

Student Contribution.

This paper was authored prior to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and the publication of the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review.

The United States has taken numerous miscalculated steps with respect to foreign and nuclear policy based on an incomplete understanding of the motives of both China and Russia. This is, in part, due to a failure to acknowledge these nations' strategic culture - an enduring system of values that influence a nation's use of military force. As the US is about to put forth its 2022 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), it is critical that future responses to …

Keynote Address: Dr. Kori Schake, Kori Schake

Space and Defense

2022 United Sates Strategic Command Academic Alliance Conference and Workshop, Mark 30-April 1, 2022, Conducted via Zoom

Addressing The American Approach To Emerging Technologies: Utilizing The Ai Arms Race To Highlight The Need To Develop Public-Private Partnerships In C4isr And 5g, Hugh Harsono, Nicholas Ondovcsik

Space and Defense

he world of emerging technologies has changed countries' access and placement to these digital enablement tools of the future, with blockchain, decentralization, and a myriad of other compounding technologies accelerating the pace of development and growth combining the physical and the digital world. Historically, America's Silicon Valley has led the world's development of new technologies, particularly during the latter part of the digital revolution. In contrast, China focused on enhancing its manufacturing capabilities, becoming a world leader by capitalizing on the ever-connected world and leveraging its economic prowess. These roles became reversed in the early-2000s,1 when China first surpassed the …

Technology: The Air And Space Force's Barrier To Innovation, William F. Cosgrove

Space and Defense

The Department of Defense is a rank-and-file institution that values orders adherence and a zero-error mentality, which has led commanders to be risk averse. This is exemplified in the cybersecurity realm, with controls attempting to protect all information, including uncontrolled unclassified information. Efforts that attempt to employ a new or different type of information technology are made very difficult by a number of existing policies. Additionally, customer surveys, service initiatives, and open user complaints have revealed dissatisfaction with Department of the Air Force (DAF) IT services. The millennial and post-millennial generations are the most technologically adept, yet the majority of …

A Great Nuclear Rejuvenation: What China Can Do With An Expanded Nuclear Arsenal, Grant Van Robays, Chloe Reynolds, Will Jackson, Tom Hammerle

Space and Defense

China's hypersonic glide vehicle test in October 2021 prompted widespread concern in the general public and within the defense intelligence community. General Mark A. Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the test was "very close" to a Sputnik moment.1 More than mere power projection by the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Chinese Communist Party ( CCP), the hypersonic test is an exemplification of rapid advancements in Chinese strategic nuclear forces writ large. Improved nuclear weapons capabilities will offer Beijing greater leverage in regional and international disputes with an increased capacity to coerce and compel adversaries into …

Editor's Note, Michelle Black

Space and Defense

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents, Space And Defense

Space and Defense

Table of contents for Volume 14 issue 1 of Space and Defense

Front Matter, Space And Defense

Space and Defense

No abstract provided.

Ai And National Security: The United States Risks Losing Its Competitive Edge, Royce Morris

Liberty University Journal of Statesmanship & Public Policy

Recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI) have caused concern over the ethical implications of large-scale AI implementation. As a result, leading technologists and computer scientists have advocated an incremental rather than comprehensive approach to AI development and implementation to allow ethical and structural guidelines to provide a public safety net. However, such an approach does not account for the geopolitical and national security implications of lagging behind competitors like China, who have publicly stated goals of reaching AI supremacy within the next ten years. This article presents a national security analysis of the risks to American national security by allowing …

Cooperation Achievements And Outlook Of Oil And Gas Exploration And Development Under The Belt And Road Initiative, Zuoqian Wang, Qing Wei, Zhe Fan, Xi Chen, Yun Peng, Baolei Liu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping. Taking the initiative as an opportunity, China’s oil companies have accumulated rich experience by accelerating their overseas deployment and carrying out extensive cooperation with countries along the route in the field of oil and gas energy. This study reviews the fruitful achievements of China’s oil companies in the transnational oil and gas exploration and development cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, summarizes the cooperation status and analyzes the potential and opportunities presented in the cooperation. In response to many challenges, such …

Book Review: The Origins Of Victory: How Disruptive Military Innovation Determines The Fates Of Great Powers, Zachery Tyson Brown

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Andrew F. Krepinevich Jr.

Reviewed by Zachery Tyson Brown, defense analyst, Office of the Secretary of Defense

Andrew F. Krepinevich has questions for policymakers when it comes to emerging technologies and warfare. In The Origins of Victory: How Disruptive Military Innovation Determines the Fates of Great Powers, Krepinevich asks: How do states gain advantages in military competition during periods of disruptive change? How are developmental technologies best incorporated into legacy military structures? Or are entirely new structures necessary?

Book Review: Four Battlegrounds: Power In The Age Of Artificial Intelligence, Robert J. Bunker

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Paul Scharre

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

Award-winning author Paul Scharre’s latest work, Four Battlegrounds: Power in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, envisions artificial intelligence as ushering in a “new industrial revolution” with big military, economic, and political implications. The reviewer sees this “readable, tightly structured” book as “fascinating and important work from a US national security studies perspective” and “after-hours supplemental reading for US military and policy professionals who want to understand the political-military importance of AI and its strategic (in fact, civilizational) implications for the future.”

Gender Undone: Confronting Bias In The Nuclear Field, Sneha Nair, Christina Mcallister, Annina Pluff, Katherine C. Mack

International Journal of Nuclear Security

In the face of evolving security needs, diversity is critical in nonproliferation, nuclear security, and other related fields. Despite multiple studies highlighting the need for gender balance and diversity in the nuclear nonproliferation and security space and targeted recruitment and capacity-building efforts by the International Atomic Energy Agency and states, gains in the representation of women (as well as historically underrepresented groups) have been set back by the gendered effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and slow cultural change at nuclear facilities and organizations. This issue is in large part due to the inability of initiatives aimed at diversity, equity, inclusion, …

The Language Of Nuclear Security: New Case Studies Exploring Online Open-Source Information From Turkey, India, And Jordan, Zenobia S. Homan, Shraddha Rane, Yara Shaban, Fadime Ö. Özkan, Eunha Yun

International Journal of Nuclear Security

This paper presents a novel internet search methodology and new data on the language of nuclear security. Through three case studies (Turkey, India, and Jordan), it describes what openly accessible information exists about nuclear security in a given national context, where more information is needed, and why. In doing so, the paper highlights the importance of documenting the social and geopolitical context of key nuclear concepts. It also examines the role of language and publicly available information on nuclear security and safety to facilitate the articulation and adoption of international best practices.

The case studies demonstrate how someone may acquire …

From Vertical To Horizontal Empowerment Of Women (In) Peace And Security: Toward A Feminist Perspective Of Human Security, Ma. Lourdes Veneracion-Rallonza

Political Science Department Faculty Publications

Human security, a people-centered approach to security, typically seeks to examine vulnerabilities and identify ways of protecting people from threats. However, people are not perennial victims—they also have agency and are capable of acting on their own. This study looks at how the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda has created both the discursive and actual spaces for women's agency, particularly in the case of women's civil society organizations (CSOs), as illustrated by their work on the ground. This chapter investigates how the Gaston Z. Ortigas Peace Institute (GZOPI), Sulong Peace, and Women Engaged in Action on United Nations Security …

Assessing The Threat Of Social Media To National Security: Information Operations In The 21st Century, Brendan M. Cullen

Senior Theses

The ubiquity of social media has enabled an unprecedented amount of personal data to be accessible to various entities. Social media platforms leverage this data to optimize algorithmic recommendation systems, persuade users to engage, and promote monetization. The social media ecosystem’s business model demands continuous engagement and the relentless collection of user data to grow and scale. Not only is social media massively popular around the world, but it has integrated heavily into users’ daily lives. This integration is driven by social platforms’ deliberate architectures and affordances. The intentionality of social media can be exploited by state and non-state actors …

Settler Colonialism And Resistancein Palestine From 2009 To 2019, Belal S.M. Alakhras

Student Works (2020-2029)

In 1948, Israeli forces took over most of the Palestinian territory and forced the majority of Palestinians to leave their homes. Since then, Israel’s colonial endeavour against Palestinians has continued, and Palestinians have faced numerous attempts to erase their presence. Despite its efforts, Palestinian resistance has not achieved the end of Israeli control. This study examines the continuation of Israeli settler colonialism in the West Bank and Gaza Strip between 2009 and 2019. The research aims to provide insights into these key questions: what are the influencing factors on the Israeli government’s treatment of the Palestinians in the West Bank …

5 Strategies For Advocating For A Security Budget Increase, Alan Saquella

Publications

In the ever-evolving landscape of security threats, Chief Security Officers (CSOs) in global corporations are encountering an unprecedented array of challenges when it comes to fortifying their organizations against potential harm.

To bolster the case for budget increases, it is imperative for CSOs to possess a profound understanding of the multifaceted factors contributing to security breaches.

Book Review: The Air War In Vietnam, Vince Alcazar

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Michael E. Weaver

Reviewed by Vince Alcazar, Air Force (retired) planner and fighter pilot, Department of Defense

The Air War in Vietnam addresses President Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration’s use of airpower (or lack of it) and why American airpower underperformed, as well as airpower innovations that influenced the US warfare model in the Vietnam War. The reviewer bills this work as “…an indispensable volume of airpower scholarship. It is a richly developed analysis of airpower in a decade-long war with challenging hybrid characteristics and shifting US strategies.”

Book Review: Without Flyers, No Tannenberg: Aviation On The Eastern Front Of 1914—Evolution Of A Critical Role For Modern Warfare, Greg Pickell

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Authors: Terrence J. Finnegan, Helmut Jäger, and Carl J. Bobrow

Reviewed by Greg Pickell, US Army lieutenant colonel (retired)

Providing valuable historical context, Without Flyers, No Tannenberg “offers a wealth of previously unavailable information and provided needed context to the German triumph over the Russian 2nd Army in the opening weeks of the First World War.” The book describes how aviation developed in Germany and Russia and offers detailed maps and graphics. The latter part of the book covers events following the defeat of Russian General Samsonov’s 2nd Army, to include the Battle of the Masurian Lakes and the campaign …

Book Review: Spies And Shuttles: Nasa’S Secret Relationship With The Dod And Cia, Carlos Barrera, Manuel Carranza

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: James E. David

Reviewed by Professor Carlos Barrera, Mexican Institute for Strategic Studies in National Security and Defence, and Manuel Carranza, defense and security affairs researcher

Starting with the 1957 launches of the Soviet Union’s Sputnik 1 and 2, James E. David’s autobiography “offers a cautionary tale on grandiloquent endeavors and highlights the need to prioritize planning over narrative” in space. David was a curator in the Division of Space History at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, which gave him access to newly declassified materials. He put this information to good use in Spies and Shuttles as …

Book Review: Original Sin: Power, Technology And War In Outer Space, Jeffrey Caton

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Bleddyn E. Bowen

Reviewed by Jeffrey Caton, colonel, US Air Force (retired), and president, Kepler Strategies LLC

Based on three key arguments, Original Sin covers the development of spacepower during the Cold War, space technology’s progress, and the weapons, planning and doctrine that surround space warfare. The reviewer notes, “What sets Original Sin apart from similar books is the outstanding context it provides and its willingness to challenge trite slogans attached to spacepower.”

Advancements In Technology Empower Loss Prevention Professionals In Security Investigations, Alan Saquella

Publications

In recent years, the field of security investigations has witnessed a profound transformation, owing to the rapid integration of technology. Loss Prevention professionals have been at the forefront of this revolution, harnessing advanced tools and capabilities that have greatly enhanced their effectiveness in preventing and resolving criminal activities. This article explores how the use of technology, including drones, cameras, AI, video analytics, and intelligence software, has reshaped security investigations and how staying on the cutting edge of these advancements is crucial for the future of this field.

The Varied Landscape Of Consumer Fraud, Alan Saquella

Publications

In today's interconnected world, consumer fraud remains a persistent threat that can have far-reaching consequences for individuals and their financial well-being. While these insights are relatively current, it's essential to acknowledge that specific numbers and trends may have.

Book Review: Team America: Patton, Macarthur, Marshall, Eisenhower, And The World They Forged, Wylie W. Johnson

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Robert L. O’Connell

Reviewed by Rev. Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, US Army War College class of 2010

Although early twentieth-century America’s Army was small, meagerly funded, short on equipment, and rife with other struggles, it saw the rise of great leaders. Team America: Patton, MacArthur, Marshall, Eisenhower, and the World They Forged focuses on four of them. They came from different backgrounds, yet “Together they accounted for 19 stars; together they brought about victory in their generation. Two became Chief of Staff of the Army. One rose to become the US Commander in Chief.”

Book Review: Strategia: A Primer On Theory And Strategy For Students Of War, Phillip Dolitsky

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Charles S. Oliviero

Reviewed by Phillip Dolitsky, master’s student at the School of International Service, American University

Strategia: A Primer on Theory and Strategy for Students of War poses the question “What is the true nature of war?” According to the author, even after studying war for 2,000 years, it is still misunderstood. Topics include war on land, war at sea, and war in the air. The reviewer notes that several relevant strategists names are noticeably absent from the work, including J. C. Wylie, Raymond Aron, Colin S. Gray, and Edward N. Luttwak, and even Thucydides.

The Future Role Of Strategic Landpower, Philip F. Baker, Gregory L. Cantwell, Timothy L. Clark, Gregory R. Foxx, Justin M. Magula, Curtis S. Perkins, Kirk A. Sanders, Timothy A. Sikorski, Carl L. Zeppegno

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

Recent Russian aggression in Ukraine has reenergized military strategists and senior leaders to evaluate the role of strategic Landpower. American leadership in the European theater has mobilized allies and partners to reconsider force postures for responding to possible aggression against NATO members. Although Russian revisionist activity remains a threat in Europe, the challenges in the Pacific for strategic Landpower must also be considered. At the same time, the homeland, the Arctic, climate change, and the results of new and emerging technology also challenge the application of strategic Landpower. This publication serves as part of an enduring effort to evaluate strategic …

Book Review: Cyber Intelligence: Actors, Policies, And Practices, Robert J. Bunker

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Constance S. Uthoff

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

From intelligence cycles and processes to intelligence agencies, security challenges, and more, Cyber Intelligence: Actors, Policies, and Practices is a solid work that “covers a lot of ground at a reasonable price.” The reviewer sees it as “a practical tool in our understanding of the cyber intelligence and conflict discipline.”

Book Review: How Civil Wars Start And How To Stop Them, Robert J. Bunker

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Barbara F. Walter

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

How Civil Wars Start and How to Stop Them was written to acquaint readers with “the conditions that give rise to, and define, modern civil war” to “[understand how] close modern America is to erupting into conflict” (xviii). The reviewer notes, “American military officers, sworn government agents, and officials will find the work troubling” and praises its “nonpartisan exploration and objective analysis” in tackling a difficult topic.

Srad Director's Corner: Us Army War College Russia-Ukraine War Study Project, Eric Hartunian

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

The Strategic Studies Institute at the US Army War College is analyzing the operational events and activities of the Russia-Ukraine War to understand the war’s strategic implications for the US Army and its role within the NATO Alliance. Analysis will further inform theater and national US strategy and may benefit Army doctrine and concepts vis-à-vis the Russian threat. It will also examine how US and allied defense policies should adjust to the current character of war. Lessons learned from Ukraine are relevant to the evolving challenge in the Pacific in the near term and are opportunities for the United States …