Public Policy Commons^™

Joint Force Quarterly, Issue 116, 1st Quarter 2025, National Defense University Press

Joint Force Quarterly

Joint Force Quarterly 116 explores key challenges and innovations in military strategy, operations, and global security. The Forum section examines how the U.S. approaches risk in its strategy, the impact of nonstrategic nuclear weapons, and the importance of using data-driven methods in planning military operations.

In JPME Today, articles focus on how joint military campaigns succeed, the role of storytelling and persuasion in operations, and the urgent need to modernize professional military education.

The Commentary section highlights Ireland's strategic role in securing Europe’s western flank and evaluates whether China’s military overestimates the potential of artificial intelligence.

The Features section dives …

Massachusetts Community Mediation Center Grant Program Fiscal Year 2024 Report And Evaluation, Madhawa Palihapitiya, Karina Zeferino

Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration Publications

In FY2024, the Commonwealth allocated $3,213,465 to the CMC Grant Program, supplemented by $149,674 carried over from FY2023, for a total of $3,363,139. Of the total funding, $2,542,100 (76%) was awarded to Centers in grants and technical assistance, with Centers leveraging these funds to secure an additional $2,199,813 from private foundations and other state, local, and federal sponsors. These grants supported Centers’ participation in CMC Grant Program related statewide programs, including the Housing Mediation Program (HMP), Reentry Mediation Program (ReMAp), Youth Conflict Resolution and Restorative Practices Program (Youth Program), and DEI organizational capacity-building initiatives. These grants bolstered staffing infrastructure, enabling …

Policy Considerations Of Open-Source Intelligence: A Study Of Bellingcat's Online Investigation Patterns (2014-2024), Lora Pitman, Logan Walsh

International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime

With the proliferation of social media and digital information tools, more and more internet users can participate in intelligence collection through open-source investigations – an area previously reserved for government agencies with access to classified information. The availability and easy access to open-source information, however, has raised some policy and ethical issues over time. Arguments were expressed in the literature, according to which, some of the most popular open-source investigation platforms collect and use information sometimes at the expense of the safety of users who posted the information online, unaware of how it was going to be utilized. Therefore, this …

A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: Realism In U.S. Foreign Policy, Olivia M. Licata

CMC Senior Theses

This paper examines the influence of realist theory on U.S. foreign policy from 1776 to 2025. Through a temporal analysis of policy across three international power systems – multipolarity, bipolarity, and unipolarity – this paper determines that U.S. foreign policymakers follow realist prescriptions for state behavior given their perception of the United States’ status within the international balance of power system. As a result, the U.S. foreign policy has become rooted in realist assumptions and constrained to realism-prescribed behavior, which will ultimately lead to hegemonic decline. This paper calls for the reexamination of realist influences on foreign policy decision-making.

The Role Of Human Security In Addressing The Inclusion Of Women: Nuclear Security And The Women, Peace And Security Agenda In Jordan And Egypt, Yara Shaban, Jasmine Auda

International Journal of Nuclear Security

This paper argues for a human security approach to women’s participation in nuclear security that stems from the larger Women, Peace and Security framework. This approach incorporates a gender perspective and a feminist lens that argues that women’s participation should extend beyond the diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to include an understanding of the centrality of women’s role from a human security approach in peacebuilding participation, negotiation, and conflict prevention. The paper explores this nexus by reviewing Egypt and Jordan’s approach to Women, Peace and Security and argues for framing women’s inclusion within a human security perspective. The review revealed …

The Position Of The United States Of America Vis-A-Vis The Question Of Western Sahara: Assessing The Role Of Think Tanks In The Conflict, Hamid Baadeche

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

The Position of the United States of America Vis-à-vis the Question of Western Sahara: Assessing the Role of Think Tanks in the Conflict

Hamid Baadeche

Think tank organizations, particularly in the United States, have become a prominent feature of the political landscape. They act as advocates for specific policies that they consider beneficial for the country or a particular societal group. They function as a primary source of information, which they then aim to transform into well-informed policies and sound decisions. They are referred to as "the revolving doors," "idea brokers," and "idea factory." As such, their foremost objective …

Nuclear Deterrence Strategies And The Balance Of Power In Europe, Chick Edmond

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

The beginning of the Cold War era indubitably defines nuclear deterrence strategies in Europe by reinforcing and re-strategizing security dynamics amongst European States. The balance of power in Europe has been geopolitically influenced by NATO and Russia in a quest to avoid any kind of security dilemmas from either side. In order to maintain a strategic deterrence balance posture, this complex security navigation scenario therefore act as stabilizing factor in the region as well as preventing any future conflict on the Europe continent resulting from security imbalances. NATO eastward enlargement has maintained a significant strategic balance of power in the …

The National Defense Authorization Act V. The Bill Of Rights, David W. Bolton

Liberty University Journal of Statesmanship & Public Policy

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is an annual renewal of authorization for the Pentagon to spend money separately appropriated in an appropriations bill. Authorizations contained within this controversial document have grown from permission to spend funding on military munitions to allowing the use of indefinite detention and certain ‘advanced interrogation’ techniques by the members of the armed forces against those actively or perceived to be seeking to dismantle the integrity of the American governmental structure. In 2011, it was signed into law in the middle of the night on New Year's Eve by President Barack Obama. For the purposes …

Giving Our “Paper Tiger” Real Teeth: Fixing The U.S. Military’S Plans For Contested Logistics Against China, Zachary S. Hughes

Joint Force Quarterly

This article argues that the U.S. military’s emerging concepts for dispersed operations in the Western Pacific risk becoming unsustainable because logistics has not been fully integrated into force design and campaign planning. Focusing on a potential conflict with China, the author contends that logistics would likely be a decisive factor, particularly in scenarios involving a blockade or invasion of Taiwan and operations inside China’s antiaccess/area-denial network. The article reviews the logistical demands of Marine Corps Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations, Army multidomain task forces, and Air Force Agile Combat Employment, finding that each concept creates significant sustainment challenges and often shifts …

The Joint Functions: Theory, Doctrine, And Practice, Matthew J. Tackett

Joint Force Quarterly

This article analyzes the joint functions as a framework for organizing, planning, and conducting joint operations and argues that commanders should understand them through the combined lenses of military theory, doctrine, and practice. The author traces the development of the joint functions from earlier concepts of command, maneuver, fires, protection, intelligence, sustainment, and staff organization, emphasizing their role in providing a common language across the joint force. Drawing particularly on Milan Vego’s theory of operational functions, the article questions whether current doctrine adequately addresses the distinct requirements of operational-level warfare. It highlights command and control, information, movement and maneuver, and …

The Fragile Balance Of Terror: Deterrence In The New Nuclear Age, John William Sutcliffe Iv

Joint Force Quarterly

This book review assesses The Fragile Balance of Terror: Deterrence in the New Nuclear Age, edited by Vipin Narang and Scott D. Sagan, which reconsiders nuclear deterrence in a strategic environment that differs substantially from the Cold War. The volume addresses both new and enduring challenges, including multipolar nuclear competition, personalist regimes, social media, open-source intelligence, evolving definitions of nuclear sufficiency, advances in counterforce capabilities, regional command-and-control practices, and assumptions about nuclear learning. The reviewer highlights the book’s use of diverse historical and contemporary case studies to show how deterrence can be undermined by miscalculation, political context, information dynamics, and …

The Military Legacy Of Alexander The Great: Lessons For The Information Age, Robert D. Spessert

Joint Force Quarterly

This book review assesses Michael P. Ferguson and Ian Worthington’s The Military Legacy of Alexander the Great: Lessons for the Information Age, which connects Alexander’s campaigns and leadership to contemporary military and national security challenges. The authors organize the book around themes including the operational environment, military organization, campaign design, strategic overreach, and the human dimension of war. The review highlights how Alexander’s decisions offer lessons on mission command, logistics, political objectives, leadership, and the limits of military success. Particular attention is given to the joint function of information, including Alexander’s use of deception, narrative, symbolism, and audience-specific messaging …

Don’T Let’S Be Beastly To The Germans: The British Occupation Of Germany, 1945–49, Michael C. Davies

Joint Force Quarterly

This book review assesses Daniel Cowling’s Don’t Let’s Be Beastly to the Germans: The British Occupation of Germany, 1945–49, a study of British efforts to govern and reconstruct Germany after World War II. Drawing on archival research and personal accounts, the book traces the British occupation from early planning and ideological debates through implementation, near collapse, recovery, and the eventual restoration of German sovereignty. The reviewer highlights Cowling’s attention to the tension between punishment and reconciliation, the difficulties of working with former Nazis, and the ways personal relationships and individual judgment influenced policy. Particular emphasis is placed on the …

From Sparta To Hostomel: The Enduring Role Of Joint Forcible Entry Operations, Jonathan Maxwell Cohen

Joint Force Quarterly

This article argues that joint forcible entry operations remain relevant despite the growing threat posed by antiaccess/area-denial networks. Using the Russian assault on Hostomel Airport during the opening phase of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine as a case study, the author contends that the operation failed not because forcible entry had become obsolete, but because Russian forces were unable to isolate and expand the lodgment, protect access for follow-on forces, and integrate maneuver and supporting fires effectively. The article traces the historical development of forcible entry from ancient amphibious operations through airborne and air assault doctrine, then applies lessons from …

Better In Pairs: Divide The Indo-Pacific Theater In Half, Tim Devine

Joint Force Quarterly

This article argues that the Department of Defense should reconsider the current geographic organization of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and create a second geographic combatant command in the region. The author contends that USINDOPACOM’s vast area of responsibility, expanding subordinate structure, growing operational demands, and increasing strategic competition with China are placing excessive strain on a single theater headquarters. Drawing on the U.S. experience in the Pacific during World War II, when separate commands under Admiral Chester Nimitz and General Douglas MacArthur divided responsibilities across the theater, the article presents a dual-command model as a historically proven way to improve span …

The Need For U.S. Stability Policing, John F. Hussey

Joint Force Quarterly

This article argues that the U.S. military needs a dedicated stability policing capability to establish public order, protect civilians, uphold the rule of law, and consolidate gains during the transition from combat operations to postconflict stability. Drawing on U.S. experiences in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, the author contends that military forces have often been ill prepared to perform civilian policing or train indigenous police forces, leading to overly militarized approaches that can undermine legitimacy and public trust. The article emphasizes that stability policing requires personnel with civilian law enforcement expertise, particularly during the critical period immediately following major combat operations. …

The Profession Of Arms: What Scholars, Practitioners, And Others Of Note Have Had To Say, Gregory D. Foster

Joint Force Quarterly

This article brings together foundational and contemporary perspectives on the profession of arms to consider what defines military professionalism and whether that concept remains sufficient for today’s security environment. Beginning with the officer’s commission, oath of office, and joint doctrine, the author emphasizes that military service rests on constitutional loyalty, character, competence, expertise, responsibility, ethical conduct, and public trust. The article then presents influential views from figures such as George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Alexis de Tocqueville, Samuel Huntington, Morris Janowitz, Sir John Winthrop Hackett, Charles Moskos, Douglas MacArthur, and Martin Dempsey, highlighting recurring themes of civilian control, selfless service, professional …

Ethical Leadership Development: Highlights From The Past And A Glimpse Of The Future, Elias Ursitti, Eric J. Weis, Donald P. Loren

Joint Force Quarterly

This article traces the development of ethical leadership in the U.S. military over the past century and argues that character, integrity, and ethical judgment remain essential to the profession of arms. Using the Eisenhower School’s centennial as a framework, the authors review how military ethics have adapted to changing forms of warfare, technology, law, civil-military relations, and social expectations from the interwar period through the post–Cold War era. They highlight recurring challenges involving civilian protection, command responsibility, nuclear weapons, counterinsurgency, autonomous systems, private military contractors, diversity and inclusion, toxic leadership, and the psychological effects of war. Looking ahead, the article …

One Hundredth Anniversary Of The Eisenhower School For National Security And Resource Strategy: A Tribute In Three Verses, Gregory D. Foster

Joint Force Quarterly

This article commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy and places the school’s development within the broader history of U.S. national security, professional military education, and the profession of arms. Founded in 1924 as the Army Industrial College in response to mobilization challenges revealed by World War I, the institution later became the Industrial College of the Armed Forces before adopting its current name in 2012. The article traces this evolution alongside major changes in U.S. defense organization, strategy, civil-military relations, and the international security environment. It also introduces a Joint …

Stop Talking To Yourself: Military Recruiting In The Modern Age, Richard R. Bell, Elizabeth Goldsmith, Robert Martinez, Donghyun Lee

Joint Force Quarterly

This article explores the Department of Defense’s military recruiting challenges and argues that outdated communication strategies are limiting its ability to connect with Generation Z. The authors contend that young people’s perceptions of military service are shaped by concerns about physical and psychological risk, separation from family and friends, career opportunities, and the military lifestyle, as well as by misinformation and selective information-sharing on digital platforms. At the same time, DOD has struggled to adapt its recruiting efforts to the new media environment and to communicate the benefits of service in ways that are relevant and credible to younger audiences. …

Considering The Utility Of Modern Blockade In A Protracted Conflict With China, Thomas A. Krasnicki

Joint Force Quarterly

This article evaluates the potential use of maritime blockade as part of a U.S. strategy for ending a protracted conflict with China. Drawing on historical examples from the American Civil War, World War I, and World War II, the author argues that blockade remains relevant because China depends heavily on seaborne energy imports and maritime trade. The article proposes a modernized approach that combines close and distant blockade operations to pressure China’s economy while reducing risk to U.S. and allied forces. Close blockade elements would focus on neutralizing Chinese shipping near contested waters, while distant blockade forces would help identify …

Winners Of The 2024 Essay Competitions, National Defense University Press

Joint Force Quarterly

This article announces the winners of the 2024 National Defense University Press essay competitions and highlights the role of joint professional military education in advancing national security research and strategic thought. Twenty-eight faculty judges from 17 professional military education institutions evaluated 97 submissions across three categories: the Secretary of Defense National Security Essay Competition, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Strategic Research Paper Competition, and the Chairman’s Strategy Article Competition. Winning papers addressed contested logistics in a potential conflict with China, changes in the character of war, defense industrial base resilience, blockade strategy, Arctic and European security, nuclear-powered …

Cbrn Defense Readiness Reporting, Jeffrey A. French-Lujan, Taylor Harrington, Ron Fizer, Domah Diggs

Joint Force Quarterly

This article argues that the Department of Defense lacks a sufficiently standardized system for assessing and reporting chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense readiness across the joint force. Although the Defense Readiness Reporting System provides common measures for personnel, equipment, materiel condition, and training, current CBRN reporting requirements rely too heavily on subjective assessments and can overstate a unit’s actual ability to operate in a contaminated environment. Using the Marine Corps as a case study, the authors show how standardized training and equipment metrics can provide commanders with a more accurate picture of CBRN preparedness and operational risk. They contend …

The Implications Of The New Security Environment On The National Health Systems Enterprise, Martin Charles Bricknell, Derek Licina

Joint Force Quarterly

This article argues that the changing global security environment requires the United States to treat the military health system and the broader national health systems enterprise as strategic national capabilities rather than primarily as peacetime healthcare services. Drawing on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and growing risks of large-scale conflict, the authors contend that future crises could produce military and civilian casualty levels that exceed the capacity of existing military medical systems. They emphasize the need for military health services to operate as part of an integrated civil-military health system capable of supporting deployed forces, receiving …

The Key To Arctic Dominance: Establishing An Arctic-Focused Subordinate Unified Command, Joseph R. Blume, Nathan L. Golike, Geoffrey R. Latimer, Michael Stanski

Joint Force Quarterly

This article argues that the United States should establish an Arctic-focused subordinate unified command under U.S. Northern Command to improve unity of command, resource management, and coordination in a region of growing strategic importance. The authors contend that current responsibility for Arctic operations, divided among U.S. Northern Command, U.S. European Command, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, complicates command and control and weakens unity of effort. They trace how reduced sea ice, expanding shipping and resource access, Russia’s military modernization, and China’s growing Arctic activity are increasing competition and security demands in the region. After comparing subordinate unified commands, joint task forces, …

Executive Summary, William T. Eliason

Joint Force Quarterly

This executive summary introduces Joint Force Quarterly 115 against a backdrop of ongoing global conflict, strategic competition, and an approaching U.S. presidential election. William T. Eliason emphasizes the importance of aligning national interests, strategy, policy, and the instruments of national power while recognizing the difficulty of deterring war, ending conflict, and adapting to changing security conditions. The issue features articles on Arctic security, military health systems, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear readiness, contested logistics in the Pacific, blockade strategy in a potential conflict with China, and military recruiting. It also highlights joint professional military education, including the annual Secretary of …

Joint Force Quarterly, Issue 115, 4th Quarter 2024, National Defense University Press

Joint Force Quarterly

This JFQ issue highlights a range of military and security issues, including Arctic defense, health system impacts, and military readiness, while celebrating the achievements of joint professional military education and student essays on national security topics.

Contextualized Transitional Justice Policy Development In Uganda: Differentiating Between Normativity Types In Evidence-Based Problem Analysis, Saghar Shahidi Birjandian

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

This article discusses the fundamental impact of normativity on producing evidence-based guidance for context-sensitive transitional justice policy. It draws on lessons learned from Uganda’s complex transitional justice context and extensive fieldwork to demonstrate the necessity and the means to differentiate between belief-based normativity and evidence-based normativity in conducting problem analysis as a crucial site that determines the integrity of evidence-based guidance. It also establishes that evidence-based normativity guiding problem analysis must include empirical evidence of societal dynamics and views of affected communities or there is a significantly higher risk of belief-based normativity decontextualizing strategy development. Findings establish significant substantive differences …

Selected U.S. Government Statistical Agencies And Their Data, Bert Chapman

Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

Provides introductory and detailed overview of U.S. Government agencies statistics. Includes examples of how an individual U.S. law authorizes government agencies to compile statistics for particular congressional committees and the general public. Statistics cover topics such as demography, defense, foreign assistance, economic growth, criminal justice, energy, Social Security, and Medicare.

Us-Mexico Relations: Addressing Challenges At The Border, The Brookings Institution

Brookings Mountain West Special Events

Mexico’s president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum will begin her six-year term in October as the U.S. presidential campaign enters its final stretch. How the next U.S. administration and Congress manage relations with new leadership in Mexico will affect border security, immigration policies, trade and energy relations, and counter-narcotics and anti-crime cooperation. What tools can policymakers in both countries use to advance positive outcomes? What are the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for the United States and Mexico?

The Brookings Foreign Policy program in partnership with Brookings Mountain West at UNLV hosted a discussion on the state of U.S.-Mexico relations. Panelists analyzed …