Defense and Security Studies Commons^™

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.

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: 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: Managing Sex In The U.S. Military: Gender, Identity, And Behavior, Mary Raum

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Editors: Beth Bailey, Alesha E. Doan, Shannon Portillo, and Karen Dixon Vuic

Reviewed by Dr. Mary Raum, professor of national security affairs, US Naval War College

This compilation of scholarly, practical, and historical writings presents a running record of events gleaned from research on government policies from the eras of World War II, the Vietnam War, the Korean War, and the War in Afghanistan. It provides greater insight into the complexities of gender issues with direct ties to defense systems. While service examples and dialogues are primarily aimed at the Army, the Navy and Marine Corps are also included. Historical …

Changes In Global Energy Landscape And New Developments In Energy Science And Technology Amid Ukraine Crisis, Chao Wang, Fuquan Sun, Ye Xu, Xiangqiang Jiang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Energy is the blood vessel of an economy. The outbreak of the Ukraine crisis has triggered a regional energy supply crisis and a global energy market turmoil. As a result, the global energy landscape and energy science and technology development trends have undergone profound changes, with far-reaching impact on China’s science and technology strategies in the energy sector. Based on the study of energy strategy shift of the world’s major economies, this study focuses on research and analysis on the strategic trends of energy science and technology from the perspectives of international energy trade, global low-carbon transition and national energy …

Exploring China’S Response To The Rohingya Crisis: A Liberal Perspective, Changrui Yuan, Brice Tseen Fu Lee

Journal of Terrorism Studies

This paper examines China's response to the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar from a theoretical perspective, drawing on both liberal and Asian cultural values. The study adopts a qualitative approach and employs document analysis to collect data. The findings suggest that China's response to the crisis can be explained by the liberal values of interdependence, cooperation, and institutionalism, which have guided China's peaceful and cooperative approach to resolving the conflict. However, the study also reveals the importance of Asian cultural values, particularly empathy and save-face, in shaping China's diplomatic behavior towards the crisis. The paper argues that China's response to 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 …

Why Islamism Failed In Syria, Ararat Kostanian

Journal of Terrorism Studies

The Arab Spring has not fulfilled the desires of millions of demonstrators in Middle East. The desires to see the expanded role of the civil society has been muted by the Islamists and particularly by the Muslim Brotherhood. The Article puts the focus on the failure of Islamism in Syria during the uprising for several reasons, such as the inability of the Muslim Brotherhood to shape a new leadership, and its rejectionist agenda that had nurtured skepticism by the opposition factions. Furthermore, the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood had been unable to change its political motivation and kept insisted on shifting the …

Asean & Human Rights Regime: Bibliometric Analysis In Responding The Maguindanao Massacre, Fairuz Arta Abhipraya, Ilham Agustian Candra, Fasih Raghib Gauhar

Journal of Terrorism Studies

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is one of the regional organizations that aims to promote economic and security cooperation among its members in southeast Asia countries. In the dynamics of ASEAN’s journey, the most debated issue is enforcing human rights among ASEAN members. One of the bloodiest tragedies of human rights violations in Southeast Asia has known as the Maguindanao massacre in the Philippines. This research explores more profoundly the responses of the ASEAN on victims’ family requests in the case of the Maguindanao massacre. This research also applies the human rights regime theory to the role of …

Analysis Of Us-Nato Entanglement In Russo-Ukrainian Conflict: 'Western Axis' An Effort To Contain China In Europe, Syifa Maulidina, Oddie Bagus Saputra

Journal of Terrorism Studies

The Ukraine-Russia conflict is a complex one. Some countries intend to defend national interests regarding border areas, energy sources, and international trade routes such as the United States, NATO, and China. The United States-NATO is trying to maintain the status quo over the Euro-Arctic region. Meanwhile, China took advantage of this conflict to expand into the European market. In addition, China has also benefited in the military sector to modernize its military arsenal and cheap energy sources amid the global energy crisis from Russia. Therefore, to help the process of analyzing the issue, this study uses the concept of balancing …

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 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 …

A Hierarchical Cluster Approach Toward Understanding The Regional Variable In Country Conflict Modeling, Benjamin D. Leiby, Darryl K. Ahner

Faculty Publications

Purpose: This paper aims to examine how the regional variable in country conflict modeling affects forecast accuracy and identifies a methodology to further improve the predictions.

Design/methodology/approach: This paper uses statistical learning methods to both evaluate the quantity of data for clustering countries along with quantifying accuracy according to the number of clusters used.

Findings: This study demonstrates that increasing the number of clusters for modeling improves the ability to predict conflict as long as the models are robust.

Originality/value: This study investigates the quantity of clusters used in conflict modeling, while previous research assumes a specific quantity before …

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.

Responding To Future Pandemics: Biosecurity Implications And Defense Considerations, Diane Dieuliis, James Giordano

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

In an evolving and expanding biothreat landscape caused by emerging biotechnologies, increases in global infectious disease outbreaks, and geopolitical instability, the Department of Defense now faces challenges that alter its traditional approach to biothreats and prompt the need for modernized, improved preparedness for—and response to—potential biothreat scenarios. These challenges further complicate specific weaknesses revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Department’s inability to sustain the military mission while meeting intragovernmental expectations to assist with civilian public health resources and services.

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

Monographs, Collaborative Studies, & IRPs

©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 …

Book Review: John J. Pershing And The American Expeditionary Forces In World War I, 1917–1919: April 7-September 30, Volume 1, Nathan K. Finney

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Editor: John T. Greenwood

Reviewed by Dr. Nathan K. Finney, lieutenant colonel, US Army, Indo-Pacific Command, founder of The Strategy Bridge and the Military Writers Guild

Thoroughly researched and cited, this first volume in an anticipated eight-book series covers the first five months of World War I. The book includes maps, photographs, and is indexed for ease of use.

Book Review: The Panzer Killers: The Untold Story Of A Fighting General And His Spearhead Tank Division’S Charge Into The Third Reich, Wylie W. Johnson

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Daniel P. Bolger

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

The Panzer Killers follows the story of World War II Major General Maurice Rose, chronicling his humble beginnings through his rise to being a decorated and accomplished Army commander who led by example.

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

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 …