Defense and Security Studies Commons^™

Imitating Us Doctrine Cost Europe Its Heavy Combat Power, Bence Nemeth

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article argues that Europe’s loss of heavy combat power is primarily the result of doctrinal shifts influenced by the United States, rather than underfunding alone. Unlike existing research that focuses on defense budgets or burden-sharing, this study isolates the opportunity costs of adopting US-based expeditionary and counterinsurgency doctrines. Using force structure data for Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom (1990–2022), it conducts a counterfactual analysis of lost tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and heavy artillery pieces. The article shows that Europe’s shortfalls are doctrinal as much as fiscal and highlights the relevance of maintaining balance in future doctrinal choices.

Book Review: The Ageless Call To Serve: Rethinking Military Service For A Changing World, Richard M. Yates

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Lieutenant Colonel Lanny Snodgrass, MD, PhD

Reviewed by: Commander Richard M. Yates, faculty instructor, Department of Command, Leadership, and Management, US Army War College

At age 63, psychiatrist Lanny Snodgrass defied convention by joining the Army, challenging long-held beliefs about age and military readiness. Drawing on decades of clinical experience with veterans and young soldiers, he exposes the psychological toll of sending teenagers to war while advocating for the wisdom and resilience older recruits can bring. This provocative and inspiring book reimagines military service for a modern world, urging a shift from age-based limits to capability-based inclusion.

©2026 Richard …

Book Review: Hard Broke: Asymmetric Warfare, Great Power Competition, And Institutional Paralysis, Eric H. Haas

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Matthew D. Matter

Reviewed by: Colonel Eric H. Haas, US Army

Institutional inertia can be as dangerous as enemy fire—discover why rapid adaptation remains critical for future conflicts. From IEDs to unmanned systems, this analysis asks: Can the Army evolve fast enough to meet tomorrow’s threats?

Book Review: Countdown: The Blinding Future Of Nuclear Weapons, Wylie W. Johnson

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Sarah Scoles

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

Countdown: The Blinding Future of Nuclear Weapons discusses the American nuclear weapons enterprise by analyzing arguments from the past and situations in the present. The author explains the field of nuclear anthropology and the effects of having a long-term nuclear stockpile, as well as how research of nuclear weapons has developed over time, computer modeling, and nuclear forensics. The reviewer considers it “a readable, thought-provoking book that makes this dense subject accessible.”

©2026 Wylie W. Johnson

Book Review: The Unfinished Quest: India’S Search For Major Power Status From Nehru To Modi, Patrick Bratton

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: T. V. Paul

Reviewed by: Dr. Patrick Bratton, professor of national security, Department of National Security and Strategy, US Army War College

In this sweeping analysis, T. V. Paul traces India’s decades-long journey to global prominence, revealing how aspirations for major power status have been shaped—and often stalled—by internal contradictions and external constraints. Blending hard-power metrics with soft-power dynamics, Paul explores India’s evolving role as a “swing power” in the Indo-Pacific and its complex rivalry with China. From Nehru’s nonalignment to Modi’s assertive nationalism, this book offers a compelling framework for understanding India’s place in the shifting global order.

Book Review: The Airborne Mafia: The Paratroopers Who Shaped America’S Cold War Army, Jason A. Yanda

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Robert F. Williams

Reviewed by: Jason A. Yanda, assistant professor, US Army Heritage and Education Center, US Army War College

In this gripping organizational history, Robert F. Williams reveals how a tight-knit group of World War II paratroopers rose to dominate the US Army’s leadership and reshape its doctrine during the Cold War. Through bold innovation and a fiercely held airborne culture, figures like Ridgway, Taylor, and Gavin transformed civil-military relations, atomic warfare planning, and airmobile strategy. The Airborne Mafia uncovers how subcultures can wield extraordinary influence, leaving a legacy that still echoes through today’s military institutions.

©2026 Jason …

Book Review: Cornerstone Of The Nation: The Defense Industry And The Building Of Modern Korea Under Park Chung Hee, Kevin Davidson

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Peter Banseok Kwon

Reviewed by: Colonel Kevin Davidson, US Air Force, Northeast Asia foreign affairs officer, United States Africa Command Liaison Office

In this groundbreaking study, Peter Banseok Kwon uncovers how South Korea’s defense industry became the engine of its rapid modernization under President Park Chung Hee. Drawing on declassified archives and firsthand interviews, Kwon reveals a hidden alliance of military, scientific, and industrial forces that transformed Korea into a global economic power. Cornerstone of the Nation reframes the “Miracle on the Han River” as a story of militarized industrialization, offering fresh insights into authoritarian development and Cold War …

Book Review: Strategy And Grand Strategy, John Erickson

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Joshua Rovner

Reviewed by: John Erickson, senior engineer, Axiom Technologies

Joshua Rovner’s Strategy and Grand Strategy is a compelling and essential exploration of how nations succeed—or fail—when aligning military strategy with broader security goals. Through vivid historical case studies and sharp analysis, Rovner reveals how misunderstanding or ignoring the relationship between strategy (a theory of victory) and grand strategy (a theory of security) can lead to disastrous outcomes. This book is a must-read for anyone involved in national security, defense planning, or the study of statecraft in an era of technological and geopolitical complexity.

©2026 John Erickson

Book Review: Who Will Defend Europe?: An Awakened Russia And A Sleeping Continent, Darrell Driver

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Keir Giles

Reviewed by: Dr. Darrell Driver, director, warfighter studies, Department of Military Strategy, Planning and Operations, US Army War College

As Russia re-arms and the US retreats from its traditional role, Europe faces a chilling question: Can it defend itself against a rising threat? Keir Giles delivers a forceful wake-up call, exposing decades of complacency and the urgent need for renewed leadership and military investment. This gripping analysis warns that without decisive action, the continent risks sleepwalking into disaster.

©2026 Darrell W. Driver

Book Review: War Ethics: Theory, Practice, And Memoir, Geoff Bailey

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Edited by Brian Orend

Reviewed by: Chaplain (Colonel) Geoff Bailey, PhD, US Army War College chaplain and director of ethical development, Department of Command, Leadership, and Management, US Army War College

Blending philosophical insight, real-world application, and personal reflection, this volume offers a comprehensive exploration of the ethics of war. From just war theory to the lived experiences of soldiers and civilians, it bridges the gap between abstract principles and battlefield realities. It is a compelling resource for scholars, practitioners, and anyone grappling with the moral dimensions of armed conflict.

Book Review: Women In Intelligence: The Hidden History Of Two World Wars, Wylie W. Johnson

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Helen Fry

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

Fry’s book, Women in Intelligence, uncovers stories of women working in intelligence and espionage during wartime. Using recently declassified files, she brings to light stories of individuals and the advances in women’s suffrage during the two World Wars. The reviewer sees this as an essential work that makes a significant contribution to the history of intelligence efforts and recommends it to practitioners of the military profession.

©2026 Wylie W. Johnson

Simulating Cyber-Resilience: The Strategic Role Of The Locked Shields Exercise In Enhancing International Cyber Preparedness, Christopher A. Ramezan, Ludwig Christian Schaupp, Elizabeth A. Vitullo, William J. Walker

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

As cyberthreats to critical infrastructure remain prevalent, national response mechanisms must evolve beyond the technical domain to incorporate legal, communicative, strategic, and cross-sector coordination. This work explores Locked Shields, an annual exercise conducted by NATO's Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, as a pedagogical and conceptual framework for simulating whole-of-government responses to cyber incidents. Unlike traditional cyber exercises, Locked Shields engages legal advisors, media strategists, and civil-military roles in realistic, scenario-driven simulations that portray the political and operational conditions of a real international-scale cyber crisis. We detail the exercise architecture, contrast with other cyber exercises, and assess its pedagogical and …

Underground Space Economy: Industrial Foundation And Strategic Path Under Connotative Development Background, Rong Yi, Lina Zhang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

In the new stage of China’s urban development from large-scale incremental expansion to stock improvement and efficiency improvement, underground space, as an important land space resource, has become increasingly prominent because of its strategic value and potential. Promoting the transformation of underground space development and utilization from engineering construction orientation to system governance and comprehensive utilization is an important apprach to implement the requirements of urban connotative development and improve the efficiency of resource and space utilization. The large-scale development of underground space development and utilization drives the agglomeration and systematic development of underground space related industries, which lays a …

Development Pathways And Strategies For Enhancing Resilience Of Underground Space In China’S Megacities, Xiangsheng Chen, Dong Su, Zezhou Wu, Kaihang Han, Xingtao Lin, Xiangpeng Cao, Weibin Chen

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

As China’s urbanization enters the phase of enhancing quality and efficiency of existing assets, megacities are facing dual pressures of resource constraints and safety risks. Underground space, as a key carrier for urban resilience, holds urgent strategic significance for high-quality development. This study systematically analyzes the current status, challenges, and future trends of underground space development in China’s megacities, focusing on two core issues: “resilience enhancement of existing underground space” and “resilience-oriented development of deep underground space”. It proposes a systematic development path covering “digital base–intelligent platform–key technologies–collaborative governance”. The study emphasizes the need to comprehensively enhance the disaster prevention, …

Strategic Path For High-Quality Development Of Urban Underground Space In The Yangtze River Delta Region Under Geological Safety Constraints, Weiya Ge, Rui Wang, Yunfeng Li, Jian Hua, Yang Yang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

As one of China’s most dynamic economic regions, the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) has approached the upper limit of surface land development, making underground space a critical strategic resource for urban renewal, compact spatial restructuring, and resilient city construction. Nevertheless, rapid expansion of underground development, combined with increasingly tight surface constraints, has led to the superposition of multiple geological hazards, which has become a key bottleneck restricting high-quality underground space utilization in the YRD. Based on comprehensive geological safety assessments of YRD cities, this study identifies six major geological risks, namely, land subsidence, karst collapse, landslides and debris flows, mining-induced …

Suggestions On Development And Industry Layout Of Special Underground Space In Western China, Shishu Zhang, Xinjian Liu, Meng Wang, Shihan Shan, Congyan Ran, Weitao Chen, Xiaoping Zhao, Siyun Li

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Western China has abundant resources and takes an important strategic position. Facing the dual pressure of scarce surface space and ecological protection constraints, special underground space becomes the core carrier for releasing development potential, such as space used for energy storage, material storage, and strategic repository. This research conducts a systematic comparative analysis of the underground space function of the Eastern China and the Western China based on the differential positioning in national strategic perspective. The utilization of underground space in the eastern region focuses on urban underground infrastructure while that in the western region focuses on special underground space …

Opportunities And Development Path Of Underground Space Industry For Urban Renewal And Energy Transition, Bo Zhang, Hongzhi Yao

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Driven by the two strategic opportunities of urban renewal and energy transition, the underground space industry is set to experience a new round of development boom. This study focuses on the improvement and efficiency enhancement of underground space during the urban renewal process and the utilization of underground space resource for the new energy system construction, and sorts out the key development directions of the industry. Based on the layout principle of “tailoring measures to local conditions and cities”, and in combination with the social and economic conditions and resource endowment of each region across the country, differentiated regional industrial …

Study And Reflection On Undergroundization Of Critical Infrastructure In Megacities From Perspective Of National Strategy, Kaiguo Jia, Baohua Huang, Lina Ye, Tengfei Guo, Rong Yi

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Critical infrastructures are vital strategic resources, directly impacting national security and the operation of economy and society. Twenty-two megacities and large cities in China, due to the concentration of resources and poorly concealed distribution of critical infrastructure, face multiple risks such as warfare attack, natural disaster, and facilitiy aging. Incorporating the undergroundization of critical infrastructure into national strategy is an imperative choice for national security, resilient city, and high-quality growth. International practices have proven the advantages of underground development in terms of protection and space optimization. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, it is recommended to adopt strategies such as …

Practice And Multidimensional-Coupling Planning Methods Of Underground Space Utilization Of Megalopolis, Xiaodong Shi, Kejie Wu, Yiting Zhao

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

As megacities enter a phase of stock improvement as well as intensive and efficient development, underground space planning has evolved from an engineering issue into a strategic topic concerning territorial security, resource allocation efficiency, and urban resilience. The establishment of a clear hierarchical underground space planning system and the improvement of underground space control methods are the important prerequisites for ensuring the sustainable utilization of underground space resources. In line with the territorial spatial planning system, the systematic planning and control methods have been explored from the perspective of strictly adhering to the ecological bottom line, coordinating functional facilities, and …

On Enactment Of “Underground Space Law”, Hong Zhang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

With urban development shifting from a phase of large-scale incremental expansion to one focused on intensive development with improved quality and efficiency, underground space is set to become a key direction for urban expansion. Currently, China lacks special and unified national legislation on underground space, while many places have issued local regulations and local government rules. Based on an overview of the issues in the management of underground space development and utilization, this study analyzes the necessity and feasibility of enacting an “underground space law”. It further proposes the establishment and improvement of relevant legal systems in areas such as …