Defense and Security Studies Commons^™

Book Review: Spetsnaz: A History Of The Soviet And Russian Special Forces, Chase Metcalf

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Tor Bukkvoll

Reviewed by Colonel Chase Metcalf, assistant professor, Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations, US Army War College

Tor Bukkvoll delivers an in-depth and compelling history of Soviet and Russian Spetsnaz, tracing its evolution from strategic reconnaissance units to key players in hybrid and irregular warfare. The reviewer recommends the book for scholars, military professionals, and anyone interested in Russian special operations forces.

Book Review: China’S Quest For Military Supremacy, Zenel Garcia

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Joel Wuthnow and Phillip C. Saunders

Reviewed by Zenel Garcia, associate professor of security studies, Department of National Security and Strategy, US Army War College

Joel Wuthnow's and Phillip Saunders’s China’s Quest for Military Supremacy is a sharp, deeply researched examination of the People’s Liberation Army’s transformation into a modern force with regional ambitions and global implications. The book reveals how China’s military advances are tempered by internal structural weaknesses, political constraints, and a deliberate focus on deterring US intervention—especially over Taiwan. Balanced and insightful, it’s essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the shifting dynamics of power in …

Book Review: America’S Cold Warrior: Paul Nitze And National Security From Roosevelt To Reagan, James Graham Wilson

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Author: James Graham Wilson

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

In America’s Cold Warrior: Paul Nitze and National Security from Roosevelt to Reagan written by James Graham Wilson and reviewed by Rev. Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, readers follow the life of Paul Nitze. As a businessman and government official, Nitze lived a life of service, holding positions as United States Deputy Secretary of Defense, U.S. Secretary of the Navy, and Director of Policy Planning for the U.S. State Department. He also helped craft America’s Cold War policy. “Nitze’s life is more than …

Book Review: Algorithms Of Armageddon: The Impact Of Artificial Intelligence On Future Wars, Kevin M. Boyce

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Authors: George Galdorisi and Sam J. Tangredi

Reviewed by Kevin M. Boyce, retired aviation command and control officer US Marine Corps, Futures Lab director, Center for Strategic Leadership, US Army War College

Authors George Galdorisi and Sam J. Tangredi explore the risks and implications of AI on national security in Algorithms of Armageddon: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Future Wars. With Russia and China pursuing weaponized AI systems, America must master the algorithms of war to remain dominant.

Book Review: The First Cold War: Anglo-Russian Relations In The 19th Century, Whitney Grespin

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Barbara Emerson

Reviewed by Dr. Whitney Grespin, Irregular Warfare Initiative fellow

An instructive historical case study and strategic diagnostic, The First Cold War: Anglo-Russian Relations in the 19th Century, clearly distills complex dynamics, reminding readers that to deal with Russia, the United States must remember Russia's motives and fears.

Political Violence In America: Turning Point Or Flashpoint?, Alan Saquella

Publications

The murder of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk reignited an old debate in the United States: Are we approaching a turning point in political violence, or is this simply another flashpoint in a long, uneven history of partisan conflict?

Political scientists and commentators appear divided. Some warn of a spiraling wave of tit-for-tat violence, fueled by incendiary rhetoric and amplified by online echo chambers. Others emphasize that such acts are rare, often the work of lone actors rather than coordinated movements, and that the broader public overwhelmingly rejects violence as a political tool.

For security professionals, the challenge is not to …

From The Editor In Chief, Antulio J. Echevarria Ii

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Welcome to the Autumn 2025 issue of Parameters. We open with two In Focus commentaries. The first, “A Case for Military Proportionality: Disabling Nuclear Plants” by Henry Sokolski, offers practical ways in which military planners can disable civilian targets, such as nuclear infrastructure, without undermining operational goals, alliance cohesion, or long-term political objectives. Our second commentary, “The Consequences of Declining Patriotism in the United States” by Neil N. Snyder, presents findings from a national survey showing a decline in patriotism, especially among Generation Z nonveterans. His article highlights a growing civil-military values gap with implications for recruitment and national …

The Consequences Of Declining Patriotism In The United States, Neil N. Snyder

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Patriotism, an important determinant of American civil-military relations, is in decline among many Americans. This article analyzes the results of an extensive national survey fielded to assess Americans’ attitudes and finds that more veterans value patriotism than Generation Z nonveterans, that Americans’ trust in their military is correlated with their value for patriotism, and that members of Generation Z are more likely to consider serving in the US military if they value patriotism. Although patriotism is normally a source of national unity, it may now be a source of division between veterans, nonveterans, and Generation Z.

Russian Arctic Land Forces And Defense Trends Redefined By Nato And Ukraine, Troy J. Bouffard, Lester W. Grau, Charles K. Bartles, Mathieu Boulègue

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article argues that Russia’s Arctic land forces have been weakened by the Russia-Ukraine War and NATO’s northern expansion, creating a strategic window for Western militaries to bolster their Arctic capabilities. Unlike existing studies that focus on maritime operations and the Northern Sea Route, it integrates technical assessments of ground-based Arctic platforms with analysis of military-district reforms. Using a mixed methodology that incorporates equipment specifications, Russian government documents, media reports, and NATO strategic-response evaluations, this article constructs a comprehensive baseline understanding of Russia’s Arctic land-force potential and readiness. Policy and military practitioners will benefit from actionable insights into Arctic force-design …

Parameters Autumn 2025, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

No abstract provided.

Humanitarian Intervention And Just War Theory, Nathaniel R. King

The Ozark Historical Review

Since the end of World War II, the United States has engaged in a new type of warfare. No longer fighting conventional wars, the United States has begun to enter into an intervention style of warfare. Often, intervention occurs on humanitarian grounds, rather than for reasons of conquest, which can often lead to unwanted destruction and alienate local populations. At the same time America’s military tactics shifted the world saw the resurgence of universal human rights. Increasingly included within these rights was the right to protection, or R2P. Just war theory becomes joined with humanitarianism when the action of intervening …

Book Review: Marshall’S Great Captain: Lieutenant General Frank M. Andrews And Air Power In The World Wars, Evan H. Gardner

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Kathy Wilson

Reviewed by Colonel Evan H. Gardner (US Air Force), faculty instructor, Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations, US Army War College

Marshall’s Great Captain is a biography of General Frank M. Andrews, one of the founders of the US Army Air Force. The author reveals the story of Andrews’s contribution to the creation of the Air Force and argues that he deserves more recognition. Her argument is accomplished through a detailed look at various aspects of Andrews’ life. This book is for anyone wanting to learn more about a relatively unknown legend of the Air Force.

Book Review: The Military Legacy Of Alexander The Great: Lessons For The Information Age, Jason W. Warren Phd

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Michael P. Ferguson and Ian Worthington

Reviewed by Jason W. Warren, PhD

The Military Legacy of Alexander the Great: Lessons for the Information Age focuses on three themes—inspirational physical presence, Alexander’s army’s professionalism, and the speed with which he campaigned. The reviewer notes there are many useful observations, overall, he sees the book as a “mixed bag.” For those newer to studies “on Alexander or lessons-learned methodology, Legacy may prove a useful primer.”

Book Review: Mission Iran: Special Forces Berlin & Operation Eagle Claw Jtf 1-79, Daniel W. Harris

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: James Stejskal

Reviewed by Colonel Daniel W. Harris, US Air Force, instructor, Department of Command, Leadership, and Management, US Army War College

Adding to the history of Operation Eagle Claw, the author includes primary sources, photos, and declassified documents to the story of the failed special operations forces rescue attempt and a second planned-but-never-executed rescue attempt. The reviewer calls this book “captivating” and of interest to “anyone interested in learning more about a lesser-known element of the Desert One mission.”

Book Review: The Unvanquished: The Untold Story Of Lincoln’S Special Forces, The Manhunt For Mosby’S Rangers, And The Shadow War That Forged America’S Special Operations, Wylie W. Johnson

Parameters Bookshelf – Online Book Reviews

Author: Patrick K. O'Donnell

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

The Unvanquished: The Untold Story of Lincoln’s Special Forces, the Manhunt for Mosby’s Rangers, and the Shadow War That Forged America’s Special Operations, by Patrick K. O’Donnell and reviewed by Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, explores the Civil War–era precursors of today’s special operations forces. Broken into three sections, the book covers rival groups—the Jessie Scouts and Mosby’s Rangers, the Confederate Secret Service, and Sheridan’s Scouts and the retribution they wreaked upon their enemies. The reviewer calls it “. . . a strong …

Preventing Workplace Violence: A Strategic Imperative For Today’S Organizations, Alan Saquella

Publications

Workplace violence is a critical and growing concern for organizations across all industries. It encompasses a wide spectrum from bullying and verbal threats to physical assaults and, in the most tragic cases, homicide. While acts of extreme violence often dominate news headlines, they are typically preceded by missed warning signs and failed interventions.

Behavioral Assessment Ai Software: Enhancing Polygraph And Investigative Interviewing, Alan Saquella

Publications

In the rapidly evolving world of security, law enforcement, and investigative sciences, professionals are increasingly turning to advanced technologies to supplement tried-and-true methodologies. One emerging innovation is behavioral assessment software, designed to enhance both preemployment screening and investigative interviewing. Acting as a form of modern human intelligence collection, these tools enable examiners and investigators to gather deeper insights directly from candidates and subjects, revealing behavioral cues and risk indicators that might otherwise remain hidden (Vrij, 2008).

How Air Travel Became Safer Through Cashless Service, Alan Saquella

Publications

In an age where convenience, efficiency, and security reign supreme, air travel has adapted accordingly. One notable change: the elimination of cash payments on board for food, drinks, and other purchases. This shift away from bills and coins did not happen by accident, it reflected a deliberate focus on safety, security, and smoother operations.

For Richer Or For Poorer: The Security Environment Index To Measure Effects Of Security Assistance, Lam Huynh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation develops and validates the Security Environment Index (SEI), a multidimensional, empirically grounded framework to assess the political and military effects of U.S. security assistance—specifically Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and International Military Education and Training (IMET)—on partner nations. Drawing from the need for more robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks in the security assistance space, this study addresses a longstanding gap in how policymakers measure the outcomes of military aid. The SEI consolidates publicly available indicators into a cohesive structure capable of capturing both internal and external changes in the recipient nation’s security environment.

This research employed an explanatory …

Defending Nato’S Northern Flank: Power Projecting And Military Operations, Nate Ostdiek

Space and Defense

This review evaluates Defending NATO’s Northern Flank: Power Projection and Military Operations, edited by Lon Strauss and Njord Wegge. The volume offers a comprehensive assessment of NATO’s evolving Arctic posture, combining doctrinal analysis, historical context, and alliance dynamics. Contributions examine Russia’s military strategy, U.S. Arctic policy, and intra-alliance complexities involving Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands. While the anthology provides valuable insights into NATO’s strategic challenges, it notably underrepresents Canada’s role. Overall, it stands as a timely and rigorous contribution to understanding Arctic security and NATO’s internal decision-making amid rising geopolitical competition.

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