Defense and Security Studies Commons^™

The New World Order And National Security Dynamics Of African States: Case Study Cameroon And Mali, Chick Edmond, Nyongbet Gabsa Wilfred, Dekoum Ta Nda Hugues Martin

Graduate Research Conference (GSIS)

This paper seeks to investigate the impact of the new World order on national security dynamics of African states. The case study chosen was Cameroon and Mali because of their diverse security approach in enhancing national security policies on the continent. The paper ponders on how the evolving global political landscape is shifting power dynamics and emerging threats influencing security strategies of these two countries. The notion of ontological security was vital in examining why both states adopt different approaches in enhancing their national security interests. Cameroon has a steadfast ontological security since from its independence while Mali is ambiguous. …

Modeling The Impact Of Nato Policy Actions On Taliban Disinformation Campaigns With Lotka-Volterra Models, Timothy Tarter, Bella Santos

Graduate Research Conference (GSIS)

In this paper, we use an adaptation of the Lotka-Volterra Predator-Prey framework (via Affilit Et. Al.) to model the relationship between Taliban disinformation campaigns and NATO’s attempts to counter them. We find that aggression is a significantly preferred strategy over stagnation; this result should prompt decisionmakers to take strong stances against disinformation campaigns while maintaining a healthy defense against retribution. This leads us to propose the NATO Afghan Youth for Change program, which provides scholarships to individuals throughout the Afghan diaspora to become NATO influencers - a role which will both advance their personal goals and mitigate the spread of …

Public Surveillance And Human Rights: The Chilling Effect Of Surveillance Technologies And Legal Debates In Europe, Anna Calabrese

Graduate Research Conference (GSIS)

The rapid advancement and intense deployment of surveillance technologies pose a profound threat to fundamental human rights and render the balance between national security and rights and freedoms guarantees even more challenging. This paper interrogates the menace that digital tracking such as IMSI-catchers and other sophisticated tools represent to contemporary democracies with a specific focus on their potential to introduce a “chilling effect” to deter individuals in political and social communities from exercising their freedoms of speech, expression, association, thereby endangering the core values of all democracy. This analysis offers an overview of the state-of-the-art in Europe and highlights recent …

Truth Subversion And The Challenges To International Order, David Acosta

Graduate Research Conference (GSIS)

This essay explores the increasing prevalence and impact of truth subversion on the liberal international order (LIO). It examines how modern disinformation campaigns seek to undermine shared epistemological foundations critical for international cooperation, and looks to answer the question: what impact does truth subversion have on international order? Furthermore, it investigates how truth subversion creates uncertainty, challenges alliances, and exacerbates security dilemmas. The essay identifies four core truth subversion tactics: disinformation, double speak, conspiracy theories, and flooding, and applies them to the 2014 Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 tragedy, where Russian actors employed these techniques to distort facts, challenge investigative findings, …

Peace Engagement And Non-Negotiable Commitment Through An In-Depth Lens (P.E.N.C.I.L) Theory: A Film Perspective On Un’S Conflict Resolution, Edward Moses Sam Selvaraj

Graduate Research Conference (GSIS)

This paper introduces the P.E.N.C.I.L. Theory—Peace Engagement and Non-negotiable Commitment through an In-depth Lens—as a metaphorical and analytical framework for understanding the United Nations Security Council’s role in conflict resolution. Using the symbolic structure of a pencil, the theory critiques the Council’s decision-making power ("the lead") and its human consequences ("the eraser"), highlighting how failures in peacekeeping and diplomacy disproportionately affect civilian populations. Drawing on constructivist theory, the paper argues that norms and social narratives, especially those shaped by cinema, are critical in holding international institutions accountable. Through close analysis of films such as Hotel Rwanda, Sometimes in April, and …

U.S. - Azerbaijan Cooperation In The Field Of Security, Malahat Eynalizade

Graduate Research Conference (GSIS)

This research work will explore the security partnership between the United States and Azerbaijan. A key issue in the Western relationship with Azerbaijan is security. The defense and security cooperation between the United States and Azerbaijan is a fundamental aspect of their bilateral relations. It serves as a driving force behind their political ties and provides a solid foundation for enhancing the capabilities of Azerbaijan’s institutions through various aid programs. In the late 1990s, the U.S. government concluded that it had significant, albeit ancillary, interests in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Security in the South Caucasus is important to the …

Embedding And Enabling Multi-Domain Combat Capabilities With Partners And Allies: A Joint Concept Proposal, Nathan Colvin, Aljoša Kaučevič, Randall Mercer

Graduate Research Conference (GSIS)

Future military operations will rely upon a coalition partnership’s ability to conduct regional and global operations across all domains. Currently the US has the most robust multi-domain skill sets of any existing military force, but the US cannot be solely responsible for operations around the globe. To do so would be geopolitically and economically infeasible. An answer may be to build cohesive coalition force units capable of combining localized capabilities and specialized US global competencies. The ability to respond to any type of threat through the synergy of coalition strengths will act to deter regional threats throughout the cooperation, competition, …

By All Means Available: Memoirs Of A Life In Intelligence, Special Operations, And Strategy, Todd Greentree

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Todd Greentree examines By All Means Available: Memoirs of a Life in Intelligence, Special Operations, and Strategy by Michael G. Vickers, who Greentree views as an exemplar of strategic leadership for current and future leaders.

Parameters Spring 2025, Usawc Press

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Welcome to the Spring 2025 issue of Parameters. This issue consists of an In Focus special commentary, three forums (Russia, Ukraine, and NATO; Strategic Competition and Managing National Security; and Joint Sustainment Strategies), the regular Civil-Military Relations Corner installment, and a review essay.

Ukraine’S Not-So-Whole-Of-Society At War: Force Generation In Modern Developed Societies, Ilmari Käihkö, Jan Willem Honig

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

This article argues that Ukraine offers a cautionary tale regarding the two main modern models of force generation. Neither the professional high-tech war model, favored by Western militaries, nor the whole-of-society war approach, said to have saved Ukraine in 2014 and 2022, proved successful formulas for Ukraine. Considering that Ukraine is fighting for survival, with Russian forces inside the country, the failure of both models in action has serious implications for NATO member states as they deliberate their choices regarding future force generation.

Measuring Interoperability Within Nato: Adapted Off-The-Shelf Or Bespoke Solution?, John R. Deni, Matthew R. Macleod, Sarah E. Stewart, Katherine M. Banko, Adrian Jones

The US Army War College Quarterly: Parameters

Despite decades of work on interoperability, NATO Allies cannot measure, assess, and build upon it fully and accurately. The lack of agreed formats or standards for collection, management, and the communication of findings have prevented the Allies from developing common interoperability measurement and assessment tools. Nonetheless, NATO could adopt extant standards, methodologies, processes, or tools to achieve its interoperability objectives. Testing this notion through use cases, the authors identify practical and conceptual hurdles to adopting an off-the-shelf solution. They conclude that the Alliance may need to create assessment standards, methodologies, processes, and tools from scratch, despite the difficulties of doing …

Guardians Or Bystanders? Examining School Shooting Responses In The Southern United States, Andre L. Tompkins Ed.D.

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

School shootings challenge educational safety, demanding effective leadership strategies. The Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, which claimed the lives of 19 children and 2 teachers, heightened concerns about campus vulnerabilities, urging administrators to prioritize student protection. I performed a qualitative study interviewing principals, teachers, parents, and community leaders to examine their experiences addressing campus threats. The findings revealed three themes: (1) ineffective leadership affects campus safety, (2) prompt actions enhance trust in leadership, and (3) connecting with others enhances safety. In this study, I spotlight the crucial role that proactive leadership plays in building the coalitions needed to …

The Future Of Ai: Join The Conversation, Jennifer Wojton, Cassandra Branham, Vijay Tummala, Laxima Niure Kandel, Kayla D. Taylor

Publications

Join the Conversation! The Future is AI? There is so much conflicting information about what AI is capable of, how it could/should be used, by whom and for what purpose. In this panel discussion, we hope to provide a baseline of information that will help all participants think critically and articulate thoughtful questions about the mechanics of AI, ethical use or non-use of AI in particular contexts (school, industry, business, art, etc.), and the impacts we are currently experiencing or are likely to experience. Hear from ERAU faculty of different disciplines to discuss what the current state of AI technology …

Analysis Of Systematic Trade-Offs Between Military And Healthcare Expenditure Alongside Gdp Growth Of Select Asian And Western Exporting Economies In The 21st Century, Rahul Balamurugan, Carlos Gershenson, Preethi Nanjundan, Hiroki Sayama

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

This study explores the complexity in the trade-offs between military expenditure, healthcare expenditure, and GDP growth across select Asian nations and major weapon-exporting countries, examining how nations allocate finite resources between national security and human well-being over the past two decades. Using a systems science approach, the research integrates Granger causality testing to analyze temporal and directional relationships among GDP growth, military expenditure, and healthcare expenditure, uncovering their dynamic interdependencies. The methodology includes trend and slope analysis, Granger causality testing, outlier detection, and clustering to identify heterogeneity in resource allocation strategies. Developed, weapon-exporting nations exhibit complementary trends, with strong causality …

Analysis Of Nuclear Security And Safety Integration Using Survey Responses And Pairwise Comparison Methods, Sheila V. Gbormittah, Theodore A. Thomas, Jason Timothy Harris

International Journal of Nuclear Security

Integrating nuclear security and safety is important for implementing and sustaining nuclear technology because it promises improved and effective management. This integration is an ongoing effort to ensure that both work together with minimal conflicts. This research aimed to determine the preferred level at which nuclear security and nuclear safety integrate by using the pairwise comparison methods of decision-making. This methodology used survey responses from women nuclear professionals to identify the most-desired criteria at three levels: strategic, operational, and cultural. The strategic level includes actions that government officials and regulators can take. The operational level encompasses actions that deliver the …

Manage External And Internal Threats To Commercial Spaces, Alan Saquella

Publications

Securing commercial buildings is a multifaceted challenge that demands a comprehensive and proactive approach. From office complexes and retail hubs to industrial facilities and healthcare institutions, these spaces serve as critical pillars of commerce, administration, and service delivery. Protecting them requires a blend of physical safeguards, advanced technologies and well-defined operational protocols.

Economic Coercion And Grey Zone Competition: Reassessing The China-Australia Case, Naoise Mcdonagh, Sascha Dominik Dov Bachmann

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Economic coercion is recognized as a major policy challenge for global leaders. The case of Beijing’s use of economic coercion against Australia (2020–2024) in response to bilateral tensions holds important insights. Research shows that China’s coercion efforts failed in two ways: the total costs to Australia’s economy were smaller than expected, and Canberra did not change pre-existing policies that triggered the coercion. Failure in this case is attributed to the ability of markets to adjust. Building on this research, we argue that while markets adapted relatively well in the Australia-China case, coercion still produced significant and concentrated subnational costs that …

Researching The U.S. Senate Presidential Nominee Confirmation Process, Bert Chapman

Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

The beginning of 2025 has seen renewed public attention and emphasis on the constitutionally mandated U.S. Senate confirmation process. This stems from the beginning of the second Trump Administration as its nominees navigate this process. The presentation provides historical background on this process, demonstrates what nominees, Senate oversight committees, and the full Senate in administering this process and enables readers to find out how to access information resources documenting this process. The confirmation process continues throughout presidential administrations and may involve little public attention and controversy or acute public attention and controversy. The contrasting 2025 confirmation experiences of Secretary of …

Assessing The Zeitenwende: Implications For Germany, The United States, And Transatlantic Security, John R. Deni, Marina E. Henke, Aylin Matlé, Sophia Besch, Tim Bosch, Loyle Campbell, Angela E. Stent, Jeffrey D. Rathke, Theresa Luetkefend, May-Britt U. Stumbaum, Sharon De Cet

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

Chapter 1 - ©2025 John R. Deni. All rights reserved.
Chapter 2 - ©2025 Marina E. Henke. All rights reserved.
Chapter 3 - ©2025 John R. Deni. All rights reserved.
Chapter 4 - ©2025 Aylin Matlé. All rights reserved.
Chapter 5 - ©2025 Sophia Besch. All rights reserved.
Chapter 6 - ©2025 Tim Bosch. All rights reserved.
Chapter 7 - ©2025 Angela E. Stent. All rights reserved.
Chapter 8 - ©2025 Jeffrey D. Rathke and Theresa Luetkefend. All rights reserved.
Chapter 9 - ©2025 May-Britt U. Stumbaum and Sharon de Cet. All rights reserved.

The essays in this volume analyze …

Call For Papers, Leandrit Mehmeti

Journal of Peace, Conflict, and Security Studies

You are invited to submit a paper for possible inclusion in the first issue of the Journal of Peace, Conflict, and Security Studies (JPCSS). JPCSS is housed in the Political Science and Public Policy department of the Rochester Institute of Technology-Kosova (RITK). This is an international peer-reviewed journal published as a joined venture of the RIT main campus in Rochester, NY, RITK in Prishtina, and the Kosovo Defence Academy.