Defense and Security Studies Commons^™

Book Review: A Call To Action: Lessons From Ukraine For The Future Force, John C. Erickson, Timothy S. Martin

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Authors: John A. Nagl and Katie Crombe

Reviewed by John C. Erickson, senior engineer, Axiom Technologies, and Lieutenant Colonel Timothy S. Martin, director, Defense Strategy Course, US Army War College

John C. Erickson and Timothy S. Martin review one of the US Army War College Press’s most-downloaded publications, A Call to Action: Lessons from Ukraine for the Future Force, an integrated research project that covers the first year of the Russia-Ukraine War. Erickson and Martin provide a useful overview and analysis, highlighting 10 key themes, with a special focus on the “Clausewitzian triad” and “mission command,” and explaining why members …

Book Review: The Ballad Of Roy Benavidez: The Life And Times Of America’S Most Famous Hispanic War Hero, Wylie W. Johnson

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Author: William Sturkey

Reviewed by Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, chaplain, colonel (US Army, retired), US Army War College Class of 2010

Dr. Wylie W. Johnson presents a review of a recent publication on one of the most celebrated Hispanic war heroes in US history—Medal of Honor recipient Roy Benavidez. Johnson overviews author William Sturkey’s biography of Benavidez, which discusses Benavidez’s “perseverance against racial prejudice, poverty, substandard education, bureaucratic inertia, popular bias against patriotism, anti-military sentiment, and physical disabilities” and also his heroism in the Vietnam War and his lifetime of service afterward. Johnson recommends the book as “military leaders need …

Revivifying The Responsibility To Protect: Strengthening The Normative Consensus For Atrocity Prevention, Matthew Levinger

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

This paper examines weaknesses in the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) principle, drawing on the scholarly literature on norm diffusion and norm cooptation. Despite having been unanimously adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2005, the R2P doctrine almost immediately attracted criticism that it reinforced a neocolonial stance by nations of the Global North toward those of the Global South. This critique grew in force during the chaotic aftermath of the 2011 intervention in Libya, which had been authorized as an R2P mission. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas conflict, and the intensifying competition between the United States and China …

Impact Of Composites Material Research On Underrepresented Communities, Neil Bedagkar

College of Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program

The purpose of this research is to qualify and quantify the amount of research into composite materials applicable to certain engineering industries, then examine the impact these industries have on communities of a lower socioeconomic status. Of a random sample of papers from ScienceDirect over the last 24 years, it was found that the amount of research applicable to industries cascades as follows: the most is applicable to the construction industry, followed by automotive, defense, renewable energy, and biomedical. The effects of each industry have been examined and are presented as well.

The Digital Battlefield: Extremists On Social Media, Daniel P. Shanks

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

The rise of social media has transformed the battleground for extremist groups like ISIS and the Taliban, enabling them to reach global audiences with unprecedented ease. This dissertation investigates the social media strategies employed by the Taliban and ISIS. These social media strategies are used to further their strategic objectives in propaganda, recruitment, and operational coordination. Through a comprehensive analysis, the study explores how these extremist groups adapt their digital tactics in response to evolving military and political landscapes. Utilizing case studies from key military engagements and applying theoretical frameworks of rational actor theory, social identity theory, and finite and …

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.

Book Review: Putin’S War On Ukraine: Russia’S Campaign For Global Counter-Revolution, Lionel M. Beehner

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Author: Samuel Ramani

Reviewed by Dr. Lionel M. Beehner, senior Russia analyst, Foreign Military Studies Office, and senior editorial director, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs

Senior Russia analyst Dr. Lionel M. Beehner provides thoughtful praise and critiques on Samuel Ramani’s 2023 book, Putin’s War on Ukraine, calling it “a must-read for diplomats and defense experts.” According to Beehner, Ramani provides “a front-row seat to the war,” helpfully “recalls incidents that may be buried in readers’ minds,” and “masterfully shows the chaos within Russian leadership circles near the invasion.” Beehner also distills and explains Ramani’s main point—that the …

Book Review: The Making Of A Leader: The Formative Years Of George C. Marshall, Wylie W. Johnson

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Reviewed by Reverend Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, Chaplain (US Army, retired), US Army War College class of 2010

Dr. Wylie Johnson provides a thoughtful review of Rhodes Scholar Josiah Bunting’s new book on the early life and career of General George Marshall. As Johnson notes, there are many books about Marshall, and Johnson highlights the value of Bunting’s book, which contextualizes Marshall’s early career—from experience as a staff officer (rather than leading troops in combat), to having authority in overseas assignments, to recreation. Johnson notes that “Marshall had a different military career than that which is usually lauded today.” He …

Book Review: The Melting Point: High Command And War In The 21st Century, Thomas W. Spahr

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Reviewed by Dr. Thomas W. Spahr, De Serio Chair of Strategic Intelligence and associate professor, US Army War College

Dr. Thomas Spahr presents a compelling review of General Kenneth McKenzie’s The Melting Point, providing an overview of the book’s three main points and its unique scope compared to other generals’ memoirs. Spahr praises McKenzie’s writing on Afghanistan, in particular, calling it “the best [description] I have read of the strategic events that led to that dramatic end.” Spahr presents a compelling case for why the book “should be required reading at senior levels of professional military education.”

Book Review: The New Makers Of Modern Strategy: From The Ancient World To The Digital Age, John C. Erickson, John A. Nagl

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Editor: Hal Brands

Reviewed by John C. Erickson, senior engineer, Axiom Technologies, and John A. Nagl, professor of war-fighting studies, US Army War College

John Erickson and John Nagl provide a useful overview of the latest (third) edition of Princeton University Press’s anthologies on modern strategy, directing readers to the most salient chapters of the book and giving insight into why “this third edition is the most interesting yet” and “are of immeasurable importance for students, practitioners, and scholars alike.” Erickson and Nagl write that “[the] essays provide excellent starting points for research on almost any topic relevant to practitioners, …

Review Essay: Exploring Strategy In India, Vinay Kaura

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Authors: Rajesh Basrur and Feroz Hassan Khan

Reviewed by Dr. Vinay Kaura, assistant professor, Department of International Affairs and Security Studies, and deputy director, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, Sardar Patel University of Police, Security and Criminal Justice, Rajasthan, India

Dr. Vinay Kaura reviews two similarly named books that Kaura writes will be “an indispensable reference for South Asian security for years to come.” He praises Rajesh Basrur’s Subcontinental Drift for “incorporating domestic factors to explain Indian’s foreign policy” and provides a helpful overview of Basrur’s three case studies and “policy drift.” Kaura also overviews Feroz Hassan Khan’s book, …

Book Review: Unwinnable Wars: Afghanistan And The Future Of American Armed Statebuilding, Erik Goepner

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Author: Adam Wunische

Reviewed by Dr. Erik Goepner, US government analyst, Colonel (US Air Force, retired)

Dr. Erik Goepner reviews analyst Adam Wunische’s Unwinnable Wars, which, according to Gopener, offers a “timeless reminder—American power has limits.” Goepner provides a helpful outline of Wunische’s four “major preexisting conditions that severely limit the success of armed state-building efforts.” Wunische argues that preexisting conditions are “beyond the control of the intervening power” and “often foreordain the failure of such missions” (such as Afghanistan, the book’s main case study).

Book Review: War In Ukraine: Conflict, Strategy, And The Return Of A Fractured World, John C. Erickson, John A. Nagl

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Editor: Hal Brands

Reviewed by John C. Erickson, senior engineer, Axiom Technologies, and Dr. John A. Nagl, professor of war-fighting studies, US Army War College

John Erickson and John Nagl review Hal Brands’s 2024 anthology on the Russia-Ukraine War, including a thorough and helpful overview of the parts and chapters. They supplement the review with a contextualization of the war and its significance for the rest of the world. They call Brands’s book, “a scholarly appraisal of the Russian invasion of Ukraine that may mark the first blows of World War III.”

Bargaining For Justice: Ukraine, Gaza, And The Ethics Of Conflict Termination, C. Anthony Pfaff

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

©2024 C. Anthony Pfaff

As wars in Ukraine and Gaza continue with little end in sight, the sense of urgency to determine how they should end is increasing, given how the wars could end. A just war aims to establish a better state of peace, but a better state of peace may not always be achievable, and even when it is achievable, it may not be good enough. When that is the case, actors must determine on what terms to settle, given what they think they can achieve based on relative capabilities and cost tolerances. The resulting “maximin” solution, a …

The Role Of America’S European Allies In The Russia-Ukraine War, 2022–24, John R. Deni, Lisa A. Aronsson

Books, Monographs & Collaborative Studies

©2024 John R. Deni

What more can US allies in Europe do to assist Ukraine militarily? More broadly, what can the United States expect from its closest allies in Europe in strategic competition with Russia and China? In this monograph, John R. Deni and Lisa A. Aronsson assess whether US allies and partners in Europe can continue providing military assistance to Ukraine or expand assistance, while preserving their own national security and fulfilling their NATO commitments. They also explore what the Russia-Ukraine War reveals about the role of European allies in future iterations of strategic competition. Their findings indicate European …

A Panel Data Regression Model For Defense Merger And Acquisition Activity, Corey D. Mack, Clay Koschnick, Michael Brown, Jonathan D. Ritschel, Brandon M. Lucas

Faculty Publications

Excerpt: This paper examines the relationship between a prime contractor's financial health and its mergers and acquisitions (M&A) spending in the defense industry. It aims to provide models that give the United States Department of Defense (DoD) indications of future M&A activity, informing decision-makers and contributing to ensuring competitive markets that benefit the consumer.

The results show a significant relationship between efficiency and M&A spending, indicating that companies with lower efficiency tend to spend more on M&As. However, there was no significant relationship between M&A spending and a company's profitability or solvency. These results were consistent with previous research and …

Ketahanan Organisasi Kantor Imigrasi Kelas I Khusus Non Tpi Jakarta Selatan Dalam Menghadapi Penyalahgunaan Izin Tinggal Penanam Modal Asing, Boy Rivando, Palupi Lindiasari Samputra

Jurnal Kajian Stratejik Ketahanan Nasional

The entry of foreigners into Indonesia can improve the economy and increase the country's foreign exchange through tourism and investment. However, if the residence permit given to foreign citizens is misused, it could pose various threats to Indonesia's security. Moreover, currently a circular has been issued regarding administrative convenience for foreign investors. For this reason, strong organizational resilience is needed from immigration agencies, especially the South Jakarta Immigration Office so that they can continue to carry out their immigration functions in the face of incoming threats. The aim of this research is to analyze the organizational resilience of the South …

Perlindungan Hak Asasi Manusia Terhadap Perempuan Korban Kekerasan Seksual, Nizar Agung Kurniawan

Jurnal Kajian Stratejik Ketahanan Nasional

Human rights and sexual violence are major issues in Indonesia, as the former violates victims' human rights and dignity. Situations are made worse by stigma and a lack of security. In addition to examining potential alternatives for creating a future free from sexual violence, this essay looks at Indonesia's link between sexual violence and human rights. The realization of victims' rights is hampered by stigma and a lack of access to rehabilitation services. Human Rights (HAM) are fundamental rights that all people naturally possess since they are gifts from God that are ingrained in all people and need to be …

Konsumerisme Fashion Impor Di Kalangan Generasi Muda Dalam Perspektif Ketahanan Ekonomi Dan Sosial, Shabreena Sugestiani, Puri Retno Nurlingga, Pinartika Nasya Meilanty, Sabrina Zahra, Zahra Nurul Haniyyah Anas

Jurnal Kajian Stratejik Ketahanan Nasional

Generasi saat ini cenderung gemar mengenakan pakaian impor dan telah menjadi tren umum di kalangan generasi muda. Tren ini didorong oleh persepsi bahwa pakaian impor mencerminkan status sosial yang lebih tinggi, sehingga mendorong peningkatan konsumerisme fashion impor. Aktivitas ini memiliki dampak negatif pada ketahanan nasional, khususnya di bidang ekonomi dan sosial. Artikel ini bertujuan menganalisis perilaku konsumtif terhadap produk fashion impor di kalangan mahasiswa Universitas Brawijaya dengan perspektif ketahanan ekonomi dan sosial, menggunakan metode kuantitatif melalui kuesioner yang diberikan kepada mahasiswa Universitas Brawijaya serta analisis isi berbasis studi literatur. Artikel ini menunjukkan bahwa mahasiswa Universitas Brawijaya cenderung lebih memilih produk …

Tantangan Dan Peluang Credit Union Sebagai Penguat Ketahanan Masyarakat, Alexius Andang Binawan, Stefanus Masiun

Jurnal Kajian Stratejik Ketahanan Nasional

This article will explain the dynamics of the role of credit unions (CU) in community empowerment in the context of social resilience. Keling Kumang Credit Union in West Kalimantan was used as a case study to see the empowerment efforts carried out, because CU places greater emphasis on human empowerment. Empowerment or financial literacy is just a means. Through qualitative research based on analysis of social media and documents, the social role of CUs will be examined. By using the observations of Peter Davis as a cooperative 'guru', the challenges and opportunities of a credit union are also explained. Peter …