Strategic Studies Institute

International Studies

Added January 31, 2013

Type: Letort Papers

Talking Past Each Other? How Views of U.S. Power Vary between U.S. and International Military Personnel. Authored by Colonel Richard H. M. Outzen.

View the Executive Summary

The gap between the U.S. military’s self-image and its image in the eyes of an international military audience is examined. When considering U.S. power, do response patterns indicate great difference between how U.S. military officers view themselves and how they are viewed by their international peers? If so, is there anything that the United States can do about it, or does a fundamental and pathological anti-Americanism predetermine outcomes?

Added December 27, 2012

Type: Student (Carlisle) Papers

Insanity: Four Decades of U.S. Counterdrug Strategy. Authored by Lieutenant Colonel Michael F. Walther.

The author provides context to the former DOJ Drug Intelligence Chief’s declaration that the U.S. 40-year national drug strategy is a failure. He argues that the expensive and largely-ineffective supply-reduction strategy should be abandoned in favor of a new, science-based, demand-reduction model.

Added June 01, 2010

Type: Book

Rethinking Leadership and "Whole of Government" National Security Reform: Problems, Progress, and Prospects. Edited by Dr. Joseph R. Cerami, Dr. Jeffrey A. Engel.

On June 24, 2009, in Washington, DC, the Bush School of Government and Public Service and Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs at Texas A&M University, and the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College conducted a conference on Leadership and Government Reform. Two panels discussed "Leader Development in Schools of Public Affairs" and "Leadership, National Security and 'Whole of Government' Reforms." The authors in this volume are from universities and policy institutes focused on international affairs, history, foreign policy, intelligence, and national and homeland security.

Added May 21, 2010

Type: Monograph

Implications of a Changing NATO. Authored by COL Phillip R. Cuccia.

What is the future of NATO and what should be included in the new NATO Strategic Concept due to come out at the end of 2010? This monograph takes a look at these questions and offers a few recommendations.

Added January 22, 2010

Type: Letort Papers

Security and Stability in Africa: A Development Approach. Authored by Lieutenant Colonel Clarence J. Bouchat (USAF, Ret.).

The security and stability of Africa has recently become an important national issue. However, to be effective this growing interest must be rooted in the desire to overcome centuries of ignorance and misunderstanding about the conditions and people of Africa.

Added January 19, 2010

Type: Book

Pakistan's Nuclear Future: Reining in the Risk. Edited by Mr. Henry D. Sokolski.

With any attempt to assess security threats, there is a natural tendency to focus first on the worst. Consider the most recent appraisals of Pakistan’s nuclear program. Normally, the risk of war between Pakistan and India, and possible nuclear escalation, would be bad enough. Now, however, most American security experts are riveted on the frightening possibility of Pakistani nuclear weapons capabilities falling into the hands of terrorists who are intent on attacking the United States. Presented with the horrific implications of such an attack, the American public and media have increasingly come to view nearly all Pakistani security issues through this lens.

Added November 27, 2009

Type: PKSOI Papers

Democratic Governance and the Rule of Law: Lessons from Colombia. Authored by Dr. Gabriel Marcella.

Colombia has experienced conflict for decades and, as the author observed, was a “paradigm for a failing state” in that it was replete with terrorism, kidnapping, murder, corruption, and general lawlessness. But today it is much safer through the imposition of the "Rule of Law."

Added November 25, 2009

Type: Colloquium Brief

Leadership and National Security Reform Conference. Authored by Dr. Joseph R. Cerami, Dr. Jeffrey A. Engel, Lindsey K. Pavelka.

The need for significant changes in leader development and government reform to improve the alignment, coordination, integration, and interoperability among largely autonomous U.S. Government agencies was addressed. The two conference panels were challenged to discuss leadership in a broader sense rather than focusing solely at the top, or on presidential leadership.

Added November 16, 2009

Type: Monograph

YouTube War: Fighting in a World of Cameras in Every Cell Phone and Photoshop on Every Computer. Authored by Dr. Cori E. Dauber.

Terrorist attacks are media events designed to draw the attention of the press since, without a larger audience, a terrorist attack will have accomplished very little. Shaping the attitudes and perceptions of the public can undermine the public will to fight. This is done by shaping media coverage.

Added November 03, 2009

Type: Monograph

A Case Study in Security Sector Reform: Learning from Security Sector Reform/Building in Afghanistan (October 2002-September 2003). Authored by Captain Jason C. Howk.

Afghanistan was America’s first attempt at conducting formalized Security Sector Reform. This case study offers readers an opportunity to learn whom the United States saw as key actors in the process, what institutions were slated for reform, and how well the United States and its partners met the typical challenges of SSR.

Added November 03, 2009

Type: Letort Papers

India's Strategic Defense Transformation: Expanding Global Relationships. Authored by Lieutenant Colonel Brian K. Hedrick.

India’s defense establishment is undergoing an unprecedented transformation as it seeks to (1) modernize its military, (2) obtain “strategic partnerships” with the United States and other nations, and (3) expand its influence in the Indian Ocean and beyond.

Added September 25, 2009

Type: Letort Papers

A Comprehensive Approach to Improving U.S. Security Force Assistance Efforts. Authored by Lieutenant Colonel Theresa Baginski, Colonel Brian J. Clark, Lieutenant Colonel Francis Donovan, Ms. Karma Job, Lieutenant Colonel John S. Kolasheski, Colonel Richard A. Lacquement, Jr., Brigadier Simon "Don" Roach, Colonel Sean P. Swindell, Colonel Curt A. Van De Walle, Colonel Michael J. McMahon.

Security Force Assistance may be a new term but the activities are familiar and are related to how the Department of Defense trains, advises, and assists foreign partners' security establishments to accomplish common objectives. Recommendations to improve U.S. performance are provided.

Added September 16, 2009

Type: Monograph

Russian Elite Image of Iran: From the Late Soviet Era to the Present. Authored by Dr. Dmitry Shlapentokh.

Increasing numbers of Russian intellectuals became disenchanted with the West, particularly after the end of the USSR, and looked for alternative geopolitical alliances. The Muslim world, with Iran at the center, became one of the possible alternatives.

Added September 16, 2009

Type: Monograph

Escalation and Intrawar Deterrence During Limited Wars in the Middle East. Authored by Dr. W. Andrew Terrill.

This monograph seeks to analyze military escalation and intrawar deterrence by examining two key wars where these concepts became especially relevant—the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the 1991 Gulf War against Iraq. A central conclusion of this monograph is that intrawar deterrence is an inherently fragile concept, and that the nonuse of weapons of mass destruction in both wars was the result of a number of positive factors that may not be repeated in future conflicts.

Added August 27, 2009

Type: Letort Papers

Mind-Sets and Missiles: a First Hand Account of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Authored by Mr. Kenneth Michael Absher.

A detailed chronology and analysis of the intelligence failures and successes of the Cuban Missile Crisis is provided.

Added May 30, 2007

Type: Colloquium Brief

Roots of Terror. Authored by Corinna Johnson.

The conference speakers’ goals were to examine (1) recruitment and support strategies used by terrorist organizations, (2) the environments that enable terrorism, and (3) implications for the future of counterterrorism.

Added March 29, 2007

Type: Monograph

The Politics of Identity: History, Nationalism, and the Prospect for Peace in Post-Cold War East Asia. Authored by Dr. Sheila Miyoshi Jager.

The clash between the rise of increasingly divergent nationalisms in post-Cold War East Asia represent new challenges for U.S. policy there. How might the United States respond to the history disputes and rising nationalisms in the region to promote stability and peace?

Added March 15, 2007

Type: Monograph

Globalization and Its Implications for the Defense Industrial Base. Authored by Dr. Terrence R. Guay.

One of the most important implications of globalization is its effect on the economic competitiveness of countries and particular industries. Both governments and defense companies bear the responsibility for devising prudent policies and strategies that capture the opportunities presented by globalization, while mitigating the risks.

Added February 09, 2007

Type: Monograph

The New Totalitarians: Social Identities and Radical islamist Political Grand Strategy. Authored by Dr. Douglas J. Macdonald.

While controversial, the “clash of civilizations” thesis has had a large influence in the debate over the causes of, and possible remedies for, the spread of terrorist activity.

Added February 05, 2007

Type: Book

A Nation at War. Authored by Professor John R. Martin.

One of the basics of strategy is understanding the foe and the type of war in which a nation is involved. The Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) does not fit easily into the mold of war, but that is because of too much comparison with conventional wars; the Cold War may provide a better model. This report chronicles the panels and resulting papers from the Seventeenth Annual U.S. Army War College Strategy Conference, held at Carlisle Barracks, PA, in April 2006.

Added January 16, 2007

Type: Letort Papers

Iraq, Women's Empowerment and Public Policy. Authored by Dr. Sherifa D. Zuhur.

The role and experience of women is not always considered in wartime or during stabilization and reconstruction operations. The author examines some of the difficulties that attend policy formulation on women in Iraq.

Added July 07, 2006

Type: Student (Carlisle) Papers

Friction in U.S. Foreign Policy: Cultural Difficulties with the World. Authored by Lieutenant Colonel Andrew W. Stewart.

The United States is so culturally blind by virtue of its successful “New World” experience of assimilating foreign cultures that it is unable to recognize the possibility that there are viable competing ideologies to American ideals for the world, including the Islamic world, China, and Latin America. If the United States were more “street smart” on the world scene, it could better identify nuanced subtleties and better leverage allies, who, in turn, are better positioned to further American ideals abroad.

Added October 01, 2004

Type: Monograph

Civil-Military Cooperation in Peace Operations: The Case of Kosovo. Authored by Dr. Thomas R. Mockaitis.

The humanitarian intervention in Kosovo illustrates the challenges and possibilities of civil-military cooperation (CIMIC) in peace operations. Properly analyzed, this case study yields invaluable lessons that may inform the conduct of future missions. The current missions in Iraq and Afghanistan make this study timely and relevant.

Added September 01, 2004

Type: Book

Civil-Military Change in China: Elites, Institutes, and Ideas After the 16th Party Congress. Edited by Dr. Andrew Scobell, Dr. Larry M. Wortzel.

In November 2002, the Chinese Communist Party held its 16th Congress and formally initiated a sweeping turnover of senior leaders in both the Party and the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The meeting heralded not merely a new set of personalities in positions of political and military power, but also the emergence of a new generation of leaders. Who are these individuals, and what does their rise mean for the future of China and its military?

Added June 01, 2004

Type: Student (Carlisle) Papers

Female Suicide Bombers. Authored by Ms Debra D Zedalis.

Female suicide bombers have been used in the past, but the spate of these type bombings in different venues, in different countries, and for different terrorist organizations encourages closer examination of this phenomenon. The author looks at the history, characteristics, and changes, and also provides within a strategic assessment the implications of change in future female suicide bombings.

Added February 01, 1996

Type: Book

World View: The 1996 Strategic Assessment from the Strategic Studies Institute. Edited by Dr. Earl H. Tilford, Jr..

The analysts at the Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) annually assess the strategic equation for their particular area of interest. This year they were asked to consider not only the next 12-18 months, but also to look 10 years ahead and to think about the future as it might affect both the nation and the Army.

Added February 01, 1995

Type: Book

World View: The 1995 Strategic Assessment from the Strategic Studies Institute. Edited by Dr. Earl H. Tilford, Jr..

Every year the analysts at the Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) prepare current assessments for their particular areas of interest. These assessments become the bedrock of the annual SSI Study Program. This year's assessments are crucial given the complexities of the post-Cold War world. Russia remains an enigma wrapped in a riddle with Russian national interests very much paramount in the Kremlin's thinking.

Added April 01, 1994

Type: Book

World View: The 1994 Strategic Assessment from the Strategic Studies Institute. Edited by Dr. Steven Metz, Dr. Earl H. Tilford, Jr..

Every year the analysts at the Strategic Studies Institute prepare current strategic assessments for their particular areas of interest. These assessments are the bedrock of the annual SSI Study Program. This year's assessments seem especially crucial as the strategic situation throughout the world is far more complex and fraught with danger than many may realize.

Added March 01, 1994

Type: Book

Ethnic Conflict: Implications for the Army of the Future. Authored by Major General William A. Stofft, Dr. Gary L. Guertner.

Ethnic conflict is an ascendant phenomenon replacing ideology as a social force most likely to promote violence and regional instability. The ferocity of ethnic violence and its potential for escalation increase the political pressures for U.S. leadership and collective engagement. The U.S. Army has a direct interest in ethnic-based conflicts because land power is the dominant means for intervention through coalition peacekeeping and peace-enforcement operations.

Added October 01, 1993

Type: Book

The Future of the United Nations: Implications for Peace Operations. Authored by Dr. Steven Metz.

President Clinton has expressed clear support for greater U.N. effectiveness in the peaceful resolution of conflict and the organization of collective security. This entails finding ways to improve U.N. peacekeeping, peacemaking, and peace-enforcement.

Added July 01, 1993

Type: Book

Paradigm Lost?: Transitions and the Search for a New World Order. Authored by Dr. David Jablonsky.

After every momentous event, there is usually a transition period, in which participants in the events, whether individuals or nation-states, attempt to chart their way into an unfamiliar future. In the United States in this century, there are three such transitions, each focused on America's role in the international arena.

Added March 01, 1993

Type: Book

The Nature of the Post-Cold War World. Authored by Mr. Charles William Maynes, Mr. William G. Hyland.

The editors of the nation's two leading journals on foreign policy were asked to examine the nature of the post-cold war world and America's transitional role. Charles Maynes believes power will become more evenly distributed as America's military dominance recedes and others' economic power increases. William Hyland advises against grand strategic visions.

Added February 01, 1993

Type: Book

Peacekeeping, Peacemaking and Peace-Enforcement: The U.S. Role in the New International Order. Authored by Dr. Donald M. Snow.

The author examines the bases of American military participation in the array of Third World activities falling under the general rubric of peacekeeping and peace-enforcement. The author then examines the effects of these actions on the principle of sovereignty. He next turns to the emerging roles of peacekeeping and peace-enforcement and the conceptual and practical differences between them, and concludes with some cautionary lessons for the Army.