Irregular warfare (IW) is vital in today’s military planning. It’s complex and constantly changing, using methods that aren’t typical and adapting strategies as needed. Conventional warfare aims to fight and...
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Publications.
Perspectives
A library of selected publications submitted by external Irregular Warfare authors and peer-reviewed by our Academic Chairs and Fellows.
American Irregular Warfare in Latin America
History is a matter of perspective; one of the best examples is American involvement in Latin America. The United States’ interest in Latin America is generally perceived to be centered...
[ Read More... ]Neither Narrow nor Nice: Economic Warfare, Disinformation, and Civil Society
A country’s economy is core to its national security, driving significant discourse regarding economic warfare. Current strategies, however, are driven more by political expediency than tactical efficacy. These strategies are...
[ Read More... ]The Vital Role of Airlines and Commercial Aviation in Irregular Warfare
Commercial airlines and aviation have emerged as a critical yet often overlooked element in the context of irregular warfare (IW). These assets are not just part of a state’s infrastructure,...
[ Read More... ]Insights
A collection of Irregular Warfare content authored by the Center’s Academic Chairs and subject matter experts.
Reframing the Term “Irregular Warfare” in Times of Peace into the Contemporary Idea of “Defense Support to Strategic Competition”
In contemporary global security dynamics, the terminology used to describe military and strategic operations is crucial. The terms "irregular" and "warfare" often either fail to resonate with foreign partners and...
[ Read More... ]Stealth Surgery: Mitigating Signature Detection Risks for Special Operations Surgical Teams
In modern warfare, United States (U.S.) military special operations frequently employ unconventional and irregular tactics, often operating in environments denied by opposition forces. Special Operations surgical teams (SOST) provide immediate...
[ Read More... ]21st Century Threats Require 21st Century Deterrence
Soon after the defeat of Germany in 1945, the United States and the Soviet Union found themselves in a global struggle for power and influence. In contrast to previous great...
[ Read More... ]The Irregular Warfare Center and Hybrid CoE Cooperation: A Vital Partnership for the Future
The Irregular Warfare Center (IWC) and the European Center of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (HCOE) entered into a unique partnership in FY 24 making both institutions stronger and more...
[ Read More... ]Research Reports
In-depth, long-form peer reviewed reports on Irregular Warfare topics.
The Role of Non-State Actors as Proxies in Irregular Warfare and Malign State Influence
This paper explores the ways that states benefit from the activities of non-state actors (NSAs) as tools of irregular warfare (IW), with a particular focus on China and Russia. An...
[ Read More... ]The Conceptualization of Irregular Warfare in the Indo-Pacific Region
This report is the second in a series of volumes in which the Irregular Warfare Center (IWC) explores the commonalities and differences of the conceptualization of irregular warfare across U.S....
[ Read More... ]Utopia or Oblivion?
This report is part of a broader project on wargaming and futurism that included the design and execution of a futurism-focused wargame, Utopia or Oblivion?, that was cohosted by the...
[ Read More... ]The Conceptualization of Irregular Warfare in Europe
This report is the first in a series of volumes in which the Irregular Warfare Center (IWC) explores the commonalities and differences of the conceptualization of irregular warfare across U.S....
[ Read More... ]Book Reviews
When Rambo Meets the Red Cross: Civil-Military Engagement in Fragile States
When Rambo Meets the Red Cross takes a critical look at the trifecta of U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF), their relationship with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and the beneficiaries of foreign...
[ Read More... ]The New Rules of War: Victory in the Age of Durable Disorder
In The New Rules of War: Victory in the Age of Durable Disorder Sean McFate takes readers on a compelling journey through the evolving landscape of modern warfare, dissecting the...
[ Read More... ]The Defender’s Dilemma: Identifying and Deterring Gray-Zone Aggression
Elisabeth Braw’s central thesis in The Defender's Dilemma: Identifying and Deterring Gray-Zone Aggression is that gray-zone aggression has become an increasingly more pervasive and complex challenge for nations than traditional...
[ Read More... ]Opinion Essays
Building a Bigger Tent: Women and Irregular Conflict
In December 2022 this Center introduced ourselves with an essay that outlined our intent to create a big tent by “entering into partnerships and resource agreements with academic institutions.” Your...
[ Read More... ]DOD’s Irregular Warfare Center: Building Partnerships by Opening Up the Tent
In the three short months since the Irregular Warfare Center (IWC) “opened its doors,” to begin addressing the implications of “struggle among state and non-state actors for legitimacy and influence...
[ Read More... ]Publication Disclaimer
The views expressed in these articles are those solely of the authors and do not reflect the policy or views of the Irregular Warfare Center, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.
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The IWC will publish original and thoroughly researched commentary and analyses that span the range of security topics associated with irregular warfare.
Publication Disclaimer
Per 5 CFR § 3601.108 - the views presented are those of the speaker or author and do not necessarily represent the views of DoD or its components