In the ever-evolving landscape of irregular warfare, foreign governments recognize the potential of soft power as a means to wield influence, shape global perceptions, and conduct direct and indirect information...
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Perspectives
A library of selected publications submitted by external Irregular Warfare authors and peer-reviewed by our Academic Chairs and Fellows.
The Newest Weapon in Irregular Warfare – Artificial Intelligence
On the morning of 22 May, 2023, an artificial intelligence (AI) generated image of an explosion at the Pentagon surfaced online and spread like wildfire throughout social media. Multiple news...
[ Read More... ]Transnational Organized Crime in the Gray Zone: The Authoritarian IW Toolbox and Strategic Competition
The era of examining transnational organized crime (TOC) separately from geopolitical discussions is over. TOC is a significant destabilizing force for countries and regions across the globe. Additionally, the connection...
[ Read More... ]Rethinking Russian Hybrid Warfare
Russian hybrid warfare has been prominent in security policy-related debates in recent years. The concept emerged in the military analysts’ community and spread quickly into media, public debate, and decision-makers’...
[ Read More... ]Insights
A collection of Irregular Warfare content authored by the Center’s Academic Chairs and subject matter experts.
The Art of Partisan Warfare Is Not Dead: How old Russian military theories can give new insight into resistance to occupation in Ukraine
For both Ukrainians and Russians, the concept of partisan warfare is not new. Both countries have long histories of using irregular warfare to resist foreign invaders. As far back as...
[ Read More... ]The Fall from Grace of Russian SOF: The Danger of Forgetting Lessons Learned
As part of its ongoing efforts to help scholars and practitioners understand Russia’s approach to irregular warfare (IW), the Irregular Warfare Center (IWC) translated a 33-page Russian special operations journal...
[ Read More... ]Simple Sabotage 2.0: the Threat of Pro-Russian Civil Resistance in Ukraine
Resistance is an asymmetric tool that can be used by an underdog to fight against an oppressor or a foreign military occupation. However, the Russo-Ukrainian War has demonstrated that this...
[ Read More... ]The Benefits of Wargaming and Futurism for Irregular Warfare Professionals
The key to minimizing the risk of being surprised and of suffering catastrophic failure is not to ignore risks in the hope of muddling through but rather to take uncertainty...
[ Read More... ]Research Reports
In-depth, long-form peer reviewed reports on Irregular Warfare topics.
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... ]Blind Sided: A Reconceptualization of the Role of Emerging Technologies in Shaping Information Operations in the Gray Zone
In June 2022, Facebook and Twitter accounts suddenly focused their wrath on Australian company Lynas. The previous year, Lynas—the largest rare earths mining and processing company outside China—had inked a...
[ Read More... ]Book Reviews
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...
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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