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The Strategic Studies Institute

The Strategic Studies Institute of the US Army War College publishes security and strategic reports and publications which serve to influence policy debate and bridge the gap between Military and Academia. Our products are available at no cost.

Added November 07, 2008

Type: Student (Carlisle) Papers

Unity of Command in Afghanistan: A Forsaken Principle of War. Authored by COL Ian Hope.

The author discusses the traditional importance of unity of command in American doctrine and practice from World War I until now, and how this principle has been forsaken in the evolution of military command for Afghanistan. He argues for a renewal of understanding of the importance of unity of command and recommends amending the Unified Command Plan to invest one "supreme commander" with responsibility for the current Operation ENDURING FREEDOM Joint Operations Area.

Added November 04, 2008

Type: Monograph

Known Unknowns: Unconventional "Strategic Shocks" in Defense Strategy Development. Authored by Mr. Nathan P. Freier.

Historically, defense strategy demonstrates three flaws: (1) it is generally reactive, (2) it lacks sufficient strategic imagination, and (3) as a result, it is vulnerable to surprise. The current administration confronted a game-changing “strategic shock” in its first 8 months in office. The next team would be well-advised to expect the same kind of unconventional and nonmilitary shock to DoD convention early in its first term.

Added October 31, 2008

Type: Op-Ed

Living Perilously in a Bubble. Authored by Dr. Leonard Wong.

Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the November 2008 newsletter.

Added October 29, 2008

Type: Monograph

Slowing Military Change. Authored by Dr. Zhivan Alach.

The author revises, reexamines, and reevaluates the contemporary military environment. He finds that the environment is a period of relative military stasis, of slow technological development, and of little novelty in broader issues. If anything, it is a return to an older period, of the time before the Cold War, before the fear of nuclear war dominated all other thinking in the field.

Added October 27, 2008

Type: Colloquium Brief

PLA Missions Beyond Taiwan. Authored by Marc Miller.

Analysis of China’s armed forces tends to focus on its role in a potential Taiwan scenario, given that the PLA retains a central mission in the reunification of Taiwan or prevention of its independence. However, it is also becoming clear that China’s interests and foreign policy objectives are growing with its increasing power and international stature. As a result, it is reasonable to expect the PLA to be asked to perform a wider variety of missions in support of Chinese interests and objectives, from disaster and humanitarian relief and United Nations peacekeeping operations; to counterterrorism and border defense; to outer space and cyber space security; and extending to the protection of ethnic Chinese abroad.