Collections

A Call to Action: Lessons from Ukraine for the Future Force John A. Nagl, Project Director Katie Crombe, Chief of Staff Integrated Research Project by the US Army War College, US Army War College Press, Strategic Studies Institute This book explores the changing character of war through the lens of the Russia-Ukraine War. The authors analyze the conflict’s history, each side’s warfighting functions, the role of multidomain operations, and more. The radical changes in the character of war suggest the United States is at a strategic inflection point. The authors draw lessons from both the Ukrainians and the Russians to suggest improvements for the United States. Advances in drone technology, cyber warfare, and electromagnetic warfare pose new technological vulnerabilities and possibilities. In addition, the war has highlighted the roles of allies in deterrence and training as well as how leadership styles within the military—specifically, in the implementation of mission command—can be a decisive factor. As the Russia-Ukraine War has demonstrated, modern conflict touches a plethora of domains; thus, having sufficient personnel who are ready to fill a variety of capacities will be critical in the future. Finally, the war has shown history and justice are critical aspects of going to war and achieving peace, so crafting a narrative and satisfying stakeholders will be necessary for establishing a stable world order. The Russia-Ukraine War foreshadows the challenges the United States will face in future conflict and highlights the keys to adapting to modern warfare.

Decisive Decade: PRC Global Strategy and the PLA as a Pacing Challenge – 2023 PLA Conference – Updated and Expanded Editors: George R. Shatzer and Joshua M. Arostegui; Contributors: Christopher K. Colley, Lisa Curtis, Travis Dolney, Connor Donahue, James E. Fanell, Šumit Ganguly, Ron Gurantz, Paul Nantulya, Elizabeth A. Wishnick; Conference papers by the US Army War College, US Army War College Press, Strategic Studies Institute Chapter 1 – ©2024 James E. Fanell. All rights reserved. Chapter 2 – ©2024 Lisa Curtis and Šumit Ganguly. All rights reserved. Chapter 3 – ©2024 Christopher K. Colley. All rights reserved. Chapter 5 – ©2024 Ron Gurantz. All rights reserved. The US Army War College’s 2023 Conference on the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was held February 22 to 24, 2023, at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. The conference, entitled “Decisive Decade: PRC Global Strategy and the PLA as Pacing Challenge,” featured presentations on PRC global and regional strategy, and the PLA’s enabling role by experts from a wide range of academic, media, and government agencies and organizations. The conference papers better defined the notion of the PLA as a pacing challenge as evidenced by PRC strategies and activities in various regions to build a much stronger appreciation of how PLA operations in these locations matter to each other and the whole of the PRC’s broader national strategy. The event also included presentations on Chinese military deterrence and potential justifications for a cross-Strait conflict following US House Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in August 2022. Specific topics included the PRC’s acceleration of military reforms and its extending reach; how the PRC can use various regional crises to justify military action against Taiwan; countering PRC military strength in Northeast Asia; and the PRC’s growing economic and security engagements with Latin America, Africa, South Asia, Russia, and Europe.

Emerging Technologies and Terrorism: An American Perspective A NATO COE-DAT Research Project in Collaboration with the US Army War College Strategic Studies Institute Editors: Susan Sim, Eric Hartunian, and Paul J. Milas; Contributors: Darrin L. Frye, Sarah Lohmann, Paul J. Milas, Michael W. Parrott, Susan Sim, Steve S. Sin, Kristan J. Wheaton; Chapter 1: ©2024 Susan Sim. All rights reserved. Chapter 2: ©2024 Sarah Lohmann. All rights reserved. Chapter 5: ©2024 Steve S. Sin. All rights reserved. In a world where technology is rapidly advancing and available to the masses, companies and policymakers face a daunting reality—non-state actors are using innovation for sinister purposes. While artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems promise enhanced threat detection, terrorist groups are exploiting these tools for recruitment and attacks. The future is concerning as AI becomes more widespread and autonomous systems and augmented reality redefine society. A groundbreaking report is born from a collaboration between NATO COE-DAT and the US Army War College Strategic Studies Institute. This book unveils a grim forecast that terrorists are poised to exploit advances in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, augmented reality, biotechnology, and nanotechnology. The line between reality and fiction blurs in the age of rapid technological evolution, urging governments, industries, and academia to unite in crafting ethical frameworks and regulations. As geopolitical tides shift, NATO stresses national responsibility in combating terrorism and advocating for collective strength against the looming specter of technology-driven threats. However, questions linger. Can regulatory frameworks keep pace with technological innovation? Will industry prioritize ethical considerations over profit margins?

International Competition in the High North: Kingston Conference on International Security 2022 Editors: Michael E. Lynch and Howard G. Coombs Conference Papers by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College Press Climate change has expanded commercial opportunities in the High North. The Russian attack on Ukraine has weakened the Arctic Council, thus setting the stage for great-power competition in the Arctic. This presents several dilemmas to the Arctic Nations, and especially the indigenous populations who live in the region.

Deterrence Gap: Avoiding War in the Taiwan Strait Jared M. McKinney and Peter Harris Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College Press The various deterrents that used to discourage Beijing from invading Taiwan have decayed, and at the same time China’s leaders face fewer restraints than ever before. Even so, if interlocking deterrents can be developed for the short, medium, and long terms, and peace reinvigorated, war may yet be avoided.

The Future Role of Strategic Landpower Dr. Gregory L. Cantwell, Major Justin M. Magula Integrated Research Project by the US Army War College, US Army War College Press, Center for Strategic Leadership "Recent Russian aggression in Ukraine has reenergized military strategists and senior leaders to evaluate the role of strategic Landpower. American leadership in the European theater has mobilized allies and partners to reconsider force postures for responding to possible aggression against NATO members. Although Russian revisionist activity remains a threat in Europe, the challenges in the Pacific for strategic Landpower must also be considered. At the same time, the homeland, the Arctic, climate change, and the results of new and emerging technology also challenge the application of strategic Landpower..."

2023 Annual Estimate of the Strategic Security Environment Publication by the US Army War College, US Army War college Press, Strategic Studies Institute "The Annual Estimate of the Strategic Security Environment serves as a guide for academics and practitioners in the defense community on the current challenges and opportunities in the strategic environment. This year’s publication outlines key strategic issues across the four broad themes of Regional Challenges and Opportunities, Domestic Challenges, Institutional Challenges, and Domains Impacting US Strategic Advantage. These themes represent a wide range of topics affecting national security and provide a global assessment of the strategic environment to help focus the defense community on research and publication..."

Americans and the Dragon: Lessons in Coalition Warfighting from the Boxer Uprising Mitchell G. Klingenberg Monograph by the US Army War College, US Army War College Press, Strategic Studies Institute "Drawing from archival materials at the US Army Heritage and Education Center and the United States Military Academy at West Point, numerous published primary sources, and a range of secondary sources, this monograph offers an overview of the China Relief Expedition from June 1900 to the moment of liberation in August. Its considerations range from the geopolitical to the strategic and down to the tactical levels of war. US forces partnered alongside the combined naval and land forces of multiple nations, thus constituting the first contingency, expeditionary, and multinational coalition in American military history..."

China's Future Military Capabilities Roger Cliff Monograph by the US Army War College, US Army War College Press, Strategic Studies Institute "The 2022 National Defense Strategy of the United States of America identifies China as the “pacing challenge” for the US military. This monograph examines the process by which China’s military capabilities are developed, the capabilities China’s military is seeking to acquire in the future, and the resulting implications for the US military. To date, all the extant studies have merely described the capabilities the People’s Liberation Army is currently acquiring. This monograph goes further by drawing on the Chinese military’s publications to identify and discuss the capabilities the People’s Liberation Army seeks to acquire in the future..."