Monographs

Professionalizing the Iraqi Army: US Engagement after the Islamic State Dr C. A. Pfaff Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College Press "While the US intelligence community worries about the emergence of “Da’esh 2.0,” the US security cooperation community has to worry about the development of the “Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) 4.0” that will have to fight Da’esh and meet a broad range of other security and defense requirements. Here, the “4.0” refers to the facts that this is not the United States’ first attempt to assist the Iraqis in building their defense capacity and the United States is not the first security partner to try. Britain and the Soviet Union also took their turns developing Iraqi military capabilities, both with similar results."

Turkey and the United States on the Brink: Implications for NATO and the US-Turkish Strategic and Military Partnership Dr. Kamal A. Beyoghlow Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College Press "The US-Turkish strategic partnership established at the end of World War II reached its climax in the late eighties, and is at a dangerous crossroad. Such an outcome has had a devastating effect on Turkey’s relationship with other Western partners, especially NATO, which has been the backbone of America’s defense alliance since the start of the Cold War. This situation, if it continues, is likely to force the unraveling of NATO as a cohesive organization at a time when it is facing a myriad of collective global security challenges, particularly in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan—far beyond its traditional defensive posture on the European continent. All is not lost, however, and with more diligent diplomatic and military-to-military dialogue and compromises, US-Turkish relations can be salvaged."

A Modern Army Reserve for a Multi-Domain World: Structural Realities and Untapped Potential MG Lew Irwin Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College Press "Casual readers of this monograph may interpret it as a somewhat fatalistic description of all of the things the Army Reserve cannot be or do, but, in fact, the intent is the opposite. If this invaluable American national security institution is to realize its full potential in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world, we must first make a clear-eyed and honest assessment of the institution’s inherent limitations as well as its untapped potential. The first steps in attacking any problem are to acknowledge it and then define it before proposing ways to solve it. These are the goals of this monograph."

Recommendations for Success in Afghanistan Dr M Chris Mason Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College Press "The group identified the four most important and challenging issues which the Resolute Support mission grapples with on a daily basis: (1) maintaining the equilibrium of power and control between the Government of Afghanistan and the Taliban at its current level; (2) bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table to begin peace talks with the Afghan Government; (3) getting Pakistan to curb its 17-year support to the Taliban; and, (4) start to roll back the pernicious dominance of opium production in the Afghan economy and its corrosive influence on national governance and state-building. "

Deterrence in the Nordic-Baltic Region: The Role of the Nordic Countries Together With the U.S. Army Dr Stefan Forss, Juha Pyykönen Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College Press "The Russian Federation continues to present a clear and unique security challenge to its European neighbor states all around its Western periphery. To the north, in the Nordic-Baltic region, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and its Nordic partner nations are acutely aware of the challenge which Russia’s forceful and at times aggressive behavior can present to their security. The situation has been compounded by internal factors, such as a decade of shrinking defense budgets and a lack of local capacity to deal with potential military threats."

Extremist Migration: A Foreign Jihadist Fighter Threat Assessment Dr Shima D Keene Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College Press "In this monograph, British academic and practitioner Dr. Shima Keene explores the probable movement of foreign fighters as a result of the reduction in territory controlled by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). As part of her analysis, Dr. Keene dissects the jihadist migration process, examining factors such as need, opportunity, possible methods of travel, and support mechanisms that allow jihadist migration to take place. In attempting to combat the problem, she calls for a change in mindset and approach that better exploits the capabilities available within the defense and security stakeholder community."

An Unnatural Partnership? The Future of U.S.-India Strategic Cooperation Dr Samit Ganguly, Dr M Chris Mason Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College Press "Across Democratic and Republican administrations, the United States has confronted the rise and growing assertiveness of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in Asia. Faced with the PRC’s role in Asia and beyond, the United States needs a viable strategic partner to balance the power of the PRC. Given India’s own misgivings about the PRC, it should serve as a natural partner. However, historical, cultural, and structural factors have inhibited the process of strategic cooperation. This monograph identifies the principal hurdles to cooperation and seeks to identify possible pathways toward a possible U.S.-India partnership."

A Whole-of-Government Approach to Gray Zone Warfare Ms. Elizabeth G. Troeder Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College Press "Gray zone warfare has increasingly been the strategy selected by states that are determined to influence change without the risk of major escalation to outright military war. It is a significant concern today, threatening U.S. national security as well as the security of U.S. allies and partners. Although warfare is traditionally led by the Department of Defense (DoD), as the use of gray zone warfare increases and evolves, a whole-of-government approach that incorporates the unique capabilities of Federal departments and agencies for this fight is needed."

Maneuver and Manipulation: On the Military Strategy of Online Information Warfare Mr. Tim Hwang Monograph by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College Press "Ongoing discussion around the Russian development of hybrid warfare and the revelations about meddling in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election have focused the public’s attention on the threats posed by coordinated campaigns of propaganda and disinformation. These recent events have also raised concerns around the broader challenge posed by the emergence of a “post-fact society,” the notion that the weakening ability for civil society and the public to analyze truth and falsity is creating a threat to the health and sustainability of democratic institutions."