Asymmetric WarfareTag Archive

Crafting Strategy for Irregular Warfare: A Framework for Analysis and Action

The 2018 U.S. National Defense Strategy made headlines by officially downgrading terrorism as a national security priority in favor of “inter-state strategic competition.” Many interpreted the statement as signifying a return to “conventional combat,” yet a closer reading suggests that even state-based competition is likely to be “irregular.” Much like insurgent adversaries, states blend separate… Continue Reading Crafting Strategy for Irregular Warfare: A Framework for Analysis and Action

A Whole-of-Government Approach to Gray Zone Warfare

Gray zone warfare, also known as irregular warfare, political warfare, hybrid warfare, asymmetric warfare, and unconventional warfare, is a significant concern today, threatening U.S. national security as well as the security of U.S. allies and partners. Despite its population’s immense capacity for creativity and innovation, the United States is losing this war. This monograph builds… Continue Reading A Whole-of-Government Approach to Gray Zone Warfare

Silent Partners: Organized Crime, Irregular Groups, and Nation-States

The U.S. Army increasingly faces adversaries that are difficult to define. The threat landscape is further complicated by the silent partnership between criminal organizations, irregular groups, and nation-states. This collaboration, whatever its exact nature, is problematic, because it confounds understanding of the adversary, making existing countermeasures less effective, and thus directly challenging U.S. national security… Continue Reading Silent Partners: Organized Crime, Irregular Groups, and Nation-States