Publications

This report sheds light on America’s growing ‘warrior caste’ and highlights the risks and benefits of relegating the burden of organized violence to this subset of the US population. Following a brief history of the country’s All-Volunteer Force and a snapshot of today’s military, the author...chevron_right

Will virtual currencies (VC) increasingly replace traditional methods of funding terrorism, including the halawa system? According to Zachary Goldman et al, extremists in the Gaza Strip have already used virtual currencies to fund their operations and members of the Islamic State...chevron_right

As NATO members and allies upgrade their naval capabilities in order to blunt an increasingly aggressive Russia, this report shares the key insights and recommendations gleaned from a recent CNAS tabletop exercise on the GIUK Gap. After dissecting the...chevron_right

This lengthy essay argues that as Europe disappears, Eurasia coheres. In other words, “The supercontinent is becoming one fluid, comprehensible unit of trade and conflict, as the Westphalian system of states weakens and older, imperial legacies become paramount. Every crisis...chevron_right

Should the Trump administration add a multifaceted geoeconomic component to its nascent Asia-Pacific strategy? After briefly assessing US policy priorities in the region and the challenges they entail, this report explores two policy paths that could facilitate geoeconomic engagement – 1) increased bilateral trade and investment, and 2) enhanced security assistance programs.chevron_right

The main research questions that this study examines are as follows. 1) What is the representation of women in the national security sector at the beginning of their careers? 2) What is the representation of women in national security leadership positions? 3) If there is...chevron_right

Since the US and Taiwan are critical geostrategic preoccupations of China, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Beijing has also treated them as prime cyber-attack and espionage targets. So how should Washington and Taipei respond? The authors of this report believe...chevron_right

Did Great Britain or the United States set out to become global hegemonic powers, and is China currently trying to overtake a declining America as the world´s most dominant nation? Second, what can the historical arcs of the British and American empires tell us about China’s future? After analyzing...chevron_right

Post-Cold War shifts in global economic and military power have left many of America's traditional allies with less political capital and fewer defense options. This monograph 1) explores the factors that have led to this decline; 2) discusses the strategic...chevron_right

This survey of 259 experts and members of the public answers the following questions. As more countries acquire drones, will their widespread availability lead to greater military adventurism and conflict? In other words, will countries be more willing to put...chevron_right

This paper highlights the strategic problems facing the US military’s all-volunteer force (AVF) and stresses the need for long-term personnel reforms. The AVF’s difficulties center on a variety of issues, including competitive salary structures, quality of life costs and recruiting, and should be adjusted for up to 40-50 years in the future.chevron_right

This working paper examines the threat posed to Japan by China’s increasing influence over sea lines of communication (SLOCs), particularly between the Persian Gulf and East Asia. Given that a shift from American to Chinese control of these SLOCs would result in...chevron_right

In this report, Burgess Laird takes stock of Chinese military analysts' recent thinking on escalation control in crisis or conflict situations. To do the topic justice, our author approaches it from various angles, including how...chevron_right

This report confirms that the US military’s force structure and modernization plans have historically been the result of programming choices made by Department of Defense (DoD) and service leaders. In other words, the size and shape of America’s military are not...chevron_right

This report speculates on the probable state of Chinese maritime power in the year 2030. Given Beijing’s current plans and policies, which mandate hegemonic control of the South and East China Seas, the text's author suggests that the US and Japan may need to make ‘drastic’ adjustments to...chevron_right