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Why Politicized Militaries Like China’s and Russia’s Are Vulnerable to Irregular Warfare
From the outside, authoritarian militaries project order, strength, and cohesion. Flags wave. Ranks shine. Parades thunder with disciplined force. But beneath the surface of tightly controlled structures like China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and Russia’s Armed Forces lies a brittle foundation — one that irregular warfare is uniquely suited to exploit. Despite overwhelming firepower and…
Irregular, Asymmetric, Hybrid, and Guerrilla Warfare: Sorting the Terms That Shape Modern Conflict
The modern battlefield is no longer confined to tanks, trenches, and clearly drawn front lines. Today’s conflicts merge propaganda with cyber attacks, insurgents with drones, and militias with memes. As this environment evolves, so too does the language we use to describe it. Irregular, asymmetric, hybrid, and guerrilla warfare are four of the most commonly…
Much Ado About Drones
Why Unmanned Aerial Systems Are Evolutionary, Not Revolutionary for U.S. Warfare Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government. The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Department…
Revolutionary Spirits Explores the Enduring Legacy of Che Guevara’s Guerrilla Doctrine
What remains of Che Guevara’s theory of revolution in the 21st century? In an era shaped by cyber conflict, proxy insurgencies, and state surveillance, a return to Guevara’s foundational ideas might seem anachronistic—or surprisingly prescient. A new title released this week by Distillery Press, Revolutionary Spirits: Guerrilla Warfare Theory of Che Guevara, invites readers to…
Urban Resistance: Tactics for Fighting in Occupied Cities
As 21st-century warfare continues to shift from open terrain to dense population centers, the ability of irregular forces to mount effective urban resistance has become one of the defining dynamics of modern conflict. Whether facing a conventional military occupation or a hybrid incursion, resistance fighters in cities operate with a unique set of tools, advantages,…
Underreported Struggles: Movements the World Forgot
In today’s relentless news cycle, many of the world’s longest-running independence and human rights struggles remain buried beneath flashier headlines. These underreported movements, spanning continents, cultures, and centuries of resistance, are driven by communities demanding freedom, dignity, and recognition. Often marginalized by geopolitical interests or economic priorities, their stories go untold. This article shines a…
Rwanda’s Support for M23 Rebels: Congo’s Counterinsurgency Response and Regional Implications
The conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has become one of the most devastating wars of the twenty-first century. What began as a proxy-backed insurgency in 2012 has escalated into a full-scale territorial occupation. The M23 rebel group — widely documented by the United Nations, the United States, and the European…
Introducing Mao Zedong’s Principles of People’s War
Mao Zedong’s Principles of People’s War is a comprehensive yet accessible guide to one of the most influential military doctrines of the 20th century. By distilling Mao’s revolutionary theories into their essential elements, this book offers readers a clear and concise understanding of guerrilla warfare, insurgency tactics, and the strategic principles that shaped conflicts across…