Latest posts
China’s Fishing Flotillas as Paramilitary Economic Warfare
In the darkness of the eastern Pacific, a floating city of light drifts beyond Ecuador’s territorial waters. Hundreds of Chinese fishing vessels illuminate the horizon, their floodlights cutting through the night while satellite transponders flicker off one by one. To the untrained eye, this looks like ordinary commerce. To regional navies and maritime analysts, it
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
Indicators of Invasion Preparations
The concept of indicators and warnings (I&W) is central to military strategy and intelligence analysis. This framework focuses on identifying observable actions—such as logistical preparations, infrastructure upgrades, or troop mobilizations—that may point to an impending military operation. By carefully tracking these signals, analysts aim to provide early warnings and reduce the risk of strategic surprise.
Irregular Warfare During Jimmy Carter’s Presidency
The presidency of Jimmy Carter (1977–1981) was marked by pivotal moments in global geopolitics, many of which involved irregular warfare, special operations, and unconventional conflict. Reflecting on these events offers a lens into the complexities Carter faced during a tumultuous period of the Cold War. As the world mourns his recent passing, this retrospective examines
Reconnaissance
The Art of Reconnaissance in Guerrilla Warfare Reconnaissance is the heartbeat of guerrilla warfare. A resistance force can endure shortages of weapons, ammunition, or equipment—but never a shortage of intelligence. Knowing when to strike, when to disappear, and how to read the enemy’s movements separates survival from annihilation. In irregular warfare, reconnaissance is not a
Social Network Analysis
Mapping Resistance Networks: The Power of Social Network Analysis Resistance movements, whether peaceful or armed, do not appear by chance. They grow, survive, or collapse based on the strength of the networks that connect them. Trust, communication, and influence are the foundations of these systems. Social Network Analysis (SNA) provides the framework to understand how
