Irregular Warfare Podcast

Exploring the complexities of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration for ex-combatants, including success stories from Mexico and Niger. Discussing community-centric DDR strategies and the effectiveness of third-generation DDR interventions in reducing violence worldwide.

Delving into covert and clandestine operations, the podcast explores challenges in translating irregular warfare into policies, contrasts covert and overt actions, and discusses tensions between military and civilian leaders in managing covert programs. It also analyzes deterrence in modern warfare, the impact of technology on covert operations, and the struggle of the US to maintain global influence amid shifting power dynamics.

Exploring irregular warfare in space, guests discuss the importance of the space domain, frameworks for space competition, and the role of private industries. They delve into the complexities of space warfare, Guardian Forces, law warfare tactics by China and Russia, and the intersection of commercial space capabilities with irregular warfare. The episode concludes by examining the challenges of private industries in space operations and teases future topics on disarmament in post-conflict societies.

The podcast explores stay behind operations in resistance warfare and their utility in imposing costs on occupying powers. It discusses the factors influencing resistance strategy, building resilience in supply lines, and the relevance of civilian-based resistance. The hosts express gratitude and provide updates on future episodes.

The podcast discusses the theory of armed politics, including the shifting landscape of the international order, challenges of implementation, the impact of rapidly evolving technology, and the roles of the United States and United Kingdom in a world faced with disarray. The topics explored include the political context and the use of force, challenges and considerations in measuring effectiveness and counter-insurgency, the relationship between politics and warfare in different conflict scenarios, the power of allies and partners in competing with China, and America's role as a leader and the importance of strategic confidence.

Explore China's military strategy from 1949 to the present, including the influences of revolutionary roots, technological advancements, and global events. Learn about the challenges and capabilities of Chinese military personnel and the implications of China's militarization of the South China Sea and a possible invasion of Taiwan. Understand the role of motivation, values, and leadership in military operations and the impact of emerging technologies on warfare.

The podcast explores the current state of European defense policy and the trans-Atlantic relationship after two years of war. It discusses the impact of the conflict in Ukraine on the region, the importance of engaged American leadership, and the contradictions in US foreign policy. The chapter also highlights the keys to effective diplomacy and defense, emphasizing curiosity, humility, and preparedness. Lastly, it addresses the challenges ahead for Europe-US defense policy, including the fate of Ukraine and the growing alliance against China.

This podcast explores Israel's counterterrorism strategy, including its adaptation to changing terrorist tactics and the evolution of cognitive warfare. It discusses the challenges of combating extremism without alienating populations and emphasizes the importance of addressing ideology and capabilities. The podcast also highlights the competition of narratives in warfare, the impact of social media, and strategies for overcoming information overload and thinking like terrorists in counterterrorism.

Be sure to visit the Irregular Warfare Initiative website to see all of the new articles, podcast episodes, and other content the IWI team is publishing! For nearly two months, three powerful dynamics have converged in Gaza: lawfare, a humanitarian crisis, and urban combat. This episode examines those subjects and explores how they play out and influence one another in Gaza. Our hosts are joined by retired General Joseph Votel, the distinguished chair of West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center and former commander of US Central Command, and Dr. Raphael Cohen, the director of the Strategy and Doctrine Program of RAND Project AIR FORCE. They explore Hamas’s hybrid strategy in Gaza and Israel’s traditional counterterrorism approach in the Middle East, the importance of addressing lawfare and humanitarian considerations head on, and the challenges of operating in urban terrain and navigating geopolitical complexities that may require the United States and its allies to reconsider their global force structure. Intro music: "Unsilenced" by Ketsa Outro music: "Launch" by Ketsa CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

This podcast explores the role of intermediaries and the complexities of proxy wars. It discusses lessons learned from past conflicts and the involvement of various actors. Topics include the introduction of Stinger missiles in Afghanistan, plausible deniability in covert actions, meticulous planning during the bin Laden raid, lessons from history on great powers in proxy wars, and the role of decisiveness in these conflicts.