Irregular Warfare Podcast

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.

Dr. Levi West discusses the history and strategy of Hamas, exploring the likelihood of its tactics spreading. The discussion also delves into the enduring friction between Israel and Iran and its broader impact on the geopolitical environment. The podcast highlights the importance of studying well-established terrorist organizations like Hamas to gain insights into irregular warfare.

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! What do the Cod Wars—a years-long series of confrontations between Iceland and the United Kingdom over North Atlantic fishing rights—and the operations of the marine conservation organization Sea Shepherd teach us about irregular warfare in the sea domain? How do the actions of states and both nonstate and substate actors intersect to shape the maritime operational environment in which irregular warfare at sea plays out? In this episode, Kevin Bilms, a career civil servant in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and Dr. Claude Berube, a retired Navy commander who teaches at the US Naval Academy, join hosts Ben Jebb and Lisa Munde to explore this fascinating and important subject. Intro music: "Unsilenced" by Ketsa Outro music: "Launch" by Ketsa CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

The podcast discusses how revisionist states are utilizing strategic narratives as a weapon to sow political chaos. It explores investments in information operations and the challenges faced by liberal democracies. The speakers also delve into case studies on subversion in the UAE and Russia, highlighting the strategic weaponization of narratives to undermine civil society. Additionally, it analyzes the vulnerabilities in democratic systems to combat subversive information.

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 producing! Why do states engage in hostage taking to advance their interests? What incentives are in place that make them choose hostage taking over other, more traditional instruments of power? How do conventional international relations concepts like deterrence apply to the unique challenge of hostage taking? This episode examines these questions and more, as our hosts are joined for a fascinating discussion by Ambassador Roger D. Carstens, the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs at the US Department of State, and Dr. Dani Gilbert, an assistant professor of political science at Northwestern University whose research explores the causes and consequences of hostage taking and hostage recovery. Intro music: "Unsilenced" by Ketsa Outro music: "Launch" by Ketsa CC BY-NC-ND 4.0