Saudi Vision 2030 vs Iran Vision 1979
Speaker: Karim Sadjadpour (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) Date: 8 January 2025 Speaker Session Summary SMA hosted a speaker session with Karim Sadjadpour (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) as part of its SMA CENTCOM Speaker Series. Saudi Arabia and Iran have a deeply rooted rivalry stemming from their contrasting visions for the future of their […]
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Russian Adaptation to Sanctions: The Military Industrial Complex and Regional Dynamics
Speaker: Elina Ribakova (Peterson Institute for International Economics; Director of the International Program at Kyiv School of Economics.) Date: 10 December 2024 Speaker Session Summary The Russian economy has proven stubbornly resilient to Western sanctions. Ms. Ribakova discussed this resilience through two lenses: the military industrial complex and the economic convergence of Russia’s regions. While […]
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When Rambo Meets the Red Cross: Civil-Military Engagement in Fragile States
Speaker: Dr. Stanislava P. Mladenova (Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies, Brown University; Irregular Warfare Initiative, US Military Academy at West Point) Date: 6 December 2024 Speaker Session Summary Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and their military counterparts often have a confrontational relationship, with both sides suggesting that the other should “stay in their respective lanes.” […]
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Escalation Management in the Early Stages of International Crisis
Authors: Dr. Kyle Beardsley (Duke University), Dr. Jonathan Wilkenfeld (START University of Maryland), & Phuong Pham (Duke University) This publication was released as part of the SMA project “21st Century Strategic Deterrence Frameworks.” (SDF) For more information regarding this project, please click here. Publication Preview: This report evaluates how crisis actors respond to adversary actions […]
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U.S. Military Theories of Victory for a War with the People’s Republic of China
Speakers: Jacob Heim (RAND) & Nathan Beauchamp-Mustafaga (RAND) Date: 13 November 2024 Speaker Session Summary The United States has not had to seriously consider conflict escalation with a near-peer adversary that could result in a conflict that ends in large-scale destruction since the Cold War. However, it must now consider the potential for escalating toward that exact kind […]
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American Statecraft and the Challenge of Emerging Powers
Speakers: Dr. Christopher S. Chivvis (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) & BeatrixGeaghan-Breiner (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) Date: 23 October 2024 Speaker Session Summary The United States has primarily focused on China’s geopolitical rise over the past two decades and the implications of a near-peer competitor to US interests. However, several other emerging state powers […]
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The Origins of the War in Ukraine
Speaker: Michael Kimmage (Catholic University of America) Speaker Session Summary Russia seeks to dominate both Ukraine’s territory and its political future. Dr. Kimmage analyzed Russia’s motivations for initiating the war, as well as the failures of the United States, Europe, and Ukraine in deterring the invasion. He argued that Russia’s goals extend beyond Ukraine’s sovereign […]
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Emerging Military Technologies: Putting Policy Before Profit
Speakers: Dr. Michael Brenes, William Hartung (Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft) Date: 25 September 2024 Speaker Session Summary There is growing concern among some scholars that the pursuit of economic incentives may push US military technology advancements ahead of the establishment of proper policies and security measures, prioritizing profits over policy. Mr. Hartung added that […]
Continue ReadingUkrainian Resistance to Russian Disinformation: Lessons for Future Conflict
Speaker: Todd Helmus and Khrystyna Holynska (RAND) Date: 19 September 2024 Speaker Session Summary A key element of Ukrainian resistance to the Russian invasion has been its ability to counter Russian disinformation. In their recent report for RAND, Dr. Helmus and Dr. Holynska discuss Ukraine’s approach to combating disinformation and the lessons that the United […]
Continue ReadingFuture Scenarios for Sino-Russian Military Cooperation Possibilities, Limitations, and Consequences
Speakers: Mark Cozad, Cooper Cortez III, and David Woodworth (RAND) Date: 12 September 2024 Speaker Session Summary The level of integration and cooperation between China and Russia in the event of a significant military conflict is often speculated upon, particularly given the rising political tensions in the Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea. A […]
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