Nonstate Special Operations: Capabilities and Effects
Speakers: Dr. Craig Whiteside (US Naval War College) & Ian C. Rice (Naval Postgraduate School) Date: 22 July 2025 Speaker Session Summary Forthcoming! Speaker Session Recording Also forthcoming! Briefing Materials Biographies: Ian C. Rice is an adjunct Senior Lecturer in the Department of Defense Analysis, Naval Postgraduate School, adjunct faculty member with the College of […]
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West Africa Exploitable Conditions Model
Author: Dr. Samuel Henkin (NSI, Inc.) This publication was released as part of the SMA project “Anticipating the Future Operational Environment (AFOE) Phase III.“ For more information regarding this project, please click here. Publication Preview The West Africa Exploitable Conditions Model (WAECM) is an empirical, concept-based, system-of systems model tailored to the region of West Africa, […]
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Why, What, and How Free Societies Must Develop Effective Deterrence of Actors Intending Bad Ends Given Our GenAI Era
Speaker: Dr. David Bray (Stimson Center; LeadDoAdapt Ventures) Date: 13 March 2024 Speaker Session Summary The advent of widespread internet access and the emergence of new forms of generative AI (GenAI) have broken down the physical boundaries that once separated international and intranational communities. Dr. Bray delineates three overarching trends that delineate the interplay between […]
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Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace
Speaker: Dr. Christopher Blattman (Ramalee E. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies, Pearson Institute and Harris School of Public Policy, University of Chicago) Date: 18 October 2022 Speaker Session Summary SMA hosted a speaker session with Dr. Christopher Blattman (Harris School of Public Policy, University of Chicago) as part of its SMA “Anticipating the Future Operational Environment” (AFOE) Speaker […]
Continue ReadingA World Emerging from Pandemic: Implications for Intelligence and National Security (Part 1 of 2)
Speaker(s): Gradon, K. (Associate Professor, Department of Cybersecurity, Faculty of Electronics and Information Technology, Warsaw University of Technology (Poland)); Hashemi, L. (Researcher & Data Analyst, Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC), George Mason University); Meo, S. (PhD Candidate, Public Policy, Schar School of Policy of Government, George Mason University); Vlahos, M. (Senior Fellow, The […]
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Gangs, violence, and fear: Punitive Darwinism in El Salvador
Author(s): Rosen, J. (New Jersey City University); Cutrona, S. (O. P. Jindal Global University); Lindquist, K. (NSI, Inc.) Publication Preview This article evaluates the factors impacting support for tough on crime policies in El Salvador. Examining theoretical and empirical scholarly work, we look at how fear, together with social and political contexts drive public appetite […]
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Not just money. How organised crime, violence, and insecurity are shaping emigration in Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala
Author(s): Cutrona, S. (O. P. Jindal Global University); Rosen, J. (New Jersey City University); Lindquist, K. (NSI, Inc.) Publication Preview This article utilises logistic regression analysis to determine the factors that influence people from Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala deciding to flee to other countries. By broadening the traditional migration literature, we argue that organised […]
Continue ReadingChinese Illicit Activities Conducted Through Myanmar
Speaker(s): Tower, J. (Country Director, Burma Program, United States Institute of Peace [USIP]); Rotberg, R. (Founding Director, Program on Intrastate Conflict, Harvard Kennedy School; President Emeritus, World Peace Foundation); Cooper, S. (National Investigations Journalist, Global News); Gaines, J. (Communication and Policy Advisor, Public Affairs) Date: 7 December 2021 Speaker Session Recording Please email Ms. Nicole […]
Continue ReadingViolent Non-State Actors and the Kashmir Conflict
Authors: Gina Ligon (University of Nebraska Omaha); Michael Logan (University of Nebraska Omaha); Lauren Zimmerman (University of Nebraska Omaha) Abstract In this study, we examine five active Violent Non-State Actors (VNSAs) and their capacity for violence in a potential conflict in the Kashmir region. The four VNSA include Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and Al Qaeda. Drawing from both the Leadership […]
Continue ReadingJammu and Kashmir Reach Back: Media Analysis of Extremist Activities in Indian and Pakistani News
Authors: Dr. Skye Cooley, (Oklahoma State University); Dr. Robert Hinck, (Monmouth College); Dr. Robert Utterback, (Monmouth College) This report was part of a small, rapid effort by SMA. Please email mariah.c.yager.ctr@mail.mil for additional information. A second report from this effort can be found here. Executive Summary The following study explored how extremist organizations may take advantage of the […]
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