Measuring Soft Power in the International System
“Measuring Soft Power in the International System“ Speaker: Wu, I. (Georgetown University) Date: 6 June 2019 Speaker Session Preview SMA hosted speaker session presented by Dr. Irene Wu (Georgetown University) as a part of its SMA Minerva Speaker Series. During her presentation, Dr. Wu explained why soft power matters and how to measure soft power’s influence on broader considerations of geopolitics. She […]
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Food Price Volatility, Rebel Groups, and Civilian Victimization in Sub-Saharan Africa
“Food Price Volatility, Rebel Groups, and Civilian Victimization in Sub-Saharan Africa“ Speaker: Landis, S. (University of Nevada, Las Vegas) Date: 27 March 2019 Speaker Session Preview SMA hosted a speaker session presented by Dr. Steven Landis (University of Nevada, Las Vegas) as a part of its SMA General Speaker Series. First, Dr. Landis presented three questions that motivated his research: 1) A broad […]
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The Purdue Peace Project (PPP): A Locally Driven Approach to Political Violence Prevention
The Purdue Peace Project (PPP): A Locally Driven Approach to Political Violence Prevention Speaker: Connaughton, S. (Purdue University) Date: 10 July 2018 Speaker Session Preview SMA hosted a speaker session presented by Dr. Stacey Connaughton (Purdue University) as a part of its SMA Speaker Series. Dr. Connaughton stated that the Purdue Peace Project (PPP) provides […]
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Population’s Positive View of ISIL
To what extent do populations maintain positive views of ISIL or ISIL’s ideology, particularly in European, N. African, and Arabian Peninsula countries most associated with foreign fighter flows into Syria and Iraq? What are the general perceptions associated with ISIL endorsed themes, to include: 1) desire for re-establishing the Caliphate; 2) imposition of Shariah law; […]
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Strategic Implications of PRC’s Base in Djibouti
Question (R5.6): What are the strategic implications of the People’s Republic of China (PRC’s) new base in Djibouti? What will be the effect on the Iran-PRC relationship? Author | Editor: S. Canna (NSI, Inc,). Executive Summary Background There are a number of legitimate reasons that account for China’s decision to break with decades of tradition […]
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Multi-Step Approach Closing DoD’s Cognitive Capability Gap
A Cognitive Capabilities Agenda: A Multi-Step Approach for Closing DoD’s Cognitive Capability Gap. Author | Editor: A. Astorino-Courtois (NSI, Inc,). Executive Summary The Strategic Multi-Layer Assessment (SMA) team conducted a year-long project for USSOCOM on the growing prevalence of Competition Short of Armed Conflict (CSAC), or use of “Gray Zone” tactics by US adversaries. Key […]
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Influence in an Age of Rising Connectedness
Influence in an Age of Rising Connectedness. Author | Editor: W. Aviles & S. Canna (NSI, Inc.). Executive Summary A strong argument can be made that we are moving toward a pluralized, multipolar world, in which military and economic sources of power are widely distributed. Technologies (e.g., the Internet and rapid means of mass migration) […]
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US-DiGIA: USG Discoverable Information Terrain
US-DiGIA: Mapping the USG Discoverable Information Terrain. Author | Editor: Bragg, B., Polansky (Pagano), S., & Stevenson, J. (NSI, Inc.). Executive Summary The United States currently faces a complex and dynamic security environment. States are no longer the only critical actors in the international arena; rather, a diverse range of non-state entities also has the […]
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10th Annual SMA Conference – From Control to Influence
10th Annual SMA Conference – From Control to Influence? A View of—and Vision for—the Future. Author | Editor: George Popp, Sarah Canna, & Nicole (Peterson) Omundson (NSI, Inc.). Conference Background The Strategic Multi-Layer Assessment (SMA) office hosted the 10th Annual SMA Conference on 25-26 April 2017 at Joint Base Andrews. This year’s conference, formally titled […]
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How Developments in Brain Science Afford Military Utility
Speaker: Giordano, J. (Georgetown University Medical Center) & DiEuliis, D. (National Defense University). Date: April 2017. The use of sarin gas in Syria and the nerve agent VX to assassinate Kim Jong-nam, and ongoing international efforts in dual-use brain science (such as those described in the accompanying papers) prompt renewed interest in the current […]
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