ISIL’s Intangible Influences and Resolve

September 2015 No Comments

ISIL Influence and Resolve. Author | Editor: Astorino-Coutois, A. & Canna, S. (NSI, Inc). During FY 2014, the SOCCENT Commander requested a short-term effort to understand the psychological, ideological, narrative, emotional, cultural, and inspirational (“intangible”) nature of ISIL. As shown below, the SMA1 team really addressed two related questions: “What makes ISIL attractive?” or how […]

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Conflict and Convergence in the Asia-Pacific Region

August 2015 No Comments

Drivers of Conflict and Convergence in the Asia-Pacific Region in the Next 5-25 Years. Author | Editor: Bragg, B. (NSI, Inc). USPACOM requested that the Strategic Multi-layer Assessment (SMA) team conduct an “Examination of future political, security, societal, and economic trends to identify where US interests are in cooperation or conflict with Chinese and other […]

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Israeli-Palestinian Security Conundrum Assessment

June 2015 No Comments

A Geopolitical and Cognitive Assessment of the Israeli-Palestinian Security Conundrum. Author | Editor: Wilkenfeld, J. (). At the request of the U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority (USSC) the J-39 Strategic-Multilayer Assessment (SMA) Branch undertook a Coordinator’s Mission Review in July 2014 and concluded it in February 2015. This SMA project resulted […]

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Megacities: Socio-cultural Analysis Dhaka, Bangladesh

April 2015 No Comments

SMA Megacities: Deep Dive Application of two socio-cultural frameworks to a flood event in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Author | Editor: Bragg, B,, Brickman, D., Canna, S. & Desjardins, A. (NSI, Inc). The Strategic-Multilayer Assessment (SMA) Megacity Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Intelligence (M- RSI) project seeks to aid United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) in understanding socio-cultural dynamics within […]

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Holistic Engagement Activities Ranking Tool (HEART)

March 2015 No Comments

Holistic Engagement Activities Ranking Tool (HEART) — A Multi-criteria decision tool to assist in planning and tracking steady state security assistance and engagement activities. Author | Editor: Astorino-Courtois, A. (NSI, Inc). More than ever, United States Government (USG) activities are planned and implemented in an atmosphere of shrinking budgets, high expectations and intense scrutiny at […]

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Stability Modeling (StaM) Analysis of Nigeria

March 2015 No Comments

Stability Model Users’ Guide: Incorporating StaM Analysis of Nigeria for Illustration. Author | Editor: Bragg, B., Brickman, D., Desjardins, A., Popp, G. & Polansky (Pagano), S. (NSI, Inc). Over the past decade the United States Government has recognized the importance of obtaining a rich contextual understanding of the operating environment, specifically focusing on the human […]

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Barriers to Civil Order in Palestinian Security Sector

February 2015 No Comments

The Palestinian Security Sector in the West Bank: Current Functions, Actvities, and Internal Barriers to the Provision of Civil Order. Author | Editor: Desjardins, A., Polansky (Pagano), S., Popp, R. & Rieger, T. (NSI, Inc). The origins of the Palestinian security sector can be traced to the 1993 Oslo I Accord, which established divisive security […]

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Israeli-Palestinian West Bank Cross Border Issues

January 2015 No Comments

The Dynamics of Israeli and Palestinian Security Requirements in the West Bank—Cross-border activities, sovereignty and governing legitimacy. Author | Editor: Astorino-Coutois, A., Bragg, B. & Key, K. (NSI, Inc). This report presents insights from an analysis of a conceptual map, or qualitative loop diagram that relates Israeli and PA sovereignty and legitimacy in the West […]

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Subject Matter Expert (SME) Assessment of ISIL

January 2015 No Comments

Multi-Method Assessment of ISIL in Support of SOCCENT: Subject Matter Expert Elicitation Summary Report, July – November 2014. Author | Editor: Canna, S. & Rieger, T. (NSI, Inc). From July through November 2014, NSI conducted a Subject Matter Expert (SME) Elicitation study to gather insights from interviews, panel discussions, seminars, and personal communications with over […]

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Multi-Method Assessment of ISIL in Iraq and Syria

December 2014 No Comments

Multi-Method Assessment of ISIL. Author | Editor: Cabayan, H. (Joint Staff) & Canna, S. (NSI, Inc). SOCCENT has requested a short-term effort to assess the appeal of ISIL, specifically to answer, “What makes ISIL so magnetic, inspirational, and deeply resonant with a specific, but large, portion of the Islamic population allowing it to draw recruitment […]

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