Through its publications, INSS provides rigorous, forward‑looking research and analysis on critical national security issues that support the joint warfighter and inform Department of War decision‑makers.
Oct. 1, 2014
The Grand Strategy of the United States
From the earliest days of the Republic, the outlines of an evolving American grand strategy have been evident in our foreign and domestic policy. Much of that history continues to inform our strategic conduct, and therefore American grand strategy rests today on traditional foundations. Despite a welter of theory and debate, grand strategy as a practical matter is remarkably consistent from decade to decade, with its means altering as technology advances and institutions evolve but its ends and ways showing marked continuity.
A Time to Tweet, as Well as a Time to Kill: ISIS’s Projection of Power in Iraq and Syria
On June 29, 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant or the Islamic State), a Sunni jihadist group with the capability of a paramilitary, established an Islamic caliphate. With 10,000 militants, the group took territory and achieved a goal that rival terrorist group al Qaeda has pursued for decades. Yet how did a group with relatively few fighters accomplish so much?
Sept. 1, 2014
Asia's Evolving Security Environment: Policy Options for Japan
The following report reflects my 20-year experience as a government official, in particular my 3-year experience as Director of International Security Policy Office of the Japanese Ministry of Defense. During this time, I participated in several multilateral dialogues. This report reflects my personal views and does not, in any way, represent the official policy positions of the government of Japan.
The Rising Terrorist Threat in Tanzania: Domestic Islamist Militancy and Regional Threats
Despite its reputation for peace and stability in a troubled region, the East African country of Tanzania is experiencing a rising number of militant Islamist attacks that have targeted local Christian leaders and foreign tourists, as well as popular bars and restaurants. These attacks, which began in 2012, rarely make the headlines of international media. However, they should serve as a wake-up call for U.S. policymakers to increase short-term engagement with Tanzanian officials and support for Tanzanian security agencies to preempt the emergence of a more significant threat to U.S. and international interests in East Africa.
July 1, 2014
The Indian Jihadist Movement: Evolution and Dynamics
The Indian jihadist movement remains motivated primarily by domestic grievances rather than India-Pakistan dynamics. However, it is far more lethal than it otherwise would have been without external support from the Pakistani state, Pakistani and Bangladeshi jihadist groups, and the ability to leverage Bangladesh, Nepal, and certain Persian Gulf countries for sanctuary and as staging grounds for attacks in India. External support for the Indian mujahideen (IM) from the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence and Pakistan-based militant groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) persists, but the question of command and control is more difficult to discern. The IM is best viewed as an LeT associate rather than an LeT affiliate.
June 13, 2014
Background on the "Possible Military Dimensions" of Iran's Nuclear Program
As senior officials from Iran and the P5+1 — China, France, Russia, Britain, and the United States,
June 1, 2014
The U.S. “Rebalance” and Europe: Convergent Strategies Open Doors to Improved Cooperation
European concerns regarding U.S. disengagement have dissipated but not entirely disappeared over the past 2 years. Still, U.S. readiness to lead politically and militarily in Europe— for example, in response to the ongoing crisis involving Russia and Ukraine—and adjoining regions remains under close scrutiny. Furthermore, while many Europeans agree in principle that renewed American focus on Asia-Pacific issues should encourage Europeans to assume a greater share of security-related responsibilities in their neighborhood, there is little evidence to date of a sea change in European attitudes toward defense spending and overseas military deployments.
The Future of Weapons of Mass Destruction: Their Nature and Role in 2030
The longstanding efforts of the international community writ large to exclude weapons of mass destruction (WMD) from international competition and conflict could be undermined in 2030.
The longstanding efforts of the international community writ large to exclude weapons of mass
May 20, 2014
Political Chasm Deepens Over Nuke Program
Iran’s political elite has become increasingly divided over the course of nuclear negotiations with the world’s six major powers, which began last fall.