Strategic Studies

Clausewitz è celeberrimo per la sua opera Vom Kriege (Della Guerra), unanimemente considerato uno dei classici imprescindibili dell'arte militare, ma pochi sanno che il Vom Kriege raccoglie solo i primi tre volumi dei lavori incompiuti del generale prussiano (Hinterlassene Werke über Krieg und Kriegführung), gli altri, secondo il principio, caro all'autore, che gli historische Beispiele machen Alles klar (gli esempi storici rendono tutto chiaro), essendone il complemento ed il sussidio. Infatti, nei volumi successivi, il riferimento corre continuamente alle enunciazioni dei primi tre volumi, per dimostrarne la validità e discutere i rischi della mancata applicazione dei princìpi, talvolta per emendarli, migliorarli ed adattarli alle situazioni specifiche, senza in ogni caso mai discostarsene. Questa opera, il primo dei restanti volumi, il quarto in generale, dunque non è solo il resoconto talvolta impietoso degli accadimenti militari e politici, ma una dettagliata ed acuta analisi dei processi decisionali e delle opzioni tattiche, degli errori e delle scelte corrette di entrambi i contendenti della prima Campagna d'Italia (1796-97). È anche un riconoscimento, spesso intriso di spunti polemici e malcelato odio, delle capacità del giovane generale Bonaparte, che al suo primo comando indipendente, trasformò un esercito di straccioni, indisciplinati e demotivati, privi di vestiario, vettovaglie e armamento, in un formidabile strumento di guerra, che non solo inflisse continue e ripetute sconfitte a due eserciti alleati, ma impose trattati di pace - qui riprodotti - con pesanti condizioni in termini economici, politici e territoriali a tutti gli altri stati italiani, cancellandone persino uno dalla mappa geografica. Nomi come Montenotte, Millesimo, Dego, Lodi, Lonato, Castiglione, Rovereto, Bassano, La Favorita, San Giorgio, Arcole, Rivoli, Mantova, non furono altro che le principali tappe di una delle campagne più decisive della storia e sancirono il mito di Napoleone come generale abilissimo, fortunato ed invincibile e l'inizio della sua parabola stupefacente, mossa da un'ambizione senza più limiti che portò guerra e distruzione, ma anche il fuoco inestinguibile dei valori rivoluzionari, in tutta l'Europa nel corso dei successivi vent'anni. In appendice, ad opera del curatore, una esaustiva cronologia, dieci ordini di battaglia, un dizionario dei principali protagonisti della campagna, una raccolta di trattati e armistizi, una corposa bibliografia.

“Power is war, the continuation of war by other means”: Foucault’s reversal of Clausewitz’s formula has become a staple of critical theory — but it remains highly problematic on a conceptual level. Elaborated during Foucault’s 1976 lectures (“Society Must Be Defended”), this work-hypothesis theorises “basic warfare” [la guerre fondamentale] as the teleological horizon of socio-political relations. Following Boulainvilliers, Foucault champions this polemological approach, conceived as a purely descriptive discourse on “real” politics and war, against the philosophico-juridical conceptuality attached to liberal society (Hobbes’s Leviathan being here the prime example).
However, in doing so, Foucault did not interrogate the conceptual validity of notions such as power and war, therefore interlinking them without questioning their ontological status. This problematic conflation was partly rectified in 1982, as Foucault proposed a more dynamic definition of power relations: “actions over potential actions”.
I argue, somewhat polemically, that Foucault’s hermeneutics of power still involves a teleological violence, dependent on a polemological representation of human relations as essentially instrumental: this resembles what Derrida names, in “Heidegger’s Ear”, an “anthropolemology”. However, I show that all conceptualisation of power implies its self-deconstruction. This self-deconstructive (or autoimmune) structure supposes an archi-originary unpower prior to power: power presupposes an excess within power, an excessive force, another violence making it both possible and impossible. There is something within power located “beyond the power principle” (Derrida). This (self-)excess signifies a limitless resistantiality co-extensive with power-relationality. It also allows the reversal of pólemos into its opposite, as unpower opens politics and warfare to the messianic call of a pre-political, pre-ontological disruption: the archi-originary force of différance. This force, unconditional, challenges Foucault’s conceptualisations of power, suggesting an originary performativity located before or beyond hermeneutics of power-knowledge, disrupting theoreticity as well as empiricity by pointing to their ontological complicity.
The bulk of this essay is dedicated to sketching the theoretical implications of this deconstructive reading of Foucault with respect to the methodology and conceptuality of political science and social theory.

"The so-called cyber-threat commands the attention of multinational corporations, governments and the strategic community, keen as they are to harness the power of digital communications yet anxious to protect their interests. Attacks such as those which disrupted on-line banking in Estonia and defaced government websites in Georgia, as well as the infamous Stuxnet worm that temporarily shut down Iran’s nuclear programme, are vivid examples of what may be possible within this new strategic domain. But are our networked societies really vulnerable, as some have suggested, to a knock-out blow, perpetrated by state-sponsored hackers or terrorists? And what can be done to defend the state from this and from the encroachment of external networks that transcend its borders and breach its laws?

This Adelphi tackles the range of issues raised by our dependence on digital networks. It considers how instantaneous, global communications are challenging national and social orders and what shape those challenges may take as the net is cast ever wider. Comparing the transformations of the Information Age with those of previous generations, when new technologies and emerging transnational threats spread panic in political and strategic circles, the authors examine the real implications for states and statehood."

Classical geopolitical analysis comes to remind us that it is still present as a tool for decoding the interstate antagonisms as well as the global and the regional re-distributions of power. To be accurate , this never stopped happening; the post-Cold War 'neo-liberal vertigo' simply permitted many well-known fi gures of the greater academia to forget, to ignore and to doubt. The evolutions, during almost the last decade in the Greater Middle East, have made geopolitical analysis timelier than ever. The subsystem of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey is the operator of the geopolitical factor of the Islamist movement and, in these terms, it represents a main set of forces behind the pressures for redistribution of power and roles in the region. The current paper refers to the systemic geopolitical analysis to focus on Turkey's historical role in the Greater Middle East, its current ambitions and the mistakes having led its strategy to a stalemate. In this context, it is questioned which mistakes Turkey made, whether the overall neo-ottoman geostrategic policy recommendations are feasible and which elements of power are available for Turkey. Undoubtedly, power is the key towards an effective maximization of gains and a substantial increase of infl uence. For instance, Turkey's emphasis on the energy reserves of its greater region is still reasonable, while their nature itself underlines the worth of geopolitical analysis since it is identifi ed with the ontology of space and the intervening roles of group interests.

The texts "About the rhythm in military art", "About the gaze in military art", and "About the attitude of the spirit in military art" by the notorious samurai Miyamoto Musashi, are part of his book, known in English as the "Book of the five rings". This ancient military treatise consists of a work of enormous value, divided into five chapters, and is considered the most accurate record of what was considered by Musashi to be his most valuable legacy, his meticulous and rational way of thinking about military art, and in particular , individual duels.

This important work, although it has an evident focus on kenjutsu, that is, on Japanese swordsmanship, more specifically, the Niten ichi-ryū style, founded by Musashi himself, does not fail to present more reflections on the art of war in a more general way.

Bu kitap; duygusal ve davranışsal bozukluklara sahip öğrenciler hakkında bilgi sahibi olmak isteyen sınıf öğretmenleri, özel eğitim öğretmenleri ve alanda çalışan uzmanlar için hazırlanmış giriş niteliğinde bir uygulama kitabıdır. Her bir bozukluğun nedeni, tanımlanması, güncel araştırmalar ışığında verilmeye çalışılmış ve okul ortamındaki pratik uygulamalarla da anlatım zenginleştirilmiştir. Bunlara ek olarak belirli bir bozukluğun tüm yönlerine ilişkin temel yaklaşımla birlikte bilimsel olarak geliştirilmiş müdahele yöntemleri de verilmeye çalışılmıştır.

Bu kitabın alanda yeni çalışmaya başlayan öğretmenler kadar güncel verilerle desteklenen tanı koyma ve müdahele stratejilrine önem vermesi nedeniyle alanda uzun süredir çalışmakta olan öğretmenlere ve uzmanlara da yararlı olacağını düşünmekteyiz.

'Strategy' confuses many. At its core however, it's just a way to solve certain kinds of problems. Strategy’s big idea – and its big attraction - is that it offers the possibility of shaping events rather than being shaped by them. This article discusses small ‘s’ strategy rather than solely examining a specific big ‘S’ historical example. Such an approach allows consideration of aspects of strategy common to all that can be used later in solving strategy problems of your own whether devising new ones or critiquing old ones – and we’ll do just that with Operation Iceberg

O  presente  artigo  analisa  os impactos  das  relacoes  Brasil-Israel  no processo de aquisicao de capacidades  para a  producao  nacional  de  Aeronaves Remotamente Tripuladas (ARPs)  no contexto da Base Industrial de Defesa (BID) brasileira. Desde o lancamento da Estrategia Nacional de Defesa em 2008 a BID se encontra em um processo de  revitalizacao  orientado para o acesso e  desenvolvimento  de  tecnologias  de  ponta.  A cooperacao internacional se torna um instrumento necessario para o conhecimento e compreensao  da  tecnologia  (know why)  e  de  como  desenvolve-la  e  adapta-la  para  suas  especificidades  e necessidades  locais  (know-how) das  Forcas Armadas  brasileiras. Neste sentido, o artigo indaga como a cooperacao Brasil-Israel no setor de ARPs insere a BID noutro patamar da escala de producao militar.  A estrategia de investigacao adotada no artigo foca nas relacoes no  âmbito  de  cooperacao  interempresarial, como a criacao de joint-ventures e o seus spillove...

The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is probably the most urgent threat to international security in the 21 st century. The author analyzes the current status of the international nonproliferation regime in a new, globalized system of international relations; looks at case studies (Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, India, and non-state actors); and, based on his more than 15 years of experience in the field, provides policy recommendations on how to reduce the risk of proliferation in the near and midterm future.

У зв’язку з розвитком концепцій стратегічного менеджменту, який розпочався у 50 рр. ХХ сторіччя і продовжується досі, з'являються нові відкриття у сфері конкурентних стратегій. Кожний дослідник із стратегічного менеджменту абсолютизує свій власний підхід, і якщо проаналізувати публікації за останні два десятиріччя, то часто вони подібні між собою у використанні слів «новий підхід» чи «нова парадигма». Але не варто забувати, що всі нові дослідження були результатом натхнення працями попередників, які потрібно проаналізувати в історичній послідовності для того, щоб виявити закономірності у твердженнях, трактуваннях та застосуваннях стратегій сучасної організації. Автором проаналізовано розвиток підходів до трактування стратегії та запропоновано класифікацію підходів щодо визначення змісту стратегії. У роботі представлено трактування стратегії коопетиції як нового парадоксального погляду на стратегічне управління.
Развитие концепций стратегического менеджмента, которое началось в 50 гг. ХХ столетия и продолжается до сих пор, преподносит новые открытия в области конкурентных стратегий. Каждый исследователь в области стратегического управления абсолютизирует свой подход, и если проанализировать публикации за последние два десятилетия, то часто они схожи между собой в использовании слов «новый подход» или «новая парадигма». Но не стоит забывать, что все эти новые исследования были результатом вдохновения работами предшественников, которые нужно проанализировать в исторической последовательности для того, чтобы выявить закономерности в утверждениях, трактовке и использовании стратегий современной организации. Автором проанализированы подходы к трактовке стратегии и предложена классификация подходов по определению содержания стратегии. В работе представлена трактовка стратегии коопетиции как нового парадоксального взгляда на стратегическое управление.
The strategic management concepts development had started in 50-ties of XX century and still brings new discoveries in the field of competitive strategies. Every strategy specialist absolutizes his or her own approach in the field of strategic management. Many recent publications have a lot in common in using “new approach” or “new paradigm” expressions. But we should remember that new approaches are built as a result of inspiration by the previous researchers. These approaches must be analysed in a historical order to reveal patterns in the statements, interpretation and using of strategy at modern organization. Author analysed the approaches to interpretation of strategy, the classification of the approaches to identify strategy was offered. In the paper the coopetition strategy as new paradoxical view on the strategic management was presented.

Fellow 2015-16 researching and writing a manuscript on contemporary Baltic defense from a strategic and historic perspective at the Changing Character of War programme at the University of Oxford. In 2014 he graduated with his doctorate from the University of Reading, where he studied strategy with Colin S. Gray. His first book, The Evolution of Modern Strategic Thought, is being published by Oxford University Press in 2016.

The decade-long military intervention in Afghanistan had a strong effect on the transformation of western armed forces. This article examines one of the pathways of such military change, namely selective emulation. Taken aback by the evolution of the fightings in Afghanistan, France, Germany and the UK looked for doctrinal or technical answers to the challenges they were facing on the ground within NATO (the structure and/or the member states). However, the importation of such solutions depends on each national political-military context, in particular the proximity with the United States, the existence of a strong local defense industry or a specific strategic culture. After the “Europeanisation without the EU” of the French defence policy in the 90’s identified by Bastien Irondelle, we now observe a “NATO-isation with NATO” of the three major European military powers’ defence policies, because of the Afghan campaign.

The Newport Papers" series is a vehicle for distribution of substantial work by, especially, members of the Naval War College's teaching and research faculty and students. Papers are drawn generally from manuscripts not scheduled for publication either as articles in the Nava l War Co ll ege Review or as boo ks from the Naval War College Press but that nonetheless merit extensive distribution. Candidates are considered by an editorial board under the auspices of the Dean of Naval Warfare Studies.

China is pressing ahead with ambitious plans to create a massive infrastructure network connecting it with many countries across the globe. Some of the 'belt and road' infrastructure will however, run through regions convulsed by chronic civil unrest, substantial criminality and incipient insurgencies and need protection by China's private security companies. Simultaneously the Chinese state is undertaking a major 'anti-secession and counter-terrorism' campaign in Xinjiang using a variety of high-technology means: artificial intelligence, big data, wireless connectivity, autonomous systems and robotics. The demand and supply sides seem to be in sync, suggesting Chinese private security companies will soon use a suite of advanced information technology systems with a proven employment doctrine across much of Central Asia, South Asia and Africa. Such a future may be plausible but it is by no means certain as various factors may yet thwart China's private security companies.

Znanstvenici i menadžeri proces strateškog menadžmenta pro ma tra ju, kao
osnovni predmet izučavanja strateškog menadžmenta, na disperzan i pomalo
kontradiktoran način. Različito pristupaju osmišljavanju procesa strateškoga
menadžmenta, stvarajući mnogobrojne kombinacije, sugestije i nudeći recepte
uspjeha strategija u praksi. Osim toga, postoje i različiti pogledi na razvitak
discipline strateškog menadžmenta. Škole strateškog menadžmenta, osobito
klasična škola, pokušaji su sinteze tih ideja i razmišljanja koje se vezuju uz sam
začetak razvijanja discipline strateškoga menadžmenta. U članku se predstavljaju
karakteristike i teorijske ideje predstavnika klasične škole strateškog
menadžmenta, koji su osmislili i oblikovali disciplinu strateškog menadžmenta.
Utjecaj pojedinih postulata klasične škole strateškog menadžmenta testira se
na srednjim i velikim poduzećima Primorsko-goranske županije.

The process of strategic management, as the core research agenda in strategic
management, is looked upon in a contradictory and disperse manner by both scientists and managers. Their approach to this process varies in the choice of crafting numerous combinations, suggestions and offering recipes for successful strategy implementation. Beside that, there are different approaches towards the development of strategic management discipline. Schools of strategic management, especially classical school of strategic management, attempt to synthesize those ideas and thoughts that are common to the initial stage of the strategic management discipline. Theoretical characteristics of classical school
of strategic management are presented by representatives who participated in shaping the strategic management as a new discipline. The infl uence of these characteristics is tested on middle and large firms in the Primorsko-goranska County.

The appearance on Russian TV stations Channel One and NTV of the plans for a nuclear torpedo/unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) has prompted much interest among observers.  Among other aspects, its probably salted warhead attracted much attention, the addition of Cobalt-59 ensuring long-lasting radiation designed to render a wide area uninhabitable for years. The July 1948 Baker test in Bikini Atoll illustrated the effects of a shallow underwater explosion. Missile defence experts have noted how, in line with Russian commentary, the system seems to be designed to bypass Western progress in this field. There’s another significant aspect of the possible construction of this weapon: its impact on the international law of the sea.

From this perspective, there are at least three issues that need to be discussed: whether a submarine carrying nuclear torpedoes may carry out innocent passage through another country’s territorial waters, the 1971 treaty banning nuclear weapons on the seabed, and whether a coastal state may restrict the presence of submarines carrying nuclear torpedoes in its EEZ. This paper examines the three.

Turkey’s different recent moves in the Eastern Mediterranean, it is argued, aim to disrupt the game plans of other countries. Backed by military instruments, Turkey has confronted regional adversaries, including some of its NATO allies. It has undertaken naval exercises or deployed its navy to support its seismic surveys and has thwarted other players’ drilling efforts, hence blocking the monetization of the area’s natural resources, not to mention its military involvement in the Libya conflict. There is a tendency to view such actions as erratic moves aimed at disrupting the game plans of others which can hardly be explained by strategic considerations. Disruption is definitely part of Turkey’s regional conduct, but it would be misleading to downplay it as aimless. Such moves can be best conceptualized as part of coercive diplomacy, which is based on the threat of punishment or threat of denial to achieve desired objectives.

Le schéma communicatif de perception symbolique désigne le processus de la perception des réalités matérielles et spirituelles en parlant de symbolique qui apparait dans notre tête quand on entend le mot. Le schéma se construit de cinq éléments: • le message (ou l'objet qui est dessiné, par exemple le stylo comme la réalité matérielle donnée) • le signe (ou le titre / le nom d'objet, ici: le mot écrit, le stylo) • le symbole (ou le son du mot prononcé, ici: le stylo) • la représentation (ou l'image du mot et de l'objet, qui apparait dans la tête quand on entend ou lit le mot qui désigne un objet) • la mentalité (ou le bruit (interculturel, historique, etc.), qui apparait entre le symbole et la représentation et qui est influencé par la mentalité des interlocuteurs) Le schéma donné peut être utilisé pour montrer les différences interpersonnelles / interculturelles / intergénérationnelles de la perception des réalités matérielles et spirituelles. Cette théorie a été inspirée par les théories de la natures de désignation des objets de période de l'Antiquité et du Moyen Âge, surtout par les théories de Saint-Augustin. Cela peut être utiliser dans le cadre de la mondialisation pour montrer les spécifisités de communication interculturelle.

Outer space has become a contested, congested and competitive domain with an ever growing importance to life on Earth. Recently, an increasing number of new players have entered the space arena. Slovakia has also stepped up its space related activities. In March 2013, it declared its interest to become a member of European Space Agency (ESA) by 2020. Increased involvement in space sector will bring new opportunities and responsibilities for Slovakia. Is Slovakia ready to address these challenges?

The rising pressures of urbanization in fragile and conflict-affected countries have increased concerns about the vulnerability of cities to armed threats. Changes in the character of armed conflict during the twenty-first century and its effects on cities in the developing world have exposed gaps in the planning and practice of peace and security, which retain a “nation-State bias” that circumvents local perspectives and agencies. Whereas full-scale use of military power in cities remains as destructive today as it has ever been, international organizations such as the United Nations have called for changed approaches to State tactics in urban areas. Mechanisms designed to prevent conflict or to help countries transition back to peace are particularly key if massive human and economic damages are to be avoided in a world of increasingly dense cities. Another key concern is the vulnerability of developing-world cities to low-intensity, if protracted, forms of violence by non-State a...

The article aims to develop an analytical model for foreign policy experts in order to gain a better understanding of Russian-U.S. relations. The content of Russian-U.S. relations is categorized into practical and ideational agendas. This article argues that the dynamics of interaction between these two coexisting agendas is crucial for understanding the dynamics of Russian-U.S. relations. Descriptive analysis is used to study, categorize, and explain such dynamics. The paper also includes an analysis of the correlation between the practical and ideational agendas. The proposed approach helps to better understand how the unique conceptual landscape of Russian-U.S. relations influences their practical domain. This approach can be used as a separate explanatory model or in combination with explanatory models of major theories.

PDA Briefing Memo #30, 26 September 2003. Examines how air power helped bring about the rapid collapse of the Iraqi Republican Guard and regular army in the 2003 war. The memo focuses specifically on the role of battlefield air interdiction. (The author distinguishes air interdiction and close air support missions by arguing that the latter help decide the immediate battle, while air interdiction shapes the battlefield and helps determine upcoming battles.) An outstanding feature of the analysis is a comparison of the air campaigns of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Desert Storm (1990-1991). The memo also estimates combatant casualties due to air interdiction in the 2003 war.

Russian President Vladmir Putin’s recent visit to India (October 15-16, 2016) led to India signing some major defence deals which included the supply of five battalions of Russian S-400 long range surface to air missiles (LR-SAM) at a cost of $5.5 billion (Rupees 39,000 crores) . The Russian President was in India to attend the BRICS Summit at Goa and India-Russia agreements were finalised in bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. S-400 – also known as ‘Triumf’ in Russia and SA-21 ‘Growler’ by NATO – is amongst the most lethal long range surface to air missile systems in the world. S-400 has a tracking range of 600 km and can engage targets up to a range of 400 km at a scorching speed of 13.8 Mach (17000km/h) . Deliveries of the S-400 to India are not likely to start before 2019-2020 as Russian manufacturing plants are busy meeting their own requirements and the demand from China . At a time when Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft strength is down to 33 squadrons  due to retiring of old aircraft and delays in new inductions, the acquisition of S-400 missiles will be a major shot in the arm for the IAF. Its long range and advanced capabilities will be a nightmare for both the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Chinese Air Force (also known as People’s Liberation Army Air Force – PLAAF).

Wrocław to wyjątkowe i dynamicznie miasto, które stanowi doskonałe miejsce do inwestowania oraz rozwoju biznesu. Walory Aglomeracji Wrocławskiej od dawna doceniają nie tylko zagraniczni inwestorzy, ale stały się one również fundamentem rozwoju i globalnej ekspansji wielu znanych polskich firm. Współczesna dynamika zmian rodzi jednak nowe potrzeby, co sprawia, że informacja staje się coraz cenniejszym zasobem biznesowym. Zarówno zagraniczne koncerny, jak i krajowe firmy poszukują użytecznych informacji, niezbędnych do podejmowania trafnych decyzji inwestycyjnych. Nowe warunki gospodarcze wymagają podejmowania niestandardowych działań, co w konsekwencji stało się podstawą do rozpoczęcia projektu Invest in Wrocław (www.invest-in-wroclaw.pl). Wielu czynników ryzyka można bowiem uniknąć, jeśli lepiej zrozumie się sektorowe uwarunkowania i perspektywy rozwoju własnej branży i branż pokrewnych. Dlatego zostały opracowane analizy priorytetowych, silnie rozwijających się sektorów Aglomeracji Wrocławskiej takich jak:
Motoryzacja, Elektronika, Chemia i farmaceutyka, Inżynieria mechaniczna, IT, BPO, Sektor spożywczy.
Mamy nadzieję, że bezpłatne analizy sektorowe ułatwią podejmowanie decyzji nie tylko potencjalnym inwestorom, ale także tym firmom, które są już obecne na terenie Aglomeracji Wrocławskiej. Integracja informacji z wielu różnych źródeł w założeniu służyć ma także nawiązywaniu współpracy przez dostawców, poddostawców oraz odbiorców z różnych branż powiązanych z sektorami priorytetowymi dla rozwoju Wrocławia. Ze względu na zwiększenie przejrzystości rynku oraz ułatwienie kontaktu z firmami korzyści z tego tytułu mogą odnieść także jednostki samorządu terytorialnego, a szczególnie gminy. Dzięki połączeniu wszystkich wskazanych elementów możliwe staje zdynamizowanie rozwoju i uzyskanie przewagi konkurencyjnej przez cały region Aglomeracji Wrocławskiej. Mamy nadzieję, że w ten sposób na nowo wyznaczamy standardy we wspieraniu rozwoju biznesu.

There has been a growing recognition in the post-Cold War era that culture has increasingly become a factor in determining the course of today’s complex and interconnected world.  The U.S. experience in Afghanistan and Iraq extended this trend to national security and military operations.  One might call this the Department of Defense’s “cultural turn,” therefore the emphasis placed on culture.  The focus thus far has been on the importance of culture at the tactical and operational levels. 

There is also a growing recognition by the national security community that culture is an important factor at the policy and strategy levels.  The ability to understand and appreciate the role and impact of culture on policy and strategy is increasingly seen as a critical strategic thinking skill.  Cultural proficiency at the policy and strategic levels means the ability to consider history, values, ideology, politics, religion, and other cultural dimensions and assess their potential effect on policy and strategy.

A more useful way to consider the role of culture in security studies than through the levels of war (tactical, operational, strategic) is a framework that includes the following three dimensions: cultural considerations at the individual level; cultural considerations in tactical and operational level military operations; and cultural considerations at the political and strategic levels.

Policymakers and strategists tend to view situations through their own cultural and strategic “lens” with insufficient consideration and calculation of the “Other’s” perspective and interests.  The Analytical Cultural Framework for Strategy and Policy (ACFSP) is one systematic and analytical approach to the vital task of viewing the world through many lenses.  The national security community is interested in cultural features or dimensions that drive political and strategic action and behavior.  The ACFSP identifies basic cultural dimensions that seem to be of fundamental importance in determining political and strategic action and behavior and thus are of importance in policy and strategy formulation and outcomes.

- Identity: the basis for defining identity and its linkage to interests
- Political Culture: the structure of power and decision making
- Resilience: the capacity or ability to resist, adapt or succumb to external forces

Identity is the most important, because it ultimately determines values and interests that form the foundation for policy and strategy to attain or preserve those interests.

Afghanistan's future will continue to be defined substantially by Islamabad's mischief. Unless Pakistan is compelled by the international community to end its support to the Taliban and other extremist formations in Afghanistan, the prevailing troubles can only escalate.

This article examines the effects which the drone strike campaign in Pakistan is having on Al Qaeda Central. To that end, it constructs a theoretical model to explain how the campaign is affecting Al Qaeda's capacity to carry out terrorist attacks in the United States and Western Europe. Although the results of one single empirical case cannot be generalised, they nonetheless constitute a preliminary element for the construction of a broader theoretical framework concerning the use of armed drones as part of a counter-terrorism strategy.

O Brand Model Canvas, permite a visão holística sobre sua estratégia de marca. Baseado em conceitos de Human Centered Design, ele começa analisando os problemas que a marca resolve de seu usuário, e faz a triangulação de dados de mercado, usuário e empresa, sempre com o olhar multidisciplinar, colaborativo , otimista e orientado a experiência nos pontos de contato e na mensuração de indicadores estratégicos.

Nach dem dramatischen Durchbruch bei Popasna hat sich der russische Vormarsch in der Provinz Luhansk verlangsamt. Die ukrainische Armeeführung hat Verstärkungen in das Krisengebiet entsandt, aber von einer Entspannung der Lage kann keine Rede sein.
1. Die Opfer des Luftkriegs
2. Der Stillstand um Charkiw und Isium
3. Der Kampf um Lyman
4. Der geplante Kessel um Siewierodonezk
5. Russische Geländegwinne um Popasna
6. Die Begradigung bei Switlodarsk
7. Russische Fortschritte bei Awdijiwka
8. Der Partisanenkrieg im Süden
9. Verstreute Nachrichten von der Küstenregion
10. Die Seeblockade gegen den Weizenexport
11. Die vagen Ziele der Russen
12. Die Leiden der Zivilbevölkerung

Concepts such as “hybrid threat” or “grey zone” are used to define the wide range of “political warfare” actions that countries such as Russia, China, Iran or North Korea employ for projecting their influence, plausibly denying their responsibility and hampering any response by not crossing the threshold of an armed conflict. Those characteristics allow many actors to project their power asymmetrically by hindering the attribution of their actions, preventing the allocation of legal responsibilities, making retaliation more difficult and compromising the credibility of deterrence. Although many of these actions are carried out in the physical world, the virtual domain seems the natural realm for these activities. This is due to the ambiguity, anonymity, asymmetry, economy and ubiquity of cyberspace. This contribution focuses on the “grey zone” activities in the cyber and information domains conducted by two relevant powers – China and Russia – and discuss the problems and prospects related to those

Modern physics has discovered a fundamental field of pure intelligence containing in seed form all the manifest states of the universe. Although its existence can be inferred, this unified field is not open to direct observation. Its unifying properties can be experienced when the awareness of the observer becomes refined during the practice of the Transcendental Meditation® (TM®) and TM-Sidhi® Programme. The experience of the unified field creates a psychophysiological state in the observer that reflects the properties of the field: infinitely correlated, unified, self-referral, and integrative. The development of these qualities is not obtained through behavioural or intellectual training, but occurs spontaneously by cultivating a state of least excitation of the nervous system. The unique results of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi Programme have been documented in over 600 research studies, many of them published in scientific journals. Use of this holistic consciousness technology will enable the military to set up an ongoing Conflict Prevention Operation through a Prevention Wing of the Military®. In addition to its regular duties, this unit would create a heightened state of mental alertness and radiate intrinsic peacefulness as the basis for impenetrable, non-aggressive defence and constructive peacebuilding without political, economic or cultural bias.