Irregular Warfare Initiative

12/08/2025

Russia’s Shadow Fleet: Navigating Hidden Risks in Global Waters.

Russia’s so-called “Shadow Fleet” of aging oil tankers is transforming the world’s shipping lanes and poses economic, environmental, and security risks. These vessels operate beyond regulatory scrutiny and exchange, creating hazards for global maritime infrastructure, commerce, and ecosystems.

Despite sanctions, the Shadow Fleet continues to move vast amounts of crude oil through strategic waterways by taking advantage of legal loopholes and insurance gaps. As a result, Western states face persistent threats of spills, maritime incidents, and lost accountability, particularly across exposed regions like the Baltic and North Sea.

In this analysis, Janjalia examines how the Shadow Fleet leverages legal ambiguity and fragmented oversight to shift risk and advance Moscow’s strategic aims. Addressing this threat requires more than simply monitoring ships at sea.

Read the full article in this link https://irregularwarfare.org/articles/russias-shadow-fleet-floating-hazard-irregular-warfare/

11/08/2025

Launched in January 2025, the Journal of Strategic Competition is an open access, peer-reviewed academic journal created by the Irregular Warfare Initiative. Our mission is to elevate thought leadership and deliver actionable insights for navigating today’s shifting global power dynamics and evolving competitive landscape.

We foster innovative perspectives and rigorous analysis across the domains of diplomacy, information, military, and economic competition. Whether you are an academic, policymaker, or practitioner, we invite you to engage with our content, share your expertise, and collaborate with peers to advance understanding and shape solutions for complex global challenges.

Explore our inaugural issue and learn more at strategiccompetition.org.

10/08/2025

From the Baltics to the Indo-Pacific, and from networking events to fellowship opportunities — this week’s Irregular Warfare Weekly covers the ideas and analysis shaping today’s IW landscape.

Read and subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/irregularwarfare/irregular-warfare-weekly-18077277?e=b778c39fc8

08/08/2025

Thank you for your support during our July fundraiser! Your generosity strengthens the Irregular Warfare Initiative and helps us connect, educate, and empower leaders in our field.

Because of our community’s contributions, we are able to expand vital IW programs with the support of our dedicated volunteer team. Our donors have enabled over 1.3 million podcast listens, nearly 200 published articles, and 30+ global events. Truly making a difference.

We couldn't do this without your belief in our mission. Together, we are shaping the future of irregular warfare.

07/08/2025

Airpower is a strategic and psychological tool, especially in irregular conflicts where human factors drive outcomes. Yet planning often focuses on the ground fight, missing the impact air and space capabilities can have through access, influence, and reach.

Project Air & Space Power, part of the Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI), looks at how air, aviation, and space tools can support operations in irregular, hybrid, and gray-zone conflicts. The project’s objective is to advance practical ideas for using these capabilities in today’s complex environments.

The project is led by Dr. Richard D. Newton, a retired USAF Air Commando, combat rescue pilot, and researcher in irregular warfare. With the objective to bring together voices from military, academic, and civilian communities.

Learn more and join the conversation on how air and space power can shape modern conflict through this link https://irregularwarfare.org/tag/air-power/

06/08/2025

At the Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI), we drive innovation in the study and practice of irregular warfare, empowering its integration into modern national security strategy. Through partnerships with the Empirical Studies of Conflict Project at Princeton University and the Modern War Institute at West Point, IWI serves as a hub for thought leadership and cross-sector collaboration.

Our mission is realized through high-impact content production, strategic engagements, an active Fellows Program, and a dedicated team leading Special Projects. From in-depth research to expert-driven events, our initiatives are designed to address the complexities and evolving challenges of irregular warfare.

Explore our podcast featuring conversations with leading voices in the field, and check out our latest articles on our website.

Join us as we bridge operational experience with academic excellence to shape the future of irregular warfare.

05/08/2025

Join the Irregular Warfare Initiative Team!

Are you passionate about national security and eager to develop your skills while expanding your professional network? The Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI) is a volunteer-driven organization shaping the future of strategic thinking on irregular conflict.

The Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI) mission is to advance the study, practice, and integration of irregular warfare into modern national security thinking. In partnership with the Empirical Studies of Conflict Project at Princeton University and the Modern War Institute at West Point, we serve as a collaborative hub for thought leadership and professional engagement.

We are looking for volunteers to join our team, contributing 4 to 6 hours per week to make an impact.

Current Volunteer Opportunities:

- Chief Communications Officer
- Social Media Team
- Newsletter Team
- Partnership Manager
- Operations Team

Don’t see a perfect match? If our mission inspires you, we still want to hear from you. Tell us how your unique skills can contribute.

Apply at [email protected]

03/08/2025

The second edition of IW Weekly is live. This week’s issue brings a curated mix of essential reading, thought-provoking podcasts, events, and resources for practitioners and researchers following the evolving character of irregular war. Read it here: https://mailchi.mp/irregularwarfare/irregular-warfare-weekly-18077161

07/07/2025

The Irregular Warfare Initiative relies on an engaged community of scholars, practitioners, and advocates to fulfill our mission to bridge the gap between the study of irregular warfare and its practical application around the world.

As we look to expand our products and services to bring even more attention to this vital topic, we need your help! Please consider becoming a member of the IWI auxiliary and sign up to give a monthly donation to IWI.

Keep Warfare Irregular!

🔗Donate here:

Since we released our first podcast in May 2020, the [Irregular Warfare Initiative](https://irregularwarfare.org/), a 501(c)(3), has expanded to include the publication of over **112 podcasts** (garnering over **1.3 million downloads**) and nearly **200 articles**, coordinated over **30 community ev...

30/06/2025

🌏 Irregular Warfare in the Indo-Pacific— we want to hear from you.

💡The Irregular Warfare Initiative has launched our first writing contest emphasizing short responses to a tailored, real-world scenario. We hope this challenge will pull forward research ideas and professional observations, and focus them into actionable recommendations for policymakers or practitioners to take to the next level.

🏆 We are also pleased to announce a small award for the First-, Second-, and Third-place submissions as decided by our contest’s selection panel, and will publish these pieces in a short series later this year.

Writing Prompt: How can the United States and its partners use IW to strengthen security cooperation, build trust, and enhance resilience among Indo-Pacific nations — particularly those with limited conventional military capacity? Recommendations should explore ways to employ training, intelligence sharing, resource protection, and irregular force development to create a more united regional network of like-minded partners across all domains.

✍️ Length: Maximum 800 words (title, author bio, and by line do not count toward the over all total)

🗓️ Deadline: August 1, 2025

🔗 Check out all the details here: https://irregularwarfare.org/articles/irregular-warfare-indo-pacific-writing-contest-2025/

Submit your essay as a Word document via this link: https://forms.monday.com/forms/23a441f1abc0c031a384188864f5cfa1?r=use1

IWI is seeking original essays on how irregular warfare can strengthen Indo-Pacific security. Winners get published—and paid. Deadline: Aug 1, 2025.

02/05/2025

🎯 The Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI) Editorial Team is proud to launch a new series featuring leading thinkers in the irregular warfare community critically engaging with recent IW-related publications.

📚 Curated by IWI editors Barbara Elias and Lewis Fraser, this series goes beyond traditional book reviews. Contributors have been encouraged to challenge ideas, draw connections to their own expertise, and explore how the works shape broader debates in the field.

♟️We are excited to kick off the series with a piece by Jake Shapiro, Professor of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University and co-founder of the Empirical Studies of Conflict Project. He also authored Small Wars, Big Data. A distinguished scholar and veteran, Shapiro brings deep field experience and academic rigor to his analysis of Winning Without Fighting: Irregular Warfare and Strategic Competition in the 21st Century by Rebecca Patterson, Susan Bryant, Ken Gleiman, and Mark Troutman.

🔗 Read the full article here: https://irregularwarfare.org/articles/winning-without-fighting-resilience-as-national-security-imperative/

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The Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI) Editorial Team is proud to launch a new series featuring leading thinkers in the irregular warfare community critically engaging with recent IW-related publications. Curated by IWI editors Barbara Elias and Lewis Fraser, this series goes beyond traditional b...

18/04/2025

🇫🇮 What does resilience look like in a world of GPS jamming, disinformation, and gray zone pressure?

Finland offers some compelling answers.

In this latest article from the Irregular Warfare Initiative, author Joy Hyvärinen explores Finland’s whole-of-society approach to countering hybrid threats—from protecting freedom of speech to preparing citizens for electromagnetic disruptions.

Key takeaways:
✔️ Civil preparedness and trust in government are central to national security
✔️ Russia’s hybrid tactics in the Nordic-Baltic region include GPS interference and malign information operations
✔️ Finland’s model demonstrates how democratic values can coexist with robust resilience strategies

As the character of conflict shifts, Finland’s experience offers critical lessons for any nation facing the complexities of irregular warfare.

🔗 Read the full article: https://irregularwarfare.org/articles/hybrid-threats-finland-gps-free-speech-resilience/

From GPS disruptions to disinformation, Finland's response to hybrid threats reveals urgent lessons for NATO allies and democracies under pressure.