PRISM (Full PDF Issues)

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  PRISM Syria Supplemental

  National Defense University Press

  This issue provides an in-depth analysis of the ongoing Syrian conflict. Through a collection of expert essays, policy recommendations, and interviews, the issue explores the humanitarian crisis, the role of Salafi networks, and the socio-economic impact on Syria’s urban poor. Contributors offer insights on supporting the opposition, advancing transitional justice, and addressing the challenges of post-conflict reconciliation. Featuring perspectives from diplomats, scholars, and field practitioners, this volume serves as a guide for policymakers navigating the Syrian crisis.

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  PRISM Vol. 4, No. 4

  National Defense University Press

  This volume explores critical global security issues and evolving geopolitical dynamics. It opens with an analysis of Egypt’s political transformation and a reflection on U.S.-Taliban negotiations. Other features address the rising threat of strategic terrorism, the hybrid nature of modern conflicts, and the importance of state legitimacy in foreign operations. Discussions on rules of engagement, the meaning of victory, and the shifting roles of armed forces provide further insight into contemporary military challenges. The "From the Field" section examines corruption and organized crime in Afghanistan. The volume concludes with book reviews on global power shifts and gender in warfare, and an interview with Lieutenant General Mike Flynn.

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  PRISM Vol. 4, No. 2

  National Defense University Press

  This journal volume consists of featured articles that examine critical global issues, beginning with an analysis of U.S. interests in the aftermath of the Arab Spring and strategies for safeguarding these interests. Additional articles delve into military and interagency readiness. This includes discussions on civilian protection in an evolving military environment, the role of defense in building partner capabilities, and the complex relationship between economics and security. The "From the Field" section provides a detailed examination of Sri Lanka’s rehabilitation program as an innovative approach to counterterrorism and counterinsurgency. The "Lessons Learned" section reflects on enduring insights from a decade of warfare and evaluates interagency efforts in Iraq’s Rusafa Political District. An exclusive interview with Maria Otero adds a unique policy perspective on global governance issues. The volume concludes with book reviews that explore the dynamics of jihadist movements and the geopolitical landscape in Central Asia.

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  PRISM Vol. 4, No. 3

  National Defense University Press

  This volume pens with remarks by U.S. President Barack Obama at the National Defense University, addressing key issues in national security. The featured articles examine topics such as the evolving role of secret intelligence, the unique challenges faced by military and global leaders, and the transformation of Special Operations Forces (SOF) within global networks. Further discussions include the complexities of stabilization and reconstruction, shifting U.S. strategies in Central America’s Northern Triangle and the Asia-Pacific region, and a proposed taxonomy of military structures worldwide. The "From the Field" section highlights the role of Joint Deployable Training Teams, while the "Lessons Learned" section reflects on strategic responses to a decade of conflict. An exclusive interview with former Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair offers perspectives on U.S. security policy. The volume concludes with a review of The Insurgents, a book examining General David Petraeus’s influence on modern U.S. military strategy.

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  PRISM Vol. 3, No. 2

  National Defense University Press

  This issue of PRISM explores critical challenges in stabilization, reconstruction, and security operations in an era of evolving global threats. The Features section examines the need for institutional reform in stabilization efforts, the complexities of exporting civil-military models, and interagency coordination in stability operations. Articles also assess Britain’s post-2015 security landscape, Libya’s ongoing transition, and the Taliban’s governance strategies. Further analysis includes the effectiveness of the Commander’s Emergency Response Program (CERP) in Afghanistan, the Philippine military’s expanding role, and leadership in U.S. cybersecurity efforts. In From the Field, an article on Regional Command–East discusses civilian-military coordination in stability operations. The Lessons Learned section evaluates the command and control structure of Libya’s Operation Odyssey Dawn. An Interview with Donald Steinberg provides insights into conflict resolution and development. Finally, Book Reviews examine Afghanistan’s warfighting strategies and the implications of U.S. engagement in the region.

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  PRISM Vol. 3, No. 3

  National Defense University Press

  This issue of PRISM examines military support for democracy, the challenges of counterinsurgency (COIN) strategy, and the effectiveness of interagency coordination in complex operations. Additional articles critique traditional state-building models, highlight systemic failures in development initiatives, and discuss best practices for advising institution-building efforts. Lessons from Afghanistan provide new approaches to operational assessments, while an analysis of Kenya’s involvement in Somalia warns of strategic risks. The issue also considers the financial trade-offs between security and broader national priorities.

  In From the Field, an assessment of Village Stability Operations and the Afghan Local Police offers insights into local security initiatives. An interview with former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Vélez explores counterinsurgency and governance lessons from Colombia. Book Reviews examine hybrid warfare, transnational threats, and the role of private security companies in modern military operations.

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  PRISM Vol. 3, No. 4

  National Defense University Press

  This issue of PRISM examines the complexities of modern conflict, stabilization, and military strategy. The Features section explores the future of Syria after Asad, the importance of sociocultural analysis in contemporary security environments, and the evolution of irregular threats. Additional articles discuss the challenges of building host-nation police forces, the logistics of global military supply chains, and the dilemmas of stabilization efforts. Lessons from Vietnam and Afghanistan provide insight into U.S. political-military strategy, while a critique of the "American way of war" questions the effectiveness of current military doctrines. The Lessons Learned section analyzes civilian harm in Operation Enduring Freedom–Philippines and the role of indirect military approaches. An interview with J. Brian Atwood offers perspectives on international development and conflict resolution. Finally, Book Reviews assess firsthand accounts of U.S. operations in Afghanistan and the practical application of counterinsurgency theory in Algeria.

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  PRISM Vol. 4, No. 1

  National Defense University Press

  This volume offers a comprehensive exploration of contemporary global security challenges, civil-military relations, and strategic responses to emerging threats. The Features section begins with Zoltan Barany’s examination of how to establish democratic armies, followed by Hans-Jürgen Kasselmann’s analysis of civil-military cooperation as a tool for managing complex crises. Christian Bayer Tygesen addresses the civil-military imbalance in Afghanistan and its implications for democratization, while Frank J. Cilluffo and Joseph R. Clark provide insights into understanding and countering strategic hybrid threats. R. Evan Ellis shifts the focus to transnational crime, detailing the rise of Chinese organized crime in Latin America, and Chiemi Hayashi and Amey Soo discuss the value of adaptive leadership during crises. Gordon Woo concludes the section by offering a framework for managing the risks of future foreign conflict interventions. In the From the Field section, John Acree reflects on the internal challenges of stabilization efforts in Afghanistan. The Lessons Learned segment features two reports by Stuart W. Bowen, Jr., and Craig Collier, providing an overview of reconstruction efforts and the human costs associated with Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Interview section features a conversation with Richard N. Haass. The volume concludes with two Book Reviews: Michelle Hughes assesses Advancing the Rule of Law Abroad, while Nathaniel L. Moir reviews The Art of Intelligence.

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  PRISM Vol. 2, No. 2

  National Defense University Press

  PRISM is published by the National Defense University Press for the Center for Complex Operations. PRISM is a security studies journal chartered to inform members of U.S. Federal Agencies, allies, and other partners on complex and integrated national security operations; reconstruction and nationbuilding; relevant policy and strategy; lessons learned; and developments in training and education to transform America's security and development apparatus to meet tomorrow's challenges better while promoting freedom today.

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  PRISM Vol. 2, No. 3

  National Defense University Press

  PRISM is published by the National Defense University Press for the Center for Complex Operations. PRISM is a security studies journal chartered to inform members of U.S. Federal agencies, allies, and other partners on complex and integrated national security operations; reconstruction and nation-building; relevant policy and strategy; lessons learned; and developments in training and education to transform America’s security and development apparatus to meet tomorrow’s challenges better while promoting freedom today.

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  PRISM Vol. 2, No. 4

  National Defense University Press

  This issue of PRISM explores contemporary challenges in conflict transformation, state-building, governance, security, and strategic engagement across multiple global contexts. The Features section examines critical issues such as transforming the conflict in Afghanistan, the role of investment and job creation in state-building, and operationalizing anticipatory governance. The issue also addresses Africa’s regional engagement strategies and NATO’s response to hybrid threats.

  In From the Field, a case study on the 2009 Malakand operation highlights counterinsurgency’s role in peace-building. The Lessons Learned section critiques the debate surrounding the effectiveness of the Commander’s Emergency Response Program (CERP). There is an interview with General Richard B. Myers, offering perspectives on leadership and military strategy. Lastly, a book review of The Future of Power provides analysis on shifting global influence dynamics.

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  PRISM Vol. 3, No. 1

  National Defense University Press

  This issue of PRISM critically examines the evolving landscape of counterinsurgency, stabilization, and security cooperation in the wake of the Afghanistan conflict. The Features section explores the crisis facing counterinsurgency doctrine, the challenges of negotiating a settlement in Afghanistan, and the limitations of U.S. stabilization and reconstruction efforts. Articles on indirect military approaches, nation-building, and the absence of a "Marshall Plan" for the Middle East offer diverse perspectives on state resilience and post-conflict recovery.

  Further analysis delves into the role of military engagement in Sub-Saharan Africa and enduring military-to-military partnerships during the Arab Spring. From the Field provides a case study on the conflict in Bala Morghab, while Lessons Learned examines Iraq’s civil-military capacity-building efforts from 2007 to 2010. The issue concludes with a book review of Weak Links: Fragile States, Global Threats, and International Security.

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  PRISM Vol. 1, No. 2

  National Defense University Press

  PRISM is published by the National Defense University Press for the Center for Complex Operations. PRISM is a security studies journal chartered to inform members of U.S. Federal Agencies, allies, and other partners on complex and integrated national security operations; reconstruction and nationbuilding; relevant policy and strategy; lessons learned; and developments in training and education to transform America’s security and development apparatus to meet tomorrow’s challenges better while promoting freedom today.

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  PRISM Vol. 1, No. 3

  National Defense University Press

  PRISM is published by the National Defense University Press for the Center for Complex Operations. PRISM is a security studies journal chartered to inform members of U.S. Federal Agencies, allies, and other partners on complex and intewated national security operations; reconstruction and nationbuilding; relevant policy and strategy; lessons learned; and developments in training and education to transform America's security and development apparatus to meet tomorrow's challenges better while promoting freedom today.

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  PRISM Vol. 1, No. 4

  National Defense University Press

  PRISM is published by the National Defense University Press for the Center for Complex Operations. PRISM is a security studies journal chartered to inform members of U.S. Federal Agencies, allies, and other partners on complex and integrated national security operations; reconstruction and nationbuilding; relevant policy and strategy; lessons learned; and developments in training and education to transform America’s security and development apparatus to meet tomorrow’s challenges better while promoting freedom today.

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  PRISM Vol. 2, No. 1

  National Defense University Press

  PRISM is published by the National Defense University Press for the Center for Complex Operations. PRISM is a security studies journal chartered to inform members of U.S. Federal Agencies, allies, and other partners on complex and integrated national security operations; reconstruction and nationbuilding; relevant policy and strategy; lessons learned; and developments in training and education to transform America's security and development apparatus to meet tomorrow's challenges better while promoting freedom today.

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  PRISM Vol. 1, No. 1

  National Defense University Press

  Welcome to PRISM, a national security journal tailored to serve policymakers, scholars, and practitioners working to enhance U.S. Government competency in complex operations. PRISM explores the analysis, planning, and implementation of community-wide approaches to the three Ds—Defense, Diplomacy, and Development—and provides a forum for U.S. Government agencies, academic institutions, foreign governments, allied militaries, nongovernmental organizations, and other participants in the complex operations arena. PRISM is chartered to study, promote, and reinforce emerging thought and best practices as civilian capacity increases in stability, reconstruction, security, counterinsurgency, and irregular warfare operations. PRISM complements Joint Force Quarterly, chartered by General Colin Powell in 1993 to similarly catalyze cooperation and progress in joint, interagency solutions to national security challenges across the spectrum of conflict.