Teaching Irregular Warfare and strategic competition: A Course-Ready Syllabus
Irregular warfare and strategic competition define much of today’s global security environment. Professors teaching in security studies, political science, and international relations are looking for texts that not only explain these dynamics but also provide a framework for teaching them in the classroom.
Winning Without Fighting: Irregular Warfare and Strategic Competition in the 21st Century by Rebecca Patterson, Susan Bryant, Ken Gleiman, and Mark Troutman offers just that. This authoritative book anchors a complete 10-week, course-ready syllabus that equips students with both conceptual understanding and practical analytical tools.
Watch the video to go through the syllabus that shows how the book can be taught in a classroom setting, week by week, while also highlighting the fundamental questions the book addresses. Professors will find it ready to adopt, and students will recognize its value as preparation for careers in defense, policy, and strategy.
The Questions This Book Answers
- What is irregular warfare, and why does it matter today?
- How is it defined in contrast to conventional warfare?
- What challenges and opportunities does it pose?
- How has American strategic culture shaped U.S. approaches to competition?
- What are its limitations in the current landscape?
- How can it evolve?
- What irregular strategies do China and Russia employ?
- How do these challenge U.S. power and influence?
- What patterns and lessons emerge?
- What can the Cold War teach us about political warfare?
- How did the U.S. and its rivals compete without direct conflict?
- What tools and mindsets were used?
- How are military tools used short of conventional war?
- What roles do SOF and indirect action play?
- How should military power adapt to irregular threats?
- How can economic instruments be used to influence adversaries without resorting to force?
- What lessons can be drawn from past U.S. use of economic statecraft?
- What limitations constrain economic tools in strategic competition?
- How do states leverage information as a tool of power and persuasion?
- In what ways have China and Russia used information warfare in recent strategic campaigns?
- How should the U.S. counter adversarial information operations?
- What is the role of resilience in irregular warfare and strategic competition?
- How can governments and societies strengthen national resilience against hybrid threats?
- How should resilience be institutionalized in U.S. strategic planning?
- How can we assess effectiveness in irregular warfare and strategic competition?
- What metrics or indicators are most useful for evaluating influence and legitimacy?
- How do we balance qualitative and quantitative evaluation in assessing strategic outcomes?
- What does an American grand strategy for irregular warfare look like?
- How can the U.S. integrate all instruments of power—including resilience—into strategic planning?
- What organizational and cultural shifts are necessary to operationalize this strategy?
Why Professors Should Adopt This Book
- Course-ready structure: The 10-week syllabus aligns directly with the book’s chapters.
- Real-world application: Assignments include case studies, simulations, and strategic exercises.
- Bridges theory and practice: Students are challenged to think like policymakers and strategists.
- Leadership preparation: Equips students for careers in defense, foreign policy, and national security.
Perfect for
- Professors of security studies, political science, international relations, and military strategy
- Students preparing for careers in defense, foreign policy, and strategic planning
- Policymakers and practitioners navigating irregular warfare and great power competition
Preview and Adopt
Preview the book at cambriapress.com/WinningWithoutFighting
Available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook from Cambria Press, with bulk discounts for classroom adoption.
Final Thought
Winning Without Fighting prepares students for the most important challenge of our time: understanding and engaging in irregular warfare and strategic competition without escalating into open conflict. For professors, it is more than a textbook — it is a course-ready teaching solution.
Prepare for the real fight — the one we must win without fighting.
