Victor H. Mair (1943-2026): Remembering an Extraordinary Scholar
Remembering Victor H. Mair (1943–2026): Beloved friend, colleague, and series editor, whose scholarship and spirit will continue to inspire us.
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The Thucydides Trap Misses the Real Danger for Xi and Putin
Few classical texts have been invoked as frequently in contemporary debates about great-power rivalry as Thucydides’s History of the Peloponnesian War. References to the ancient historian now appear regularly in discussions of U.S.–China competition, Russia’s confrontation with the West, and the broader dynamics of international security.
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Irregular Warfare and Strategic Competition Today
What Is Irregular Warfare? Understanding Strategic Competition Below the Threshold of Armed Conflict Irregular warfare has become a central feature of contemporary strategic competition. Rather than relying solely on conventional military force, states increasingly pursue their objectives through political, economic, informational, and other forms of activity that operate below the…
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Key Books in International Security
Watch this brief video overview of the Cambria Rapid Communications in Conflict and Security series. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qE6eyOQVjE The series is headed by general editor Dr. Thomas G. Mahnken, who is the President and CEO of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) as well as Senior Research Professor…
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Understanding Nuclear Strategy in a Changing World
Debates about nuclear deterrence and strategic stability have reemerged as central concerns in contemporary security studies. As great-power competition intensifies and nuclear modernization programs accelerate, policymakers, scholars, and military professionals are once again grappling with enduring questions about the role of nuclear weapons in international order. The Cambria Rapid Communications…
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Wu Ming-Yi on the Origins of “The Man with the Compound Eyes”
Wu Ming-Yi, the youngest ever recipient of Taiwan’s prestigious National Award for Arts for literature, has become one of the defining voices in global ecological fiction. His novel The Man with the Compound Eyes has reshaped conversations about environmental storytelling, island ecologies, and the relationship between migration and imagination. In…
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What Venezuela 2026 Reveals About US Coercive Diplomacy
For those tasked with understanding or responding to the 2026 Venezuela crisis—from policy analysts and foreign affairs professionals to academic researchers—US Coercive Diplomacy and the Global Order offers more than historical analysis. It provides a structured way to evaluate the logic, limitations, and long-term consequences of America’s most consequential strategic choices.
Whether used to inform foreign policy debates, support classroom discussion in graduate-level courses, or guide strategic assessments, the clarity, insight, and real-world grounding in Richard Outzen’s book make it a valuable resource.
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Critical Books in Conflict and Security for 2026
As global tensions escalate and strategic competition intensifies, scholars and practitioners alike must turn to timely, authoritative sources. The Cambria Rapid Communications in Conflict and Security (RCCS) Series delivers exactly that, offering critical insights into today’s most urgent threats—from irregular warfare and proxy conflict to nuclear deterrence, alliance dynamics, and…
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Rethinking Eurasian History Through Travel
We spoke with Professor Anthony J. Barbieri-Low (University of California, Santa Barbara) about his new book Parallel Journeys: Eurasian History Through Travelers’ Eyes (400 BCE–1936 CE)—a unique anthology that presents a sweeping comparative history of Eurasia through the eyes of travelers spanning 2,400 years—and asked him to reflect on its…
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How to Read Clausewitz’s On War
Restoring Clausewitz: A Critical Companion to On War by J. Furman Daniel, III, addresses a persistent problem in the study of war and strategy: Carl von Clausewitz’s On War is widely cited, frequently invoked, and rarely read with care. Even when it is read, its arguments are often misunderstood or…
