Thesiss

With its powerful fighting force and rich history of experience, the U.S. should be poised for success in irregular war. As the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq prove, however, the U.S. struggles to win these asymmetric fights. This dissertation examines the disconnect between appar…

This dissertation explains the dynamics if state alignment with external armed groups. Academics and policymakers alike often label the armed groups as the state’s agents, allies, and proxies interchangeably. This seemingly minor semantic confusion hints at larger questions abou…