A new book by members of SEI: Rebecca Patterson, Susan Bryant, Ken Gleiman, and Mark Troutman
Winning Without Fighting: Irregular Warfare and Strategic Competition in the 21st Century provides an in-depth analysis of the evolving landscape of irregular warfare and its implications in an era of global crises and competition, as described in the 2022 National Security Strategy. This study defines irregular warfare as actions taken below the threshold of armed conflict—activities that do not necessitate force or violence. It highlights the role of resilience as a foundation for national defense, alongside military, political, economic, and informational measures. The book also explores ways to enhance power, legitimacy, and influence while undermining those of adversaries.
By examining the historical context and theoretical underpinnings of irregular warfare and drawing on examples from China and Russia, this book demonstrates how such strategies are employed in practice and illuminates shortcomings of the American strategic culture. The implications of irregular warfare for US national security are assessed, indicating a need for a more nuanced and comprehensive approach to counter the multifaceted threats posed by adversaries adept in irregular warfare tactics. Through the lenses of competition and crises, this book advocates a holistic strategy that leverages all elements of national power and provides insights and frameworks—with a strategic reorientation to ensure enduring power, influence, and legitimacy in a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape—to better navigate the challenges of irregular warfare.
Reviews of the book:
"A thoughtful and practically grounded book useful to anyone, whether in uniform or not, confronting the problem sets related to irregular warfare and strategic competition."
—Brigadier General Kim Field, US Army (ret.), Director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy, US Special Operations Command
"An important, pragmatic book about non-traditional warfare. A must read for policymakers, strategists, and national security leaders." —Dr. Sean McFate, author of The New Rules of War: How America Can Win—Against Russia, China, and Other Threats
"Now more than ever, security practitioners require a framework to consider irregular warfare. This book challenges conventional thinking that draws hard distinctions between war and peace and encourages a deeper examination of the implications of strategic competition. A must-read for national security professionals." —Heidi A. Urben, Georgetown University, author of Party, Politics, and the Post-9/11 Army
"Winning Without Fighting is an important book that deftly addresses gaps in how the U.S. conceptualizes security, offering a compelling argument for how to better prepare our nation for current and future challenges. The book highlights potential policy failures of an overly kinetic understanding of strategic competition, suggesting that the US must link military preparedness with investments in soft power, influence, and legitimacy as essential to developing national resilience. Both military and civilian leaders should read this book to assist the U.S. in developing more flexible capacities to address multifaceted global threats and inevitable future crises." —Daniel Rothenberg, Co-Director of the Future Security Initiative at New America
"Winning Without Fighting is a must-read for policymakers and strategists in the White House, Pentagon, and the State Department. Not only are its arguments compelling, but it is refreshingly well-written in prose that clarifies rather than obscures." —Peter Bergen, author of The Rise and Fall of Osama bin Laden
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