DASSO
Welcome
The editorial board welcomes you to Missouri State University's electronic journal
Defense and Strategic Studies Online (DASSO).
In the inaugural issue from Fall 2024, the Board offers an introduction to MSU's Defense and Strategic Studies (DSS) program and to its flagship publication.
Please enjoy our latest issue and archives below.
In the inaugural issue from Fall 2024, the Board offers an introduction to MSU's Defense and Strategic Studies (DSS) program and to its flagship publication.
Please enjoy our latest issue and archives below.
Celebrating 20 years of DSS in D.C.
READ DASSO - VOL. 2, NO. 1 (.PDF)
Defense and Strategic Studies at MSU: Security Sensibility and Strategic DNA
In this essay, Christopher Ford provides a brief overview of DSS' history, discussing in particular the special flavor and approach that have made DSS a unique and valuable contributor to national security education for more than four decades.
Read full paper (.PDF)
In this essay, Christopher Ford provides a brief overview of DSS' history, discussing in particular the special flavor and approach that have made DSS a unique and valuable contributor to national security education for more than four decades.
Read full paper (.PDF)
My Journey with the Defense and Strategic Studies Program
DSS' current director, John Rose, tells the story of his long personal involvement with DSS, which began when he was a student in the program and continues to this day. He also describes the current range of DSS programming and activities, its educational partnerships in the national security community, and its success in expanding into doctoral education.
Read full paper (.PDF)
DSS' current director, John Rose, tells the story of his long personal involvement with DSS, which began when he was a student in the program and continues to this day. He also describes the current range of DSS programming and activities, its educational partnerships in the national security community, and its success in expanding into doctoral education.
Read full paper (.PDF)
Defense and Strategic Studies: A Brief History
In this essay, the man who brought DSS to Washington, D.C., Keith B. Payne, looks back across the program's long life, narrating the history of its move to what is now Missouri State University and then its relocation to Washington two decades ago.
Read full paper (.PDF)
In this essay, the man who brought DSS to Washington, D.C., Keith B. Payne, looks back across the program's long life, narrating the history of its move to what is now Missouri State University and then its relocation to Washington two decades ago.
Read full paper (.PDF)
Transcending the Academic Haze, or How I Learned to Learn about the Bomb
This essay reprints reflections on DSS' founder, William Van Cleave, from former student and DSS professor J.D. Crouch, putting the man and his program in historical context and offering Crouch's view of its impact in the U.S. national security community.
Read full paper (.PDF)
This essay reprints reflections on DSS' founder, William Van Cleave, from former student and DSS professor J.D. Crouch, putting the man and his program in historical context and offering Crouch's view of its impact in the U.S. national security community.
Read full paper (.PDF)
“By National Security Professionals, for National Security Professionals”
In this note, Christopher Ford describes the remarkable backgrounds of DSS' current faculty, providing a list of the various positions they have held in various parts of the U.S. national security enterprise that illustrates the unique experience upon which DSS programs draw in educating students in its graduate certificate, master's and doctoral programs.
Read full paper (.PDF)
In this note, Christopher Ford describes the remarkable backgrounds of DSS' current faculty, providing a list of the various positions they have held in various parts of the U.S. national security enterprise that illustrates the unique experience upon which DSS programs draw in educating students in its graduate certificate, master's and doctoral programs.
Read full paper (.PDF)
Vol. 1, No. 4
An ASI Arms Race
Thinking About Strategy in an Artificial Superintelligence Arms Race
Dr. Christopher Ford and Dr. Craig Wiener discuss an emerging literature on the geopolitics of what is increasingly referred to as Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) – that is, the international security impact of efforts to acquire Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools more intelligent than humans. After describing some of this new work, they critique one prominent recent account arguing for a U.S.-China strategic ASI standoff based on the nuclear weapons analogy of "Mutually Assured Destruction" (MAD), finding that approach conceptually flawed and game-theoretically unstable. In its place, Ford and Wiener offer their own approach to strategy in ASI-related U.S. strategic competition with China, which they term "Persistent Offensive Preclusion of Adversary AI" (a.k.a. "POPAAI" or "PopEye").
Dr. Christopher Ford and Dr. Craig Wiener discuss an emerging literature on the geopolitics of what is increasingly referred to as Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) – that is, the international security impact of efforts to acquire Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools more intelligent than humans. After describing some of this new work, they critique one prominent recent account arguing for a U.S.-China strategic ASI standoff based on the nuclear weapons analogy of "Mutually Assured Destruction" (MAD), finding that approach conceptually flawed and game-theoretically unstable. In its place, Ford and Wiener offer their own approach to strategy in ASI-related U.S. strategic competition with China, which they term "Persistent Offensive Preclusion of Adversary AI" (a.k.a. "POPAAI" or "PopEye").
Vol. 1, No. 4
AI and International Security
The Post-Truth Information Environment, Artificial Intelligence and International
Security: Initial Scenarios
In this article, Dr. Gary Geipel reflects upon the emergence of a "post-truth" information environment in today's age of political and analytical narratives untethered from factual veracity, and the potential impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) upon this environment. In particular, Geipel speculates about possible future scenarios of AI impact upon international relations in three alternative future scenarios: "Competing Realities," "Catastrophic Disconnect" and "Virtual Retreat."
In this article, Dr. Gary Geipel reflects upon the emergence of a "post-truth" information environment in today's age of political and analytical narratives untethered from factual veracity, and the potential impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) upon this environment. In particular, Geipel speculates about possible future scenarios of AI impact upon international relations in three alternative future scenarios: "Competing Realities," "Catastrophic Disconnect" and "Virtual Retreat."
Vol. 1, No. 4
Traditional to Tactical
From Traditional to Tactical: The Evolution of Female Terrorists in the PIRA and ISIS
In this article, Rachel Butler discusses the role of female terrorists in the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) and the Islamic State of Syria and the Levant (ISIS), exploring these terrorist organizations' shift into employing females in increasingly operational capacities, the dynamics that lay behind this development, and the ways in which understanding this history undermines traditional stereotypes of female involvement in terrorism. By understanding the ways in which terrorist organizations have actually used female fighters, Butler argues, present-day security planners can better address the threats presented by terrorist activity.
In this article, Rachel Butler discusses the role of female terrorists in the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) and the Islamic State of Syria and the Levant (ISIS), exploring these terrorist organizations' shift into employing females in increasingly operational capacities, the dynamics that lay behind this development, and the ways in which understanding this history undermines traditional stereotypes of female involvement in terrorism. By understanding the ways in which terrorist organizations have actually used female fighters, Butler argues, present-day security planners can better address the threats presented by terrorist activity.
Vol. 1, No. 4
An Under-appreciated Problem
The Under-Appreciated Problem of Religious Ideology in Nuclear Proliferation
In this article, Inderjit Grewal explores the ways in which religious ideology can affect countries' decision-making with regard to nuclear weaponry, focusing in particular upon the case of India – where Hindutva Hindu nationalist ideology seems to have had an important role in affecting the country's approach. Flagging these religious themes in Indian policy and also noting religious overtones that may affect nuclear-related decisions in Pakistan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and terrorist organizations, Grewal urges that such motivations be better understood if the international community is adequately to address nuclear nonproliferation threats.
In this article, Inderjit Grewal explores the ways in which religious ideology can affect countries' decision-making with regard to nuclear weaponry, focusing in particular upon the case of India – where Hindutva Hindu nationalist ideology seems to have had an important role in affecting the country's approach. Flagging these religious themes in Indian policy and also noting religious overtones that may affect nuclear-related decisions in Pakistan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and terrorist organizations, Grewal urges that such motivations be better understood if the international community is adequately to address nuclear nonproliferation threats.
Join the discussion and share your views
Are you a member or friend of the Missouri State University community with an interest in defense and strategic studies and who has something thoughtful to contribute to public discourse on such topics in this essay format?
Contact DASSO’s Editorial Board at DASSO@MissouriState.edu.
Archives
Access more papers and essays from DSS faculty, students, and guest authors.
2025 papers
READ DASSO - VOl. 2, NO. 1 (.PDF)
READ DASSO - VOl. 1, NO. 4 (.PDF)
READ DASSO - VOL. 1, NO. 3 (.PDF)
READ DASSO - VOL. 1, NO. 2 (.PDF)
2024 papers
READ DASSO - VOL. 1, NO. 1 (.PDF)