Texas National Security Review

The Texas National Security Review is a fresh journal dedicated to high-quality research, academic thoroughness, and innovative concepts. Started in 2017 by War on the Rocks in collaboration with the University of Texas, our goal is for the articles featured in this journal to be included in university courses and to reach the desks of influential leaders. We strive for our work to be recognized as essential reading and analysis in the field of global issues.

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Articles

Remembrance of Things Past

Dec 11, 2024 | tnsr.org | Francis J. Gavin

In December 1964 — 60 years ago — the holiday classic “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was aired in the United States for the first time.1 The following year, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” was televised.2 One year later, in December 1966, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” premiered.3 All three were tremendous successes, and for many American families, watching them has become an annual ritual, marking the season of joy and holiday celebration.
Machine Failing: How Systems Acquisition and Software Development Flaws Contribute to Military Accidents

Oct 16, 2024 | tnsr.org | Jeffrey Ding

On Aug. 21, 2017, the USS John McCain crashed into an oil tanker near the Strait of Malacca, resulting in the death of 10 sailors and marking the Navy’s worst accident in four decades.
Access Denied? Non-Aligned State Decisions to Grant Access During War

Jul 15, 2024 | tnsr.org | Emily Ellinger

How do state leaders determine whether they should grant military access to outside powers during a war in which their country is not involved? In many cases, leaders may feel they have pre-committed to a decision either through an existing alliance with a foreign power or through their own involvement in the conflict. The decision to grant access therefore becomes secondary to the decision to become directly involved.
Confronting Another Axis? History, Humility, and Wishful Thinking

May 16, 2024 | tnsr.org | Philip Zelikow

The United States faces a purposeful set of powerful adversaries in a rapidly changing and militarized period of history, short of all-out war. This is the third time the United States has been confronted with such a situation. The first was between 1937 and 1941 and was resolved by American entry into World War II. The second was between 1948 and 1962, implicating the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China.
What Exactly Are We Doing?

May 14, 2024 | tnsr.org | Francis J. Gavin

I have two dear friends — let’s call them Ike and Bob — who have very different driving styles. Ike drives quite slowly and cautiously, keeping his speed well below the limit while braking as soon as a yellow light appears in the distance. Bob, on the other hand, drives fast and aggressively, like his hair is on fire. In and of itself, this is not unusual. Ike and Bob, however, think that how people drive reflects larger issues with the state of humanity and our disordered world.
From Panic to Policy: The Limits of Foreign Propaganda and the Foundations of an Effective Response

Mar 26, 2024 | tnsr.org | Gavin Wilde

Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election led to intense public and scholarly debates over the role of foreign propaganda — deliberate and systematic attempts to use media to shape perceptions and direct behavior within domestic politics.1 Russia’s brazen operation and Donald Trump’s victory were both unexpected, leaving analysts grasping for answers about the extent to which Russian activities may have influenced the outcome.
Cracks in the Ivory Tower?

Jan 30, 2024 | tnsr.org | Francis J. Gavin

I love being a professor. To paraphrase something Allan Bloom wrote four decades ago, I am beyond grateful to live in a world that allows me to read, think, write, and teach young people.1 I have spent much of my adult life in universities and will continue to be there until they drag me from the classroom. It has been a wonderful adventure. Which is why I am so worried about the current state of higher education. It was not inevitable I would become an academic.
Shining a Light on the Defense Department’s Industrial Base Problems

Jan 25, 2024 | tnsr.org | Jeff Decker |Noah Sheinbaum

From bands to chiefdoms to states, political structures historically evolved to provide more resources (e.g., land, labor, and capital goods), which led to more effective militaries and, subsequently, better security and prospects for survival.1 These efficiencies of scale, both in terms of manpower and resources, established an irreducible relationship between a state’s industrial base, military power, and security.
Speaking Out: Why Retired Flag Officers Participate in Political Discourse  - Texas National Security Review

Nov 30, 2023 | tnsr.org | Risa Brooks |Michael Robinson |Heidi Urben

Few other issues in U.S. civil-military relations are as controversial as the political activism of retired officers. Much of this modern-day controversy dates back to the 1988 presidential election, when former Marine Corps Commandant Gen. P.X. Kelley endorsed then-candidate George H.W. Bush in a primary, followed by former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Adm. William J. Crowe, Jr. endorsing then-candidate Bill Clinton in 1992.
War Is from Mars, AI Is from Venus: Rediscovering the Institutional Context of Military Automation

Nov 8, 2023 | tnsr.org | Jon R. Lindsay

AI is once again a hot topic in national security. Hopes and fears about autonomous weapons have been a staple of military futurism for over 50 years.1 But “AI hype” has often led to an “AI winter” — a dormant time for AI research and development.