Research

Overwatch Podcasts

ISW's Overwatch Podcast features discussions with experts and practitioners to explore challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the United States.

Belarus Crisis Coverage

ISW is closely monitoring the unfolding, dynamic, and complicated events in Belarus and its consequences for US national security and the NATO alliance.

The Military Learning and Future of War Project

This series of papers explores the ways the United States and its potential adversaries are learning from ongoing geopolitical competition and military engagements.

Iraq 2021-2022: A Forecast

The United States cannot stabilize—or safely deprioritize—the Middle East without first stabilizing Iraq.

Countering Russia's Way of War

The Institute for the Study of War and the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute undertook a joint Planning Exercise focused on Russia's objectives and ways of warfare under Vladimir Putin. The study identified key lessons and guidelines for future U.S. strategy.

The General Jack Keane Center for National Security

ISW’s General Jack Keane Center for National Security aims to help shape informed national security policy by providing decisionmakers with continuous, timely, accurate, and independent analysis as well as superior insight on military activities vital to US national security. ISW’s portfolio currently includes Iraq, Syria, ISIS, China, Russia, and former Soviet States including Ukraine and Belarus among others.The Center provides intelligence on ongoing conflicts, issues early warnings, proposes policy options, and identifies strategic risks and opportunities for the United States and its allies. These critical lines of effort embody ISW’s core values of service to the nation, independence, developing young talent, and creative problem solving. Learn more about the General Keane Center here

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Research Policy

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is a 501(c)(3) organization and produces strictly non-partisan, non-ideological, fact-based research. ISW seeks to promote an informed understanding of war and military affairs through comprehensive, independent, and accessible open-source research and analysis. ISW’s research is made available to the general public, military practitioners, policy makers, and members of the media.

ISW’s research methodology relies on both primary and secondary sources, enabling researchers to develop a comprehensive understanding of the situation on the ground. In order to analyze military and political developments in any given area, ISW’s research analysts must wholly understand the systems of enemy and friendly forces. They must also understand the population demographics, physical terrain, politics, and history of that area. This lays the analytical foundation for understanding the reasons for particular developments and fulfilling their assigned research objectives. ISW analysts also spend time in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere in order to gain a better understanding of the security and political situation and to evaluate the implementation of current strategies and policies. Our researchers compile data and analyze trends, producing a granular analysis of developments in areas of research, producing an accurate, high-resolution, timely, and thorough picture of the situation. ISW’s research methodology guarantees its success and commitment to improve the nation’s ability to execute military operations, achieve strategic objectives, and respond to emerging problems that may require the use of American military power.

 

Research Integrity Policy

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is a 501(c)(3) organization and produces strictly non-partisan, non-ideological, fact-based research. ISW seeks to promote an informed understanding of national security through comprehensive, independent, and accessible unclassified research and analysis. ISW’s research is made available free of charge to the general public, military practitioners, policy makers, and members of the media.

Non-partisan: ISW is strictly non-partisan. Should an ISW scholar or affiliate take a position on a policy issue, they do so speaking for themselves and not for ISW, its Board of Directors, or other scholars or employees. Should ISW staff participate on political campaigns, they must inform ISW’s leadership of their affiliation and conduct all such work outside of business hours and in their personal capacity. ISW researchers and publications do not advocate for specific legislation at any time. They will not seek to advance commercial or legislative interests of ISW funders.

Integrity: All of ISW’s research and analysis is unclassified, fully documented, and of the highest integrity. ISW staff must inform ISW leadership of any conflicts of interest, such as if they own significant stock or equity in a commercial interest closely related to their research focus. If a conflict of interest occurs, ISW will not accept funding from that interest for that staff member’s work. Likewise, ISW employees may not accept payment from lobbying or advocacy groups even in their personal capacity.

Funding: In order to sustain and grow our research programs and achieve our mission, ISW is funded entirely through the support of foundations, corporations, and private individuals. ISW does not take any US or foreign government money. Research is driven by events on the ground and based on the priorities of ISW’s leadership and analysts. Foundations may sponsor research.  Business entities that do not provide gifts to ISW may occasionally commission brief studies for internal use only on topics related to ISW’s primary research areas, such as a risk-evaluation of a security environment. ISW accepts such commissions on a case by case basis, very rarely, and only when the aforementioned conditions are met.