The Alliance took several major decisions at the Warsaw Summit in July 2016. Among those endorsed... more The Alliance took several major decisions at the Warsaw Summit in July 2016. Among those endorsed collectively by allies, there was one that was not significantly highlighted yet deserves additional attention. In the final communiqué, heads of state and government committed themselves to enhance resilience as the basis for credible deterrence, and as one of the arsenal of measures to effectively defeat hybrid threats. This paper by a member of our research team argues that resilience is an important concept that focuses on how quickly an individual, a community, or a national infrastructure is able to recover from a shock, adapting to future risks and threats. The challenge is to distinguish between civilian and defence institutions in a nontraditional way. When facing non-linear threats that target the whole-of-society, one’s response has to be broad and comprehensive. Of course, the individual nations must and will play a key role in adapting themselves. But NATO should encourage the development of good resilience policy through shared experiences. The Eisenhower Papers are designed to serve as a forum for discussion within the professional military education community
Will Colombia be NATO’s next Global Partner? As the next Summit looms, some rumours have accredit... more Will Colombia be NATO’s next Global Partner? As the next Summit looms, some rumours have accredited the idea that Colombia might become a partner, at an important time both for itself and for NATO. With the successful peace accord signed with the FARC – once the oldest and strongest insurgency in the world – and negotiations under way with other rebel movements, Colombia has stepped out of decades in the shadows and become no longer a consumer but also an exporter of security, in its near abroad and around the world. NATO could benefit from Colombia’s unique expertise in ending a civil war, ensuring national reconciliation and discussing transitional justice. In addition, Colombia would grant NATO a better understanding of a part of the world where geopolitical trends are moving fast, with the return of Russia and the rise of China putting stability at risk in the regions concerned. This paper by Robert Helbig and Guillaume Lasconjarias offers a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities that such a new partnership could offer, and provides some recommendations on possible ways forward.”
Paper published in "L’Otan, acteur global de la sécurité internationale à l’épreuve des boulevers... more Paper published in "L’Otan, acteur global de la sécurité internationale à l’épreuve des bouleversements géopolitiques régionaux", OCP Policy Centre, Policy Paper 2016
This study focuses on the amphibious operation that never happened, during the Gulf War of 1991. ... more This study focuses on the amphibious operation that never happened, during the Gulf War of 1991. For a lot of reasons, the operation was prepared and came close to being launched, however, was then conceived as a deception part of a larger strategic approach.
Longtemps focalisées sur les intendants de province, les études historiques semblent avoir occult... more Longtemps focalisées sur les intendants de province, les études historiques semblent avoir occulté le rôle des gouverneurs généraux de province, malgré quelques travaux récents. Or, gouverneurs et commandants en chef demeurent, encore à la fin de l'Ancien Régime, une institution dynamique, quoiqu'en évolution. La spécialisation de ces officiers dans des tâches de plus en plus militaires ne doit pas faire oublier combien ces derniers restent des acteurs incontournables de la vie des provinces. Représentant le roi, gouverneurs et commandants en chef participent à la centralisation du pays et servent de relais et de courroie de transmission entre la Cour et la province. Entretenant des relations continues avec les autres agents de la monarchie, ils interviennent dans les domaines où ils estiment leur responsabilité engagée. En outre, dans l'Est de la France, la présence permanente d'un officier général chargé de l'ordre public et de la conduite des troupes s'impose sur une frontière encore perméable.
Cas concret d'étude de la protection de la frontière militaire sous le gouvernement du comte de B... more Cas concret d'étude de la protection de la frontière militaire sous le gouvernement du comte de Belle-Isle entre 1727 et 1733
Introduction à la journée de l'école doctorale de Paris I sur la notion de frontière et son évolu... more Introduction à la journée de l'école doctorale de Paris I sur la notion de frontière et son évolution comme objet historique
How are we dealing with the Access - Denial Challenge in Europe? There are two ways we can look a... more How are we dealing with the Access - Denial Challenge in Europe? There are two ways we can look at counterbalancing the A2AD challenge;"If it’s political, that means NATO needs to raise the cost of any Russian aggression. It is not only about deterrence, but also about focusing on collective defence. If it’s military, we need to see what can we afford, what the priorities are that NATO should focus on". Throughout the case study of Kaliningrad, the authors claim we can deal with the Russian exclave and solve the A2AD conundrum
Technology is often perceived as an important game-changer in the military. Nearly all past discu... more Technology is often perceived as an important game-changer in the military. Nearly all past discussions and debates about the transformation process of Western militaries and the so-called “Revolution in Military Affairs” have incorporated an important technological dimension. However, as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have shown, technological prowess alone does not ensure victory. The human factor remains vital to understand a shifting and evolving environment. It is a challenging task to train and educate a new generation of soldiers who are “digital natives,” accustomed to smart devices and being permanently hyper-connected. Technology seems an obvious solution in the digital domain, provided it is envisioned as an enhancer or an enabler that can help modern militaries adapt to upcoming challenges. The evolution of Professional Military Education is essential in explaining, understanding, and using these technologies, as it helps Western forces maintain the upper hand over potential foes and adversaries. Therefore, thinking about innovative techniques and methods, based on learner-centric, tailored-made approaches, makes sense. This Eisenhower Paper demonstrates that technology will change not only what we know, but how we learn and how we teach.
This paper assesses the effectiveness of allied land forces as, at best, decidedly mixed. On the ... more This paper assesses the effectiveness of allied land forces as, at best, decidedly mixed. On the one hand, there is little question that those forces have undergone a remarkable transformation since the Cold War’s end. Today’s allied land forces are smaller, lighter, designed principally to handle a wide range of out-of-area contingencies, and capable of operating in multinational coalitions. Moreover, they have been infused with operational experience from deployments in the Balkans, Africa, Iraq, and Afghanistan. But looking forward, the question is whether these forces have become too small and, because of budget constraints, lack the equipment to deploy rapidly and sustain themselves operationally.
With the start of the conflict in Ukraine and the war conducted by Russia, we observe a lot of di... more With the start of the conflict in Ukraine and the war conducted by Russia, we observe a lot of discussions about a new form of war. While addressing the concept of "hybrid warfare", this paper tries to explain the interest of understanding what is at stake and how NATO can react to it.
Developed by the Prussian General Staff in the second part of the 19th century to train and educa... more Developed by the Prussian General Staff in the second part of the 19th century to train and educate senior military officers, the staff ride was once considered as one of the most successful educational tools to teach strategy, to understand the implementation of military principles at every level of operations, and to build leadership. Based on historical scenarios and campaigns, the staff ride examines case studies from the past which are still applicable today, considering key features, such as the terrain, the role of technology and the importance of human nature on the battlefield. However, the most interesting part of the staff ride is the study of decision-making and of how leaders, facing overwhelming challenges, took their decisions and had them carried out. This Eisenhower Paper provides a comprehensive understanding of what the staff ride is, and why it could be used by military academies, war colleges or defense universities, and within NATO and its national headquarters to better understand how to implement decisions taken from above, how to overcome obstacles, how to allocate limited resources, and how to build a strong esprit de corps.
In his report to the president of the French Republic in November 2012 assessing France's return ... more In his report to the president of the French Republic in November 2012 assessing France's return into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO's) military command structure, Hubert Védrine, the former French Minister of Foreign Affairs, noted that France had no interest in leaving it again. His recommendations called for renewed action within the Alliance and the emergence of a European pillar. The timing should have been perfect, with France's draft White Paper on defence and security about to be published. However, at a time when budget cuts prevail, are these recommendations applicable and do they amount to more than just paying lip-service? This article focuses on a one-year period, from November 2012 to the latest debates around the Military Programming Law, reminiscent of Pierre Mendès-France's famous quote that governing is all about making choices
An in-depth look at the Israeli experience allows us to better distinguish between relevant findi... more An in-depth look at the Israeli experience allows us to better distinguish between relevant findings for NATO and misleading analogies. This paper explores five domains in which the Israeli experience should be examined and underlines, in each case, the appropriate conclusions for the Alliance.
This paper focuses on the story, missions and structure of the NATO Response Force (NRF) from its... more This paper focuses on the story, missions and structure of the NATO Response Force (NRF) from its beginning in the early 2000s until today.
The Alliance took several major decisions at the Warsaw Summit in July 2016. Among those endorsed... more The Alliance took several major decisions at the Warsaw Summit in July 2016. Among those endorsed collectively by allies, there was one that was not significantly highlighted yet deserves additional attention. In the final communiqué, heads of state and government committed themselves to enhance resilience as the basis for credible deterrence, and as one of the arsenal of measures to effectively defeat hybrid threats. This paper by a member of our research team argues that resilience is an important concept that focuses on how quickly an individual, a community, or a national infrastructure is able to recover from a shock, adapting to future risks and threats. The challenge is to distinguish between civilian and defence institutions in a nontraditional way. When facing non-linear threats that target the whole-of-society, one’s response has to be broad and comprehensive. Of course, the individual nations must and will play a key role in adapting themselves. But NATO should encourage the development of good resilience policy through shared experiences. The Eisenhower Papers are designed to serve as a forum for discussion within the professional military education community
Will Colombia be NATO’s next Global Partner? As the next Summit looms, some rumours have accredit... more Will Colombia be NATO’s next Global Partner? As the next Summit looms, some rumours have accredited the idea that Colombia might become a partner, at an important time both for itself and for NATO. With the successful peace accord signed with the FARC – once the oldest and strongest insurgency in the world – and negotiations under way with other rebel movements, Colombia has stepped out of decades in the shadows and become no longer a consumer but also an exporter of security, in its near abroad and around the world. NATO could benefit from Colombia’s unique expertise in ending a civil war, ensuring national reconciliation and discussing transitional justice. In addition, Colombia would grant NATO a better understanding of a part of the world where geopolitical trends are moving fast, with the return of Russia and the rise of China putting stability at risk in the regions concerned. This paper by Robert Helbig and Guillaume Lasconjarias offers a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities that such a new partnership could offer, and provides some recommendations on possible ways forward.”
Paper published in "L’Otan, acteur global de la sécurité internationale à l’épreuve des boulevers... more Paper published in "L’Otan, acteur global de la sécurité internationale à l’épreuve des bouleversements géopolitiques régionaux", OCP Policy Centre, Policy Paper 2016
This study focuses on the amphibious operation that never happened, during the Gulf War of 1991. ... more This study focuses on the amphibious operation that never happened, during the Gulf War of 1991. For a lot of reasons, the operation was prepared and came close to being launched, however, was then conceived as a deception part of a larger strategic approach.
Longtemps focalisées sur les intendants de province, les études historiques semblent avoir occult... more Longtemps focalisées sur les intendants de province, les études historiques semblent avoir occulté le rôle des gouverneurs généraux de province, malgré quelques travaux récents. Or, gouverneurs et commandants en chef demeurent, encore à la fin de l'Ancien Régime, une institution dynamique, quoiqu'en évolution. La spécialisation de ces officiers dans des tâches de plus en plus militaires ne doit pas faire oublier combien ces derniers restent des acteurs incontournables de la vie des provinces. Représentant le roi, gouverneurs et commandants en chef participent à la centralisation du pays et servent de relais et de courroie de transmission entre la Cour et la province. Entretenant des relations continues avec les autres agents de la monarchie, ils interviennent dans les domaines où ils estiment leur responsabilité engagée. En outre, dans l'Est de la France, la présence permanente d'un officier général chargé de l'ordre public et de la conduite des troupes s'impose sur une frontière encore perméable.
Cas concret d'étude de la protection de la frontière militaire sous le gouvernement du comte de B... more Cas concret d'étude de la protection de la frontière militaire sous le gouvernement du comte de Belle-Isle entre 1727 et 1733
Introduction à la journée de l'école doctorale de Paris I sur la notion de frontière et son évolu... more Introduction à la journée de l'école doctorale de Paris I sur la notion de frontière et son évolution comme objet historique
How are we dealing with the Access - Denial Challenge in Europe? There are two ways we can look a... more How are we dealing with the Access - Denial Challenge in Europe? There are two ways we can look at counterbalancing the A2AD challenge;"If it’s political, that means NATO needs to raise the cost of any Russian aggression. It is not only about deterrence, but also about focusing on collective defence. If it’s military, we need to see what can we afford, what the priorities are that NATO should focus on". Throughout the case study of Kaliningrad, the authors claim we can deal with the Russian exclave and solve the A2AD conundrum
Technology is often perceived as an important game-changer in the military. Nearly all past discu... more Technology is often perceived as an important game-changer in the military. Nearly all past discussions and debates about the transformation process of Western militaries and the so-called “Revolution in Military Affairs” have incorporated an important technological dimension. However, as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have shown, technological prowess alone does not ensure victory. The human factor remains vital to understand a shifting and evolving environment. It is a challenging task to train and educate a new generation of soldiers who are “digital natives,” accustomed to smart devices and being permanently hyper-connected. Technology seems an obvious solution in the digital domain, provided it is envisioned as an enhancer or an enabler that can help modern militaries adapt to upcoming challenges. The evolution of Professional Military Education is essential in explaining, understanding, and using these technologies, as it helps Western forces maintain the upper hand over potential foes and adversaries. Therefore, thinking about innovative techniques and methods, based on learner-centric, tailored-made approaches, makes sense. This Eisenhower Paper demonstrates that technology will change not only what we know, but how we learn and how we teach.
This paper assesses the effectiveness of allied land forces as, at best, decidedly mixed. On the ... more This paper assesses the effectiveness of allied land forces as, at best, decidedly mixed. On the one hand, there is little question that those forces have undergone a remarkable transformation since the Cold War’s end. Today’s allied land forces are smaller, lighter, designed principally to handle a wide range of out-of-area contingencies, and capable of operating in multinational coalitions. Moreover, they have been infused with operational experience from deployments in the Balkans, Africa, Iraq, and Afghanistan. But looking forward, the question is whether these forces have become too small and, because of budget constraints, lack the equipment to deploy rapidly and sustain themselves operationally.
With the start of the conflict in Ukraine and the war conducted by Russia, we observe a lot of di... more With the start of the conflict in Ukraine and the war conducted by Russia, we observe a lot of discussions about a new form of war. While addressing the concept of "hybrid warfare", this paper tries to explain the interest of understanding what is at stake and how NATO can react to it.
Developed by the Prussian General Staff in the second part of the 19th century to train and educa... more Developed by the Prussian General Staff in the second part of the 19th century to train and educate senior military officers, the staff ride was once considered as one of the most successful educational tools to teach strategy, to understand the implementation of military principles at every level of operations, and to build leadership. Based on historical scenarios and campaigns, the staff ride examines case studies from the past which are still applicable today, considering key features, such as the terrain, the role of technology and the importance of human nature on the battlefield. However, the most interesting part of the staff ride is the study of decision-making and of how leaders, facing overwhelming challenges, took their decisions and had them carried out. This Eisenhower Paper provides a comprehensive understanding of what the staff ride is, and why it could be used by military academies, war colleges or defense universities, and within NATO and its national headquarters to better understand how to implement decisions taken from above, how to overcome obstacles, how to allocate limited resources, and how to build a strong esprit de corps.
In his report to the president of the French Republic in November 2012 assessing France's return ... more In his report to the president of the French Republic in November 2012 assessing France's return into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO's) military command structure, Hubert Védrine, the former French Minister of Foreign Affairs, noted that France had no interest in leaving it again. His recommendations called for renewed action within the Alliance and the emergence of a European pillar. The timing should have been perfect, with France's draft White Paper on defence and security about to be published. However, at a time when budget cuts prevail, are these recommendations applicable and do they amount to more than just paying lip-service? This article focuses on a one-year period, from November 2012 to the latest debates around the Military Programming Law, reminiscent of Pierre Mendès-France's famous quote that governing is all about making choices
An in-depth look at the Israeli experience allows us to better distinguish between relevant findi... more An in-depth look at the Israeli experience allows us to better distinguish between relevant findings for NATO and misleading analogies. This paper explores five domains in which the Israeli experience should be examined and underlines, in each case, the appropriate conclusions for the Alliance.
This paper focuses on the story, missions and structure of the NATO Response Force (NRF) from its... more This paper focuses on the story, missions and structure of the NATO Response Force (NRF) from its beginning in the early 2000s until today.
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Papers by Guillaume Lasconjarias
The Eisenhower Papers are designed to serve as a forum for discussion within the professional military education community
This paper by Robert Helbig and Guillaume Lasconjarias offers a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities that such a new partnership could offer, and provides some recommendations on possible ways forward.”
Throughout the case study of Kaliningrad, the authors claim we can deal with the Russian exclave and solve the A2AD conundrum
Based on historical scenarios and campaigns, the staff ride examines case studies from the past which are still applicable today, considering key features, such as the terrain, the role of technology and the importance of human nature on the battlefield.
However, the most interesting part of the staff ride is the study of decision-making and of how leaders, facing overwhelming challenges, took their decisions and had them carried out. This Eisenhower Paper provides a comprehensive understanding of what the staff ride is, and why it could be used by military academies, war colleges or defense universities, and within NATO and its national headquarters to better understand how to implement decisions taken from above, how to overcome obstacles, how to allocate limited resources, and how to build a strong esprit de corps.
The Eisenhower Papers are designed to serve as a forum for discussion within the professional military education community
This paper by Robert Helbig and Guillaume Lasconjarias offers a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities that such a new partnership could offer, and provides some recommendations on possible ways forward.”
Throughout the case study of Kaliningrad, the authors claim we can deal with the Russian exclave and solve the A2AD conundrum
Based on historical scenarios and campaigns, the staff ride examines case studies from the past which are still applicable today, considering key features, such as the terrain, the role of technology and the importance of human nature on the battlefield.
However, the most interesting part of the staff ride is the study of decision-making and of how leaders, facing overwhelming challenges, took their decisions and had them carried out. This Eisenhower Paper provides a comprehensive understanding of what the staff ride is, and why it could be used by military academies, war colleges or defense universities, and within NATO and its national headquarters to better understand how to implement decisions taken from above, how to overcome obstacles, how to allocate limited resources, and how to build a strong esprit de corps.