On Competition: Adapting to the Contemporary Strategic Environment

Authored by:
Richard Clarke, Nathan Barrick, Aaron Bazin, Theresa Cross, Montgomery Erfourth, Shannon Finn, Scott Hopkins, Bob Jones, Jeremy Kotkin, Daniel Manning, Jeffrey Meiser, William Miller, Jeremiah Monk, Ryan Oliver, Ira Schurig, Mark Whisper
Published on 8/12/2021

We find ourselves at the start of a new era characterized by long-term strategic competition with revisionist powers. It is clear that we need to think hard about what competition is and what Special Operations Forces (SOF) require to address it. In On Competition: Adapting to the Contemporary Strategic Environment, we explore what competition means and outline a practical approach, bridging theory with practice. Competition is a consistent, natural occurrence across the history of human civilization. In the current and future security environment, states such as China, Russia, and Iran and non-state actors alike have new tools that allow them to pursue their interests in ways that undermine the existing international order and institutions.

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