Michael Shurkin’s Publications, Interviews, and Media Appearances
Publications
“Anti-French Sentiment in Africa: An American Perspective,” RIS: La Revue Internationale et Stratégique, No. 133, Printemps 2024, pp. 163-171.
“Admiral Raoul Castex: The Naval Strategist for Non-Hegemons,” War on the Rocks, March 13, 2024. https://warontherocks.com/2024/03/admiral-raoul-castex-the-naval-strategist-for-non-hegemons/
“Are we ready for war? A book review,” Wavell Room, February 13, 2024. https://wavellroom.com/2024/02/13/are-we-ready-for-war-a-book-review/
“Time for a US Paradigm Shift on Cameroon,” Stars and Stripes, December 19, 2023. https://www.stripes.com/opinion/2023-12-19/us-paradigm-shift-cameroon-12411914.html
Options for Israel: When the Least Bad is the Best Choice, Pax Americana, October 25, 2023. https://shurkin.substack.com/p/options-for-israel
“Plus ça change: A French Approach to Naval Warfare in the 21st Century,” War on the Rocks, October 13, 2023. https://warontherocks.com/2023/10/plus-ca-change-a-french-approach-to-naval-warfare-in-the-21st-century/
“A strategic lesson from our warming relations with Vietnam,” The Hill, September 13, 2023. https://thehill.com/opinion/international/4201801-a-strategic-lesson-from-our-warming-relations-with-vietnam/
“The United States Should Work with the Sahel’s New Juntas,” World Politics Review, August 28, 2023. Co-authored. https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/sahel-us-niger-coup/
“Adversary Confusion: When People Lose Sight of their True Enemy,” Pax Americana, August 25, 2023. https://shurkin.substack.com/p/adversary-dysphoria-when-people-lose
“Times up for France in Africa,” Politico, August 22, 2023. https://www.politico.eu/article/france-africa-sahel-niger-al-qaeda-islamic-state/.
“The Future of War, part 2. Going Full Auto,” Pax Americana, July 13, 2023, https://shurkin.substack.com/p/the-future-of-war-part-2
“The Future of War, part 1,” Pax Americana, July 10, 2023. https://shurkin.substack.com/p/the-future-of-war-part-1
“Afghanistan, Mali, the Paradox of Expertise, and the Chimera of Analytical Objectivity,” Pax Americana, July 4, 2023. https://shurkin.substack.com/p/afghanistan-mali-the-paradox-of-expertise
“Don’t Abandon Burkina Faso,” War on the Rocks, June 20, 2023. https://warontherocks.com/2023/06/dont-abandon-burkina-faso/
“Is Zionism the New Colonialism? Yes. And No.” Pax Americana, May 25, 2023. https://shurkin.substack.com/p/is-zionism-colonialism-yes-and-no
“Deception Operations, by Rémy Hémez,” Wavell Room, May 12, 2023. https://wavellroom.com/2023/05/12/wavellreviews-deception-operations-by-remy-hemez/?utm_content=bufferf4616&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
“Rethinking British Military Policy,” Wavell Room, May 5, 2023. https://wavellroom.com/2023/05/05/rethinking-british-military-policy/
“Why the French Army Will Continue to Prioritize Quality Over Mass,” War on the Rocks, April 28, 2023. https://warontherocks.com/2023/04/why-the-french-army-will-continue-to-prioritize-quality-over-mass/
“Macron in Beijing: Why US-China watchers need to take a deep breath,” The Hill, April 13, 2023. https://thehill.com/opinion/international/3948006-macron-in-beijing-why-us-china-watchers-need-to-take-a-deep-breath/
“Olaf Scholz and the New, New Europe,” Pax Americana, January 22, 2023. https://shurkin.substack.com/p/olaf-scholz-and-the-new-new-europe
“Rethinking the UK in Mali: It’s Time to Look Elsewhere,” Wavell Room, July 29, 2022. https://wavellroom.com/2022/07/29/rethinking-the-uk-in-mali/
“Strengthening Sahelian Counterinsurgency Strategy.” Africa Security Brief No. 41, Africa Center for Strategic Studies, July 25, 2022. https://africacenter.org/publication/strengthening-sahelian-counterinsurgency-strategy/
“French Army Approaches to High Intensity Warfare in the 21st Century,” Wavell Room, June 22, 2022. https://wavellroom.com/2022/06/22/french-army-warfare/
“Leçons de la guerre pour les Européens vues par un Américain,” Revue de défense nationale, April 13, 2022. https://www.defnat.com/e-RDN/vue-article.php?carticle=22847
“Ukraine and the Non-Battle.” Pax Americana, April 18, 2022. https://shurkin.substack.com/p/ukraine-and-the-non-battle
“La Russie au Sahel: vers une aggravation des situations sécuritaires et politiques (Russia in the Sahel: Towards an Aggravation of the Political and Security Situation),” Le Rubicon, April 13, 2022. https://lerubicon.org/publication/la-russie-au-sahel-vers-une-aggravation-des-situations-securitaires-et-politiques/
“How the Bundeswehr Should Spend its Money,” War on the Rocks, March 21, 2022. https://warontherocks.com/2022/03/how-the-bundeswehr-should-spend-its-money/
“What the US can learn from France’s withdrawal from Mali,” The Hill, February 18, 2022. https://thehill.com/opinion/international/594885-what-the-us-can-learn-from-frances-withdrawal-from-mali/
L’Intervention française au sahel et l’évolution de la doctrine de contre-insurrection. Institut de Recherche Stratégique de l'Ecole Militaire, 2021. https://www.irsem.fr/institut/actualites/etude-de-l-irsem-n-90-2021.html
“Biden's submarine deal is an own goal in the contest against China,” The Hill, September 21, 2021. https://thehill.com/opinion/international/573223-bidens-submarine-deal-is-an-own-goal-in-the-contest-against-china
“Ten Things the United States Should Do to Combat Terrorism in the Sahel,” War on the Rocks, August 30, 2021. https://warontherocks.com/2021/08/ten-things-the-united-states-should-do-to-combat-terrorism-in-the-sahel/
A History of the Third Offset, 2014-2018. RAND Corporation, 2021. Second author.
https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA454-1.html.
The Covid-19 Pandemic in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Opportunity to Rethink Strategic Competition on the Continent. Lead author. RAND Corporation. July 2021. https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PEA1055-1.html
“Understanding the Meteoric Rise of the Islamic State in Mozambique,” New Lines Institute, June 21, 2021. https://newlinesinstitute.org/nonstate-actors/transnational-criminal-networks/understanding-the-meteoric-rise-of-the-islamic-state-in-mozambique/
“Kill the Homothetic Army: Gen. Guy Hubin’s Vision of the Future Battlefield,” War on the Rocks, February 4, 2021. https://warontherocks.com/2021/02/kill-the-homothetic-army-gen-guy-hubins-vision-of-the-future-battlefield/
What if France Ended Operation Barkhane? Findings of the RAND Webinar on Operation Barkhane. First author. RAND Corporation. 2021. https://www.rand.org/pubs/conf_proceedings/CFA1338-1.html
“France in the Pacific: What It’s Been up to and Why It’s Good for America,” 9Dashline, September 20, 2021. https://www.9dashline.com/article/france-in-the-pacific-what-its-been-up-to-and-why-its-good-for-america
A Strong Ally Stretched Thin: An Overview of France’s Defense Capabilities from a Burdensharing Perspective. RAND Corporation. Co-author, 2021. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA231-1.html
“Britain should be more Italy?” Wavell Room, April 24, 2021. https://wavellroom.com/2021/04/24/british-should-be-more-italy/
“Welcoming a Stronger European Defense,” Real Clear World, January 21, 2021. https://www.realclearworld.com/articles/2021/01/21/welcoming_a_stronger_european_defense_657427.html
Building Military Coalitions: Lessons from U.S. Experience. RAND Corporation, 2021. Contributing author. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA859-1.html
“What Joe Biden's Africa strategy might look like,” The Hill, December 9, 2020. https://thehill.com/opinion/international/529522-what-an-africa-strategy-might-look-like-under-biden
“France’s War in the Sahel and the Evolution of Counter-Insurgency Doctrine,” Texas National Security Review, November 2020. https://tnsr.org/2020/11/frances-war-in-the-sahel-and-the-evolution-of-counter-insurgency-doctrine/
“What Would it Take for Idriss Deby to Fall in Chad?” World Politics Review, July 30, 2020. https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/trend-lines/28955/what-would-it-take-for-idriss-deby-to-fall-in-chad
“Pandemics and the U.S. Military: Lessons from 1918,” War on the Rocks, April 1, 2020. https://warontherocks.com/2020/04/pandemics-and-the-u-s-military-lessons-from-1918/
The Evolution of U.S. Military Policy from the Constitution to the Present, Volume I
The Old Regime: The Army, Militia, and Volunteers from Colonial Times to the Spanish-American War. RAND Corporation. Co-author, 2020. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1995z1.html
“The UK in Mali,” Wavell Room, March 12, 2020. https://wavellroom.com/2020/03/12/the-uk-in-mali/
“Grand Strategy is Total: French Gen. André Beaufre on War in the Nuclear Age.” War on the Rocks, October 8, 2020. https://warontherocks.com/2020/10/grand-strategy-is-total-french-gen-andre-beaufre-on-war-in-the-nuclear-age/
“Modern War for Romantics: Ferdinand Foch and the Principals of War.” War on the Rocks, July 8, 2020. https://warontherocks.com/2018/08/how-the-u-s-military-learned-to-learn-in-world-war-i-lessons-from-the-american-expeditionary-forces/
“The Insurgent Counter-Insurgent: The French Army’s Hero and Some Truths about Modern Warfare,” War on the Rocks, July 25, 2019. https://warontherocks.com/2019/07/the-insurgent-counter-insurgent-the-french-armys-hero-and-some-truths-about-modern-warfare/
Targeted Interoperability: A New Imperative for Multinational Operations. RAND Corporation. Contributing author, 2019. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2075.html
Manpower Alternatives to Enhance Total Force Capabilities: Could New Forms of Reserve Service Help Alleviate Military Shortfalls?. RAND Corporation, 2019. Contributing author. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR3055.html
DPRK Sanctions: Countering DPRK Proliferation Activities. RAND Corporation, 2019. Co-author. https://www.rand.org/pubs/tools/TL332.html
“How the U.S. Military Learned to Learn in World War I: Lessons from the American Expeditionary Forces, War on the Rocks, August 22, 2018. https://warontherocks.com/2018/08/how-the-u-s-military-learned-to-learn-in-world-war-i-lessons-from-the-american-expeditionary-forces/
“Dragons, Nukes and Game of Thrones,” Scientific American, August 24, 2017. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/dragons-nukes-and-game-of-thrones/
The Evolution of U.S. Military Policy from the Constitution to the Present. RAND Corporation, 2017. Contributing author. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1759.html
Reimagining the Character of Urban Operations for the U.S. Army: How the Past Can Inform the Present and Future. RAND Corporation. Contributing author, 2017. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1602.html
Mali’s Next Battle: Improving Counterterrorism Capabilities. RAND Corporation. First author, 2017. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1241.html
The Abilities of the British, French, and German Armies to Generate and Sustain Armored Brigades in the Baltics. RAND Corporation, 2017. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1629.html
Defence and security after Brexit: A snapshot of international perspectives on the implications of the UK's decision to leave the EU. RAND Corporation, 2017. Contributing author. https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PE225.html
Reimagining the Character of Urban Operations for the U.S. Army: How the Past Can Inform the Present and Future. RAND Corporation, 2017. Contributing author. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1602.html
Enabling the Global Response Force Access Strategies for the 82nd Airborne Division. RAND Corporation, 2016. Contributing author. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1161.html
“A Brief History of the Assault Rifle,” The Atlantic, June 30, 2016. https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/06/a-brief-history-of-the-assault-rifle/489428/
“Niger: An African country the West has ignored could have a big impact on the global war on terror,” Quartz, February 24, 2016. https://qz.com/622439/an-african-country-the-west-has-ignored-could-have-a-big-impact-on-the-global-war-on-terror/
Assessing Conventional Army Demands and Requirements for Ultra-Light Tactical Mobility. RAND Corporation. Contributing author, 2015. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR718.html
Achieving Peace in Northern Mali: Past Agreements, Local Conflicts, and the Prospects for a Durable Settlement. RAND Corporation. Co-author, 2015. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR892.html
“Flirting With Genocide in Burundi: Paying Attention Could Save Lives,” Newsweek, November 18, 2015. https://www.newsweek.com/burundi-genocide-conflict-395942
Achieving Peace in Northern Mali: Past Agreements, Local Conflicts, and the Prospects for a Durable Settlement. Co-author. RAND Corporation. 2015. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR892.html
“How to Defeat a New Boko Haram in Mali,” Newsweek, September 7, 2015. https://www.newsweek.com/how-defeat-new-boko-haram-mali-369430
“France Is Replacing the U.K. as America's Top Ally in Europe,” Newsweek, March 30, 2015. https://www.newsweek.com/france-replacing-uk-americas-top-ally-europe-317774
France’s War in Mali: Lessons for an Expeditionary Army. RAND Corporation, 2014. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR770.html
Readiness Reporting for an Adaptive Army. RAND Corporation. Contributing author. 2013. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR230.html
Setting Priorities in the Age of Austerity: British, French, and German [Army] Experiences. Sole author. 2013. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR222.html
Toward a Secure and Stable Mali: Approaches to Engaging Local Actors. RAND Corporation, 2013. Co-author. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR296.html
“The Emancipation of Algerian Jews: A Variant of the Alsatian Model?” Archives Juives, Vol. 45, No. 2, pp. 14-31. https://www.cairn-int.info/article-E_AJ_452_0014--the-emancipation-of-algerian-jews-a.htm
“Bernard-Henri Lévy and Michel Houellebecq Stoke Their Egos and Bore Their Readers,” Forward, January 26, 2011, https://forward.com/schmooze/134940/bernard-henri-levy-and-michel-houellebecq-stoke-th/
Subnational Government in Afghanistan. RAND Corporation, 2011. https://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/OP318.html
“French Liberal Governance and the Emancipation of Algeria’s Jews.” French Historical Studies, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 259-280, April 1, 2010. https://read.dukeupress.edu/french-historical-studies/article-abstract/33/2/259/9652/French-Liberal-Governance-and-the-Emancipation-of?redirectedFrom=PDF
“French Jewish History, 1650-1914: The Republic's liberal principles brought tolerance and opportunity.” My Jewish Learning, https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/french-jewish-history-1650-1914/
“Léon Blum” and “Jewish Participation in European Liberal Movements” in David Shaham, ed., The Encyclopedia of Jewish Culture in the Era of Modernization and Secularization (Hebrew), 2007.
“Consistories and Contradictions: From the Old to the New Regime. Historical Reflections/Réflexions Historiques, vol 31, no. 1, pp. 65-82, 2006. https://www.jstor.org/stable/41299361
“France and the Darfur Crisis,” Brookings Institution, January 2005, http://www.brookings.edu/fp/cuse/analysis/shurkin20050101.pdf
“Chirac in Algiers: Reading French Gestures Toward the Arab World,” Brookings Institution, August 2003,http://www.brookings.edu/fp/cusf/analysis/shurkin.htm
“Liberalism at a Loss: A Review of Alexis de Tocqueville’s Writings on Empire and Slavery, ed. and trans. Jennifer Pitts,” in Patterns of Prejudice, vol. 38, n. 1, March 2004.
“Radical Evil: Bernard-Henri Lévy on the Murder of Daniel Pearl,” Zeek, September 2003, url: http://www.zeek.net/books_0309.shtml.
“Decolonization and the Renewal of French Judaism: Reflections on the Contemporary French Jewish Scene. Jewish Social Studies, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 156-176, 2000.” https://muse.jhu.edu/article/18232
Interviews
“Au Niger, les Etats-Unis évitent d’être assimilés à la France,” Le Nouvel Obs, September 12, 2023. https://www.nouvelobs.com/monde/20230912.OBS78010/au-niger-les-etats-unis-evitent-d-etre-assimiles-a-la-france.html
Coup d’État au Niger: «Les États-Unis ne veulent pas chasser la France d’Afrique». Le Figaro, September 5, 2023. https://www.lefigaro.fr/international/michael-shurkin-les-etats-unis-ne-veulent-pas-chasser-la-france-d-afrique-20230904
“Comment les pays du Sahel financent-ils la guerre contre les djihadistes ?” (Radio interview) France Culture, August 28, 2023. https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceculture/podcasts/le-temps-du-debat/comment-les-pays-du-sahel-financent-ils-la-guerre-contre-les-djihadistes-7986505
“Niger : ‘Le gouvernement américain a tendance à voir le Sahel comme une cause perdue,’" L’Express, August 6, 2023. https://www.lexpress.fr/monde/afrique/niger-le-gouvernement-americain-a-tendance-a-voir-le-sahel-comme-une-cause-perdue-GKJRSAN4EJAMRNS2NV723YJCPU/
“Les États-Unis suivent attentivement ce qu’il se passe au Niger parce qu’ils y ont beaucoup investi.” (Interview) Radio France International, July 29, 2023. https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20230729-les-%C3%A9tats-unis-suivent-attentivement-ce-qu-il-se-passe-au-niger-parce-qu-ils-y-ont-beaucoup-investi
“La France, cet ennemi à remplacer par la Russie ? Ce que les Burkinabés et les Maliens ne semblent pas comprendre à leur situation,” Atlantico, October 5, 2022. https://atlantico.fr/article/decryptage/la-france-cet-ennemi-a-remplacer-par-la-russie-ce-que-les-burkinabes-et-les-maliens-ne-semblent-pas-comprendre-a-leur-situation-burkina-faso-coup-d-etat-ouagadougou-russie-sentiment-anti-francais-revoltes-michael-shurkin
“La France face à la haute intensité : le point de vue américain.” Défense et Sécurité Internationale, Hors Série no. 85, August-September 2022. https://www.areion24.news/produit/dsi-hs-n-85/
“Opération Barkhane au Sahel : ‘Entre la France et le Mali, le malentendu n’est pas résolu,’” Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace, 23 December 2021, https://www.dna.fr/defense-guerre-conflit/2021/12/23/operation-barkhane-au-sahel-entre-la-france-et-le-mali-le-malentendu-n-est-pas-resolu
“About the operation Serval in Mali - Interview with Michael Shurkin (RAND),” Mars Attaque, October 28, 2014. https://mars-attaque.blogspot.com/2014/10/about-operation-serval-in-mali.html
TV and Radio Appearances and Podcasts
“Trêve à Gaza: La dipomatie à l’épreuve?” France 24, November 28, 2023. https://www.france24.com/fr/%C3%A9missions/le-d%C3%A9bat/20231128-tr%C3%AAve-%C3%A0-gaza-la-diplomatie-%C3%A0-l-%C3%A9preuve
“Dans le Bunker #64: Le Pacific,” Le Collimateur, November 24, 2023. https://shows.acast.com/collimateur/episodes/dans-le-bunker-64-the-pacific-de-s-spielberg-et-t-hanks-2010
“Can the US change the outcome of the Israel-Hamas conflict?,” France 24, October 12, 2023. https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/perspective/20231012-can-the-us-change-the-outcome-of-the-israel-hamas-conflict
“Attaque du Hamas contre Israël : jusqu'où ira l'armée israélienne ?,” France 24, October 10, 2023. https://www.france24.com/fr/%C3%A9missions/le-d%C3%A9bat/20231010-hamas-isra%C3%ABl-jusq-o%C3%B9-ira-l-arm%C3%A9e-isra%C3%A9lienne
“Michael Shurkin would be surprised if the leaks were to damage the U.S relationship with the UAE.” https://youtu.be/1uOJbKFDZcg?si=n0r5w7qAVzzITwsa
“Niger Coup: ‘Worse than an Own Goal,” BBC Newsday. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0g351fg
“Les armées françaises vues de Washington,” podcast. April 24, Le Collimateur. January 24, 2023. https://www.irsem.fr/le-collimateur/les-armees-francaises-vues-de-washington-24-01-2023.html
“Washington Forum : la stratégie sécuritaire américaine en Afrique,” Voice of America, March 23, 2023. https://www.voaafrique.com/a/7018793.html
“Parcours de veille : Michael Shurkin, des notes, des notes et des logiciels,” Podcast Signal sur bruit, published by French Ministry of Defense’s Centre de Documentation de l’École Militaire. https://audioblog.arteradio.com/blog/153024/podcast/166697/parcours-de-veille-michael-shurkin-des-notes-des-notes-et-des-logiciels
“Mission abort: What next for Mali after French-led withdrawal?” France 24, February 16, 2024. https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/the-debate/20220216-mission-abort-what-next-for-mali-after-french-led-withdrawal
Defense & Aerospace Daily Podcast [Nov 14, 22] Sam Bendett, Dr. Michael Shurkin & Byron Callan, November 14, 2022. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defense-aerospace-daily-podcast-nov-14-22-sam-bendett/id1228868129?i=1000586160166
“Burkina Faso’s Military Overthrows Government,” Podcast The Warcast, published by War on the Rocks, January 24, 2022. https://warontherocks.com/episode/warcast/26302/burkina-fasos-military-overthrows-government/
“Tanks contre Javelins: Les armes à l'épreuve de la guerre d'Ukraine #1,” Le Collimateur, October 2022, https://soundcloud.com/le-collimateur/les-armes-a-lepreuve-de-la-guerre-dukraine-1-tanks-contre-javelins/s-dbHOt8Zx3x3?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
“Sommes-nous entrés dans une économie de guerre ?” France Culture, June 15, 2022. https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceculture/podcasts/le-temps-du-debat/sommes-nous-entres-dans-une-economie-de-guerre-6851479
“Propagande malienne: Michaël Shurkin,” TV5Monde, January 20, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pqWU621PVQ
“Mali: Junta remains defiant, finding it 'politically profitable to antagonize France,” France 24, January 19, 2022. https://www.france24.com/en/video/20220119-mali-junta-remains-defiant-finding-it-politically-profitable-to-antagonize-france
“Leaving Timbuktu: What next as France redeploys in northern Mali?” France 24, December 15, 2021. https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/the-debate/20211215-leaving-timbuktu-what-next-as-france-redeploys-in-northern-mali
“Chad at the intersection of conflicts on the African continent.” Le Collimateur. May 11, 2021. Published by the Institute de Recherche de l’École Militaire. https://www.irsem.fr/le-collimateur/le-tchad-au-carrefour-des-conflits-du-continent-africain-11-05-2021.html