Angela O'Mahony

U.S. Presence and the Incidence of Conflict

• What is U.S. military presence, and how can it be measured? • How have U.S. forces been deployed around the globe since the end of Word War II? To what countries has the United States provided military assistance since the end of World War II? • How might U.S. military presence affect the conflict behavior of states and nonstate actors? • What does statistical analysis reveal about how U.S. military presence affects the likelihood of interstate or intrastate conflict in a region? • What are the implications for contemporary debates about U.S. forward presence?

Pacific Engagement: Forging Tighter Connections Between Tactical Security Cooperation Activities and U.S. Strategic Goals in the Asia-Pacific Region

This report examines U.S. Army security cooperation (SC) processes in the Pacific Command area of responsibility to forge stronger links between strategic and tactical levels in the planning and execution of SC activities. Researchers developed a framework to link tactical-level SC activities with strategic goals and found ways to identify information requirements for units executing SC activities and improve evaluations of SC events.

Assessing, Monitoring, and Evaluating Army Security Cooperation: A Framework for Implementation

The U.S. Army conducts security cooperation activities with partner nations to achieve several objectives; however, evaluating the effectiveness of these activities has been difficult. To help the Army prioritize and increase the effectiveness of its activities, this report addresses two questions: when can Army security cooperation have the greatest impact, and how should the Army assess, monitor, and evaluate security cooperation?

What Are the Trends in Armed Conflicts, and What Do They Mean for U.S. Defense Policy?

This report assesses trends in armed conflict and their implications for defense planning. The incidence of such conflict has declined in recent decades and only sharply different alternative future scenarios are likely to change such trends. Several key political, economic, and strategic factors, including the deterrent effect of the U.S. military, appear to have contributed to this decline and are likely to continue to do so in the future.