James Holmes

Everything old is new again. As in past ages, rising and established powers are gazing seaward–and thinking about how to use sea power to advance their power and purposes. Professor Jim Holmes sizes up the prospects for competition and cooperation in maritime Asia–looking back across history to catch sight of the future.

Counterinsurgency, Politics and War

“…the burden on the government is heavy, whereas the insurgent often gets off scot-free.”

Mahan, Bean-Counting and Ideas

Quantitative analysis is quite in vogue these days. However, there are many parts when it comes to strategic analysis.

A Complicated Narrative: The Korean War

The Korean War, fought after World War II as the Cold War began to take hold offers important lessons.

World War II: No Model for Contemporary U.S. Strategy

“If the United States wants to remain a balancer in Eurasia, better to do it from forward staging bases…”

The South China Sea: "Lake Beijing"

Shinzo Abe’s recent comments on the South China Sea sound ominous. The concept of a “lake” has been used before though.

The Commons: Beijing's "Blue National Soil"

“The commons must remain the commons, lest the system of liberal trade and commerce collapse…”

Move, Countermove in the Anti-Access Game

New technologies like unmanned surface ships could put a dent in some nation’s anti-access plans.

Hemingway's Naval Adventures

Literary figures have made a point of taking part in great events. They also remind us that there are many ways to organize navies.

A Higher Call: History with a Purpose

A new book asks a straight forward question: can decent men fight on both sides of a bad war?

Taiwan's East China Sea Peace Plan

President Ma has crafted a plan to solve the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands dispute. Could it work?

Small Navy, Strong Navy

Just because a smaller nation can’t deploy massive naval power does not mean it can’t be credible — or dangerous.

Daniel Inouye, R.I.P.

James Holmes remembers Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii.