Modern War Institute

Coercion and Competition: How the United States Can Impose Costs and
Disrupt Adversaries without Resorting to War

On November 4, 2020, the Modern War Institute hosted the fourth annual USMA Class of 2006 War Studies Conference. Like the previous iterations, this event brought together more than two dozen experts from across the national security community to generate ideas about how to address pressing challenges, like great power competition, facing the United States. The participants gathered virtually for a day of discussion surrounding a single theme: “Coercion and Competition: How the United States can impose costs and disrupt adversaries without resorting to war.” Below you can find links to the conference program and post-conference summary, along with videos of all five panels.


Official Conference Registration Book
Official Conference Summary

Conference Videos

Panel 1: Confronting Iran

Panelists:
Dr. Christopher Bolan
Dr. Anthony H. Cordesman
Dr. Ariane M. Tabatabai
Dr. Sanam Vakil

Moderator:
Dr. Nakissa Jahanbani


Panel 2: Confronting North Korea

Panelists:
Dr. Rupal Mehta
Mr. Ankit Panda
Dr. John S. Park
The Honorable Susan Thornton

Moderator:
Dr. Michael Poznansky


Panel 3: Confronting Russia

Panelists:
Dr. Thomas Graham
Ms. Nina Jankowicz
Dr. Alexander Lanoszka
Dr. Cynthia Roberts

Moderator:
Dr. Thomas Sherlock


Panel 4: Confronting China

Panelists:
Ms. Elaine K. Dezenski
Dr. David M. Finkelstein
Dr. Sheena Chestnut Greitens
Dr. Joshua Shifrinson

Moderator:
Mr. Ali Wyne


Concluding Panel: Addressing Diverse Challenges

Panelists:
Col. Stephanie Ahern, PhD
Dr. Emma Ashford
Dr. Michael C. Horowitz
Dr. Nadia Schadlow

Moderator:
Col. Patrick Howell, PhD