Texas National Security Review
The Texas National Security Review is a new kind of journal committed to excellence, scholarly rigor, and big ideas.
Launched in 2017 by War on the Rocks and the University of Texas (as a part of its Texas National Security Network ) we aim for articles published in this journal to end up on university syllabi and the desks of decision-makers, and to be cited as the foundational research and analysis on world affairs.
Why do we need another journal?
Many scholars and policymakers have worked on the challenges of bridging the gap between academia and the world of practice and policy. These conferences, fellowship programs, workshops, articles, and books have been important in solving this problem set.
We are still limited, however, by the traditional shape and form of the pillars of the academic profession. One of these is the scholarly journal. Lengthy review periods, jargon-laden prose, particularism, stodgy and large publishing houses, and “gates” that limit dissemination are well-known problems. On top of these, a lack of true interdisciplinary writing and review continue to limit the ability of most journals to serve as vehicles for policy engagement while continuing to facilitate scholarly communication and advancement.
War on the Rocks has partnered with the Texas National Security Network – a flagship effort by Chancellor William McRaven of the University of Texas System – to solve these problems. The Texas National Security Review sits at the heart of this new partnership. It features scholarly articles as well as essays by policymakers and practitioners. Its academic articles are:
- Peer reviewed (double-blind);
- Rigorous and demonstrate academic excellence;
- Interdisciplinary; and
- Accessible and useful for decision-makers and practitioners.
By focusing on the production and publication of top-tier scholarly work that serves both academic and “real-world” audiences and goals, we aim to create something we know is difficult but we believe is well worth pursuing. The print edition comes out quarterly and will be made available online, for free, for everyone. The online edition also features roundtable-style debates, discussions, and book reviews.
The Texas National Security Review maintains the best practices of scholarly journals – namely double-blind peer review enabled by a strong editorial board and stable of reviewers – while otherwise remaking how these publications are produced and disseminated. Even though we are going to be rigorous, exclusive, and methodologically pluralistic, we are going to demand jargon-free prose and scholarly work that addresses current policy problems. The result will be articles that are reviewed and edited quickly (see our Submissions page) and upon publication will experience meaningful exposure and access to decision-makers outside the ivory tower.
Recent Submissions
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Vol. 5, Iss. 3: The Tipping Point (Summer 2022)
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I Was Wrong. Now What? (Summer 2022)
(Texas National Security Review, 2022)In his introductory essay for Volume 5, Issue 3, the chair of our editorial board, Frank Gavin, contemplates being wrong, the value of academic debate, and the importance of a society looking at itself in the mirror, warts ... -
Oil for Atoms: The 1970s Energy Crisis and Nuclear Proliferation in the Persian Gulf (Summer 2022)
(Texas National Security Review, 2022)The 1970s energy crisis, which rocked global markets and caused oil prices to skyrocket, had a number of far-reaching and unexpected consequences, many of which have become the focus of academic study in recent years. ... -
China’s Biomedical Data Hacking Threat: Applying Big Data Isn’t as Easy as It Seems (Summer 2022)
(Texas National Security Review, 2022)Concerns have developed in recent years about the acquisition of U.S. biomedical information by Chinese individuals and the Chinese government and how this creates security and economic threats to the United States. And ... -
Everyman His Own Philosopher of History: Notions of Historical Process in the Study and Practice of Foreign Policy (Summer 2022)
(Texas National Security Review, 2022)The renewed interest in the utility of historical study — sometimes referred to as “applied history” — is a growing trend in both Europe and the United States. But while an invaluable foundation for understanding political, ... -
How Competing Schools of Grand Strategy Shape America’s Nonproliferation Policy Toward Iran (Summer 2022)
(Texas National Security Review, 2022)America’s policy toward Iran’s nuclear program has shifted over the past two decades from an exclusive reliance on coercive measures to an emphasis on diplomatic measures and then back again to coercion. What explains the ... -
Bob Jervis’ Impact on Understanding Cyber Conflict (Summer 2022)
(Texas National Security Review, 2022)In this roundtable feature, Jason Healey reflects on Bob Jervis’ contributions to cyber conflict research and on their collaboration over the years. -
The Human Factor: The Enduring Relevance of Protecting Civilians in Future Wars (Summer 2022)
(Texas National Security Review, 2022)The U.S. military has shifted from a counterinsurgency “population-centric” approach to an enemy-centric one, focused on destroying an enemy through decisive victory. And yet it should be careful not to cast aside measures ... -
Why Cyber Dogs Have Yet to Bark Loudly in Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine (Summer 2022)
(Texas National Security Review, 2022)Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, pundits agreed that the ongoing crisis was likely to involve extensive cyber conflict. Some argued that cyber war would accompany traditional forms of warfare. Others claimed ... -
Vol. 5, Iss. 2: Force & Feeling (Spring 2022)
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Serenity, Courage, and Wisdom (Spring 2022)
(Texas National Security Review, 2022)In his introductory essay for Volume 5, Issue 2, our executive editor looks at the role of emotions in war, the anxiety of the current moment, and how to have serenity about it all. -
Were Drone Strikes Effective? Evaluating the Drone Campaign in Pakistan Through Captured al-Qaeda Documents (Spring 2022)
(Texas National Security Review, 2022)At a time when the United States seems likely to rely heavily on targeted killing as an instrument of counter-terrorism, scholars, policymakers, and other analysts remain divided over its utility. These disagreements have ... -
The Role of Emotions in Military Strategy (Spring 2022)
(Texas National Security Review, 2022)Emotions are ubiquitous in the conduct of military strategy. Although strategic studies scholarship has increasingly emphasized the importance of emotions, their treatment in the field lacks a clear research focus. This ... -
Countering Hybrid Warfare: Mapping Social Contracts to Reinforce Societal Resiliency in Estonia and Beyond (Spring 2022)
(Texas National Security Review, 2022)Kremlin-backed hybrid warfare — a whole-of-society warfare on the political, economic, and social fabric of societies — has put states in the Kremlin’s crosshairs on high alert. These states remain vulnerable to hybrid ... -
Disease Outbreak and National Security: Drawing Lessons from the COVID-19 Crisis to Improve Emergency Response (Spring 2022)
(Texas National Security Review, 2022)In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden have invoked statutory authorities to obtain medical equipment and stem the spread of the virus. Their actions provide an opportunity to reflect on ... -
Not a Suicide Pact: Urgent Strategic Recommendations for Reducing Domestic Terrorism in the United States (Spring 2022)
(Texas National Security Review, 2022)Barbara McQuade reviews the Biden administration's National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism, discusses the constitutional challenges of combating domestic terrorism, and proposes some additional steps that are ... -
Making the Mark on Leader Targeting (Spring 2022)
(Texas National Security Review, 2022)In this issue’s featured roundtable, Craig Whiteside reviews Jenna Jordan’s book on leadership decapitation and takes a close look specifically at the Islamic State. -
Vol. 5, Iss. 1: Engines of Statecraft (Winter 2021/2022)
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How Are They Doing? (Winter 2021/2022)
(Texas National Security Review, 2022)In his introductory essay for Volume 5, Issue 1, the chair of our editorial board, Frank Gavin, discusses how to evaluate a presidency — and a sports team — in real time and some of the pitfalls of doing so. -
Whither Extractive Resource Nationalization? (Winter 2021/2022)
(Texas National Security Review, 2022)In this issue’s featured roundtable article, Erika Weinthal reviews Paasha Mahdavi’s book Power Grab: Political Survival through Extractive Resource Nationalization and considers how society, climate change, and conflict ...
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