Date of Graduation

Spring 2017

Degree

Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies

Department

Defense and Strategic Studies

Committee Chair

Ilan Berman

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to develop a comprehensive operational definition of lawfare, analyze historical case studies of states currently implementing lawfare strategies, and to make an argument for why the U.S. should adopt a lawfare doctrine. Chapter 1 will focus on defining the concept of lawfare and drafting an operational definition of lawfare. Chapter 2 focuses on the evolution of the lawfare doctrine established by the People's Republic of China (PRC), identifies the current lawfare operations conducted by the PRC in the fields of maritime, airspace, cyberspace, and outer space, and analyzing the implications of PRC lawfare operations for the U.S. Chapter 3 observes the use of lawfare by both Israel and Palestine, specifically focusing on Palestine's use of lawfare to seek international recognition of statehood and the efforts of Israel to counter Palestinian lawfare operations through direct and indirect means. Chapter 4 illustrates the capacity of the U.S. to be a leader in the field of lawfare by identifying the current U.S. asymmetrical advantages that the U.S. has over other states in the international community. Chapter 5 concludes with a summary of the U.S. lawfare assets, an argument for why the U.S. should adopt a lawfare doctrine, and an outlined proposal of the resources needed for the U.S. lawfare doctrine, a mission statement for the lawfare doctrine, and a set of operational objectives that the U.S. lawfare doctrine should look to attain.

Keywords

Lawfare, China, PRC, Israel, Palestine, U.S., strategy, doctrine, proposal

Subject Categories

Defense and Security Studies

Copyright

© Trevor Michael Alfred Logan

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Open Access

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