Violent Non-State Special Operations: a book talk with Craig Whiteside

The Program on Extremism at The George Washington University is pleased to host Craig Whiteside, Professor of National Security Affairs at the US Naval War College, for an engaging discussion about his forthcoming book, Non-state Special Operations: Capabilities and Effects, set to be released in July 2025. Moderated by Omar Mohammed, this event will take the form of a thought-provoking book talk that explores the evolving role of non-state actors in special operations.

Building on Craig Whiteside's extensive research on the special operations tactics employed by the Islamic State and other non-state groups, Non-state Special Operations: Capabilities and Effects introduces an interesting theoretical framework that categorizes and analyzes various types of Violent Non-state Actors (VNSA), including militants, proxies, criminal organizations, cults, and mercenaries.

This discussion provides a great opportunity to engage with a leading expert in the field and gain a deeper understanding of both the theoretical foundations and real-world implications of non-state special operations in global security.

Register Here!