On (New) War
Are the new dynamics of power assertion, the redistribution of influence, and the emergence of new technologies changing both the place of war in the everyday life of our societies and the way war is waged when it occurs? Does the obsession with conflict, combined with technical efficiency, impose upon us a state of permanent latent war? And when weapons speak, does the involvement of modern technologies and the companies that produce them revolutionize both the political decision-making process and the way people are engaged in war? These are fundamental questions raised by the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and they are already shaping current thinking on military strategy and organization.
In the Middle East, the combination of strategic adventurism, ignorance or contempt for the adversary, and fascination with technology leads to political failure and upends the status quo, while indeed sketching out a prospect for reshaping the region—but not in the expected directions. New power centers are emerging, the influence of external actors is being redistributed, and arsenals are being strengthened, yet none of the region’s socioeconomic, diplomatic, or strategic problems appear to be on the path to resolution. The Iranian question—that is, the question of the future role of a major player in the regional arena, whose internal workings remain a mystery—remains unresolved.
This issue is available in French only: De la (nouvelle) guerre
ON (NEW) WAR
War and the Risk of Further Escalation, by Benoît Durieux
What are the Military Implications of AI?, by Louis Gautier
Does Artificial Intelligence Change the Nature of War?, by Laure de Roucy-Rochegonde
War, Targeting, and the International Order: A Strategic Perspective, by Tewfik Hamel
Silicon Valley and War: Lessons from Ukraine, by Julien Nocetti
International Humanitarian Law in the Age of Predators, by Amélie Férey
MIDDLE EAST: WAR AND ITS AFTERMATH
“Remodeling” the Middle East?, by Denis Bauchard
Iran: Anatomy of a Power at War, by Sophia Mahroug
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Where does Afghanistan Stand? The Taliban’s Second Reign, by Jean-Luc Racine
Minorities in Post-Assad Syria: Between Protection and Predation, by Alain Monnier
The United States, a Power without Restraint?, by Adrien Schu
BAROMETERS
Nigeria and the 2027 Presidential Election: Change amid Continuity?, by Marc-Antoine Pérouse de Montclos
The United Kingdom and Russia: An Enduring Rivalry, by Pierre Pahlavi
BOOK REVIEWS
Editor: Marc Hecker
Can Europe Survive? The Story of a Continent in a Fractured World, by David Marsh
L’Euro en danger, by Didier Cahen
By Sylvie Goulard
Géopolitique des religions, by Blandine Chelini-Pont, Roland Dubertrand, and Valentine Zuber
Radicalités religieuses: Au cœur d’une mutation mondiale, by Alain Dieckhoff
Géopolitique religieuse en Méditerranée: Dynamiques et enjeux, by Imad Khillo and Blandine Chelini-Pont
Le nouveau pouvoir évangélique, by Sébastien Fath
By Joseph Maïla
240 pages. 23 euros.
September 8th, 2026.
Diffusion : Pollen/Dif'Pop.
Subscription: Armand Colin.
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Iran: Anatomy of a Power at War
The elimination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking officials at the outset of the 2026 American-Israeli operation did not succeed in bringing down the Iranian regime. The regime had prepared for such a scenario, notably by decentralizing its structures. Moreover, it continues to adapt to war. The power of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is growing at the expense of the Shiite clergy. The security apparatus defends the country’s sovereignty and justifies its actions in the name of raison d’état.
“Remodeling” the Middle East?
Chaos continues to spread, seemingly without end, across the Middle East. The Israeli-American attack on Iran has resulted in a clear military and diplomatic failure, but it is paving the way for a regional realignment, the consequences of which remain uncertain. New regional groupings are taking shape, either centered around Israel or built on the prospect of coexistence with Tehran, alongside a decline in American influence and the marginalization of Europe, while China maintains a low-key presence.
Silicon Valley and War: Lessons from Ukraine
Over the course of international conflicts, and particularly in Ukraine, major tech companies have emerged as central actors. Initially subject to wartime maneuvering, they have since become decisive actors in their own right, privatizing a significant share of wartime exchanges, shaping the information flows of societies, and presenting themselves as providers of security. This situation raises important questions about states’ autonomy in making decisions and taking action.
Does Artificial Intelligence Change the Nature of War?
From Gaza to Ukraine and Iran, current conflicts are being shaped by the arrival of artificial intelligence and robots on the battlefield. The changes under way are so profound that humans risk rapidly losing control over entire aspects of the conduct of military operations. While these technological developments are altering the character of war, their impact on the very nature of war itself remains a matter of debate.