Independent Strategic Research for a Complex World
An independent research institute publishing working papers, policy briefs, and building toward a fully peer-reviewed journal in international relations, strategic studies, and geopolitics.
Mission & Mandate
The Geo-Strategic Studies Organisation (GSSO) is an independent research institution producing working papers and building toward a fully peer-reviewed journal in international relations, strategic studies, nuclear deterrence, geopolitics, and peace. We bridge academic research with policy-relevant analysis.
Peer-Reviewed Research
We produce independent research and working papers across international relations, nuclear strategy, regional security, and emerging threats — free from institutional or governmental bias.
Policy Analysis
Strategic briefs and analyses for decision-makers navigating great-power competition, alliance dynamics, arms control, and regional instability.
Open-Access Journal
The GSSO Journal will publish original, peer-reviewed research papers, policy briefs, and strategic commentaries from its inaugural issue. All journal submissions will undergo double-blind peer review.
Working Papers (2026)
Pre-print research. These papers have not yet undergone formal peer review. See our Peer Review Policy →
The Madman or the Method? Deconstructing Strategic Irrationality in the 2026 US-Iran War
Interrogates a central paradox of the 2026 US-Israeli war on Iran: presidential conduct oscillating between Nixon's 'Madman Theory' of calculated irrationality and indicators of genuine cognitive impairment. Deploys a novel 'Strategic Irrationality Spectrum' (SIS) mapping 39 days of wartime rhetoric across five dimensions: escalatory coherence, diplomatic consistency, temporal rationality, rhetorical stability, and outcome alignment. Demonstrates that the conflict reveals a dangerous new category of wartime leadership.
The New Non-Alignment: How the Global South is Rewriting the Rules of Great Power Competition
Develops a 'Strategic Autonomy Index'. India, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Brazil, and the UAE have leveraged multi-alignment to extract concessions from multiple great powers simultaneously. Most significant redistribution of agency since decolonization.
The Second Nuclear Age: Multipolarity, Arms Control Collapse, and the New Geometry of Deterrence
Develops a 'Nuclear Geometry Model'. Nuclear use risk is higher in 2026 than at any point since the Cuban Missile Crisis, driven by structural instability of multipolar nuclear order.
The Burning Front: Climate Change as a Threat Multiplier and the Emerging Climate-Security Nexus
Develops a 'Climate-Conflict Transmission Model' with five pathways. Reveals statistically significant positive correlation (r=0.72) between climate vulnerability and conflict risk. Addresses the 'Military Climate Paradox'.
The Deepfake Doctrine: AI-Powered Disinformation as a Weapon of Strategic Subversion
Develops a 'Synthetic Threat Escalation Framework'. By 2026, detection accuracy has fallen below 50%, creating an 'Authenticity Crisis' posing existential threats to democratic governance.
Orbital Deterrence: The Militarization of Space and the Collapse of the Outer Space Commons
Introduces 'Orbital Deterrence' as a new strategic paradigm. Develops a 'Space Power Index'. Reveals unregulated militarization is creating a 'Kessler Dilemma' threatening all spacefaring nations.
The Fiscal Foundations of Power: Global Debt, Defense Spending, and the Erosion of Strategic Stability
Introduces the 'Fiscal-Strategic Squeeze' framework and 'Strategic Solvency Index'. No major power possesses a sustainable pathway to meeting stated security ambitions within existing fiscal parameters.
The Escalation Cascade: Interlocking Conflicts and the Collapse of Regional Order in the Middle East (2023-2026)
Introduces the 'Escalation Cascade' framework. Develops a 'Conflict Interconnection Matrix' mapping transmission mechanisms through which violence propagates across the Middle Eastern regional system.
The Conscription Renaissance: Remilitarization of Society and the New Civil-Military Compact in Europe
Examines the wave of military conscription reintroduction across Europe in 2025-2026. Identifies three models: coercive restoration, voluntary engagement, and hybrid mobilization. Develops a 'Societal Remilitarization Index'.
The Geology of Power: Weaponization of Critical Minerals as a New Domain of Geostrategic Coercion
Examines critical mineral supply chain weaponization. Develops a 'Mineral Coercion Escalation Model' and proposes a 'Geological Security Dilemma' framework. Demonstrates critical minerals have surpassed energy resources in strategic leverage potential.
Digital Westphalia: AI Sovereignty as the New Frontier of Geopolitical Competition in 2026
Introduces 'Digital Westphalia' as a framework for understanding US-China-EU competition over AI sovereignty. Develops an 'AI Sovereignty Index' across six dimensions: compute infrastructure, foundation model autonomy, data governance, talent pipeline, regulatory independence, and military AI integration. Demonstrates AI governance has become the defining axis of great power competition.
Abraham Accords and Pakistan: Why Pakistani Masses Will Never Accept Israel Unless Palestine Issue is Resolved
Analyses Pakistan's absence from the Abraham Accords normalisation wave.
Can India Legally Suspend the Indus Waters Treaty? A Legal Analysis
Examines the legal validity of India's unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
The Diminishing Pax-Americana: Can The US Escape Declinism From Hegemonic Triumphalism
Analyses the probability of diminishing American global dominance through the lens of neo-realism.
Nuclear Deterrence and Alliance Formation: The Saudi-Pakistan Strategic Partnership
Analyses the September 2025 Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement through extended deterrence theory.
CHOKEPOINT AS WEAPON: Iran's Strait of Hormuz Blockade Strategy in the February–March 2026 War
Introduces the concept of the insurance-blockade as a distinct instrument of maritime coercion.
Operation Epic Fury and the Illusion of Decisive Force: America's Strategic Miscalculations in the Iran War of 2026
Identifies seven categories of strategic error in the coordinated US-Israeli military campaign against Iran.
Policy Briefs
Concise, policy-oriented analyses translating academic research into actionable recommendations for policymakers, diplomats, and institutional stakeholders.
Submit a Policy Brief
GSSO invites policy briefs (2,000–4,000 words) on topics within our research domains. Briefs should include an executive summary, policy context, analysis, and concrete recommendations.
See submission guidelines →Brief Structure
Executive Summary — 200-word overview with key recommendation
Policy Context — Background and current state of the issue
Analysis — Evidence-based assessment with data and sourcing
Recommendations — Specific, actionable policy proposals
References — Chicago Author-Date citation style
Areas of Expertise
International Relations
State behaviour, alliance dynamics, and institutional evolution.
Nuclear Strategy & Arms Control
Deterrence, non-proliferation, and weapons governance.
Geopolitics & Grand Strategy
Great-power competition, maritime chokepoints, corridors of influence.
Security & Defence
Security architectures, military strategy, and asymmetric warfare.
Political Science
Comparative politics, governance, populism, and statecraft.
Peace & Conflict
Conflict dynamics, reconstruction, and humanitarian law.
Technology & Statecraft
AI, cyber, quantum, and the weaponisation of technology.
Regional Studies
South Asia, Middle East, Indo-Pacific, and the Islamic world.
Editorial Board
The GSSO Journal is governed by an independent editorial board of scholars and practitioners committed to the highest standards of scholarly research.
Editor-in-Chief
We seek an established scholar (Associate Professor or above) with a distinguished publication record in international relations, strategic studies, or a cognate field. The Editor-in-Chief oversees editorial policy, manages the peer review process, and ensures the scholarly integrity of the journal.
View Full Description & Apply →Associate Editors (2–3 Positions)
Nuclear Strategy & Arms Control
Deterrence theory, non-proliferation, arms control treaties, nuclear governance, and space security.
Seeking: Assistant/Associate Professor or Senior Postdoc with relevant peer-reviewed publications.
View Full Description & Apply →Geopolitics & Regional Security
Great-power competition, alliance dynamics, Middle East security, South Asian stability, and Indo-Pacific strategy.
Seeking: Assistant/Associate Professor or Senior Postdoc with relevant peer-reviewed publications.
View Full Description & Apply →Technology, Climate & Emerging Threats
AI and warfare, cyber operations, climate-security nexus, critical minerals, and disinformation.
Seeking: Assistant/Associate Professor or Senior Postdoc with relevant peer-reviewed publications.
View Full Description & Apply →International Advisory Board (4–6 Positions)
GSSO is establishing an International Advisory Board comprising mid-career and senior scholars from diverse institutions and geographies. Board members provide strategic guidance, participate in annual reviews, and lend institutional credibility to the journal.
Seeking: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Senior Postdoc, or Policy Researcher at a recognised institution.
View Description & Apply →Founding Director
Ph.D. in International Relations. Founding director of GSSO, with published research on nuclear deterrence, geopolitics, and South Asian security. Author of independently published works available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other platforms.
Join Our Peer Reviewer Pool
GSSO maintains a register of qualified scholars available for double-blind peer review. Registered reviewers are invited to evaluate manuscripts matching their expertise on a per-submission basis. Active reviewers may be considered for future Advisory Board appointments.
What Reviewers Do
Who Can Register
Note: Registration does not guarantee assignment. Reviewers are matched to manuscripts based on subject expertise. All review work is voluntary and conducted in accordance with our Peer Review Policy.
Reviewer Registration
Register your interest and expertise. We will contact you when a relevant manuscript is received.
Call for Papers
The GSSO Journal of International Security Studies (ISSN: 2960-0001) invites original submissions from scholars, analysts, and practitioners worldwide for its upcoming issues.
Submission Guidelines
Research Papers: 5,000–12,000 words including references. Must include abstract (200–300 words), keywords, and complete bibliography.
Policy Briefs: 2,000–4,000 words. Executive summary, policy context, evidence-based analysis, and concrete recommendations.
Strategic Commentaries: 1,500–3,000 words. Timely analysis of emerging strategic developments.
Book Reviews: 1,000–2,000 words. Critical assessments of recently published works in our subject domains.
Citation Style: Chicago Manual of Style (Author-Date system).
Review Process: All research papers and policy briefs undergo double-blind peer review. Initial editorial screening: 7–10 days. Full peer review: 6–8 weeks.
Open Access: Accepted papers are published open-access on geostrategicstudies.org.
Topics of Interest
Submit Your Manuscript
Further Reading & Resources
Academic journals, databases, and international organisations relevant to strategic studies and international security research.
JSTOR
Digital Library of Academic Journals
International Security (MIT Press)
Leading Security Studies Journal
Foreign Affairs
International Relations & Policy
Google Scholar
Scholarly Literature Search
ResearchGate
Professional Research Network
International Studies Quarterly
Oxford University Press / ISA
Journal of Peace Research
SAGE / PRIO
ScienceDirect
Elsevier Peer-Reviewed Articles
Arms Control Association
Non-Proliferation Research
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Nuclear Threat Assessment
United Nations
International Peace & Security
IAEA
International Atomic Energy Agency
Get In Touch
For editorial inquiries, manuscript submissions, board applications, or institutional collaboration.