Letter from the editors.(Editorial)

What does "modern war" entail? The end of the Cold War signalled a shift--at least temporarily--away from territorial conflicts between large states and towards smaller, messier forms of warfare. US counterinsurgency in Iraq and Afghanistan typifies one emergent model of conflict--"small wars" fought at the cutting edge of politics, culture and law. Ethnic conflicts in Rwanda, Darfur, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo may come to represent another common form. But is the old model dead? Nuclear weapons, rather than being disassembled, are being developed in a number of rogue states. NATO is still operating, and its reach is wider than ever. In this symposium, we search for a new paradigm for war. As new threats arise and old antagonisms persist, how will international actors accommodate themselves to the emerging realities of conflict?

We begin our symposium with a discussion of US defense spending. Ted Bromund debunks prevailing arguments for reducing US military spending, arguing that the level of US spending is appropriate given its security concerns. Joseph Cirincione examines necessary strategies Obama's regime must take to repair the damage done to the nonproliferation regime. He concludes with optimism that the new administration seems to be making progress toward disarmament. We then discuss the nature of the transatlantic agenda on the eve of NATO's 60the anniversary. James Goldgeier explores how NATO can broaden its ties to no-western democracies in order to successfully meet the challenges of the new century. William Rosenau examines the growing role of counterinsurgency efforts in US military strategy. Madeline Morris addresses the lack of provisions in international law that govern the detention of private actors, and proposes a legislative framework for counterterrorism detention. Finally, Michael N. Schmitt closes our Features section by analyzing how the climate of warfare influences attitudes toward the law of war, and argues that international humanitarian law is undergoing a 21st century revitalization.

In our Perspectives sections we tackle the dismal reality of human trafficking and slavery in the modern age. Kevin Bales describes the global epidemic of slave labor and concludes that eradicating slavery is possible through the concerted commitment of governments and international institutions. Seth Kaplan argues that religion--in both its spiritual and institutional form--plays a critical role in shaping policy worldwide. Former Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga discusses the potential of the European Council's Reflection Group to craft constructive policy recommendations for Europe's future in the in the midst of a global financial crisis.

Our Spotlight section presents analyses from Freedom House and Duke University. Arch Puddington of Freedom House highlights the threats posed to civil liberties by the emergence of influential authoritarian states. Vivek Wadhwa of Duke University addresses the alarming rise of nativism in the United States and its adverse effect of creating a "reverse brain drain"--the exodus of highly skilled and educated immigrant workers from the country.

In his review of The End of Reciprocity by Mark Osiel, Seumas Miller examines a number of ethical and moral dilemmas confronting United States as it continues its conter-terrorism efforts. In our Interview section, Pakistan's former Ambassador to the United States Maleeha Lodhi discusses discusses the future of US-Pakistan relations and Pakistan's potential as a stabilizing force in the Muslim world. Finally, Gustavo de las Cases close with an Endpaper that draws an unexpected--yet startlingly appropriate--parallel betweenthe financial crisis of today and a crisis of more than 150 years ago. Look for a lengthier piece from de las Casas on our website--http://hir.harvard.edu.

Armed conflict seems to be an enduring facet of human society. While we recognize the unfortunate permanence of war itself, we also hope to shed light on the urgent need for the reevaluation of the norms that govern it.

To peaceful times,

Owen Barron and Natasa Kovacevic

Editors-in-Chief

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