The Urban Warfare Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to advancing the study of urban environments, urban operations, and urban warfare. Our research spans the entire conflict spectrum and provides valuable insights to a diverse range of stakeholders.

Throughout history, wars have been waged in urban areas and this trend seems likely to continue given the world is becoming increasingly more urban. Recent wars or battles in Iraq, Syria, Ukraine, and Gaza have illustrated this. Yet militaries around the world are repeatedly unprepared for urban operations despite increasingly being pulled into them for a wide span of operations from humanitarian relief to combat.

As urban areas become an increasing site of political instability, natural disasters, and conflict, a robust public understanding of the complexity of urban operations and urban warfare is essential to preparing for the future. Our activities focus on conducting research, educational activities, and advising.

Research. The Urban Warfare Institute conducts research to produce articles, reports, books, podcasts, multi-media, and other products related to urban operations. This includes research to understand urban areas as well as research to understand the wide range of military and civil operations. Our research ranges from understanding urban areas, what generates conflict in urban environments, how to conduct urban operations most effectively to include how reduce civilian harm, how to improve de-escalation tactics for large crowds and riots, and to reduce human suffering. 

Educate. The Urban Warfare Institute conducts educational activities to increase the global understanding of all topics relating to urban operations to all stakeholders including political leaders, militaries, students of all ages, and general populations. The institute’s educational activities include teaching courses and individual classes, providing lectures, panels, podcasts, expert testimony, and more.

Advise. The Urban Warfare Institute leverages its expertise to advise political leaders, militaries, city planners, and other stakeholders on all areas relating to urban warfare, ranging from how to design a more defendable city to how to conduct more effective and humane urban operations.