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WESTERN MILITARY CULTURE AND COUNTERINSURGENCY: AN AMBIGUOUS REALITY

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dc.creator Martijn Kitzen
dc.date 2012-05-01T00:00:00Z
dc.date.accessioned 2015-07-20T20:08:46Z
dc.date.available 2015-07-20T20:08:46Z
dc.identifier 10.5787/40-1-982
dc.identifier 2224-0020
dc.identifier https://doaj.org/article/99c66b855c084bf8b8837b3353d84ad3
dc.identifier.uri http://evidence.thinkportal.org/handle/123456789/8460
dc.identifier.uri https://doaj.org/article/99c66b855c084bf8b8837b3353d84ad3
dc.description <p>Contemporary campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan once again have demonstrated that conventional armies experience many problems in adapting to counterinsurgency operations. This article seeks an explanation for those problems by exploring the conceptual background of both Western-style conventional armies and counterinsurgency.  In essence, Western military culture is about fighting large-scale decisive battles with armies of other states. This contrasts strongly with counterinsurgency, which is about outbidding the insurgents for the favour of the people with a minimised use of force. The article analyses the further consequences of this conceptual clash between Western military culture and counterinsurgency in the reality of counterinsurgency warfare. It is explained that the contrast between both concepts leads to an ambiguous reality in which soldiers are aware of the specifics of counterinsurgency theory, but refer back to Western military culture for fighting counterinsurgency campaigns.</p>
dc.language English
dc.publisher University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Military Science (Military Academy)
dc.relation http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/982
dc.relation https://doaj.org/toc/2224-0020
dc.source Scientia Militaria : South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 40, Iss 1 (2012)
dc.subject Military Science
dc.subject U
dc.subject DOAJ:Military Science
dc.subject DOAJ:Technology and Engineering
dc.subject Military Science
dc.subject U
dc.subject DOAJ:Military Science
dc.subject DOAJ:Technology and Engineering
dc.subject Military Science
dc.subject U
dc.subject Military Science
dc.subject U
dc.subject Military Science
dc.subject U
dc.title WESTERN MILITARY CULTURE AND COUNTERINSURGENCY: AN AMBIGUOUS REALITY
dc.type Article


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