The Future of Land Warfare

The Future of Land Warfare

Author: Michael E. O'Hanlon

Publisher: Brookings Institution Press

Published: 2015-08-31

Total Pages: 333

ISBN-13: 0815726902

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What happens if we bet too heavily on unmanned systems, cyber warfare, and special operations in our defense? In today's U.S. defense policy debates, big land wars are out. Drones, cyber weapons, special forces, and space weapons are in. Accordingly, Pentagon budget cuts have honed in on the army and ground forces: this, after the long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, seems like an appealing idea. No one really wants American boots on the ground in bloody conflicts abroad. But it is not so easy to simply declare an end to messy land wars. A survey of the world's trouble spots suggests that land warfare has more of a future than many now seem to believe. In The Future of Land Warfare, Michael O'Hanlon offers an analysis of the future of the world's ground forces: Where are large-scale conflicts or other catastrophes most plausible? Which of these could be important enough to require the option of a U.S. military response? And which of these could in turn demand significant numbers of American ground forces in their resolution? O'Hanlon is not predicting or advocating big American roles in such operations—only cautioning against overconfidence that we can and will avoid them. O'Hanlon considers a number of illustrative scenarios in which large conventional forces may be necessary: discouraging Russia from even contemplating attacks against the Baltic states; discouraging China from considering an unfriendly future role on the Korean peninsula; handling an asymmetric threat in the South China Sea with the construction and protection of a number of bases in the Philippines and elsewhere; managing the aftermath of a major and complex humanitarian disaster superimposed on a security crisis—perhaps in South Asia; coping with a severe Ebola outbreak not in the small states of West Africa but in Nigeria, at the same time that country falls further into violence; addressing a further meltdown in security conditions in Central America.


Pakistan's Foreign Policy

Pakistan's Foreign Policy

Author: Ghulam Ali

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2022-07-08

Total Pages: 201

ISBN-13: 1000604659

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This book analyses Pakistan’s foreign policy and external relations with a focus on contemporary developments, including the impact of the new government of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the powerful military, and the "middle power" status. Structured in two parts – Foundation and Operationalization – the book provides a broad overview of Pakistan’s foreign policy and addresses specific foreign policy choices. Contributor's explore issues such as Pakistan’s middle power status from a theoretical perspective, Imran Khan's foreign policy, Pakistan's relations with Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the EU, and Pakistan's evolving Indian Ocean strategy. Based on in-depth interviews with Pakistani scholars, politicians, and diplomats, the book offers a timely perspective on Pakistan’s foreign policy. The book will be of interest to academics working on Pakistan, South Asian Politics, Security and Conflict Studies, International Relations and Foreign Policy, and Asian Studies.


Pakistan's Democratic Transition

Pakistan's Democratic Transition

Author: Ishtiaq Ahmad

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2016-11-03

Total Pages: 261

ISBN-13: 1317235959

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Politics in Pakistan has traditionally been understood in the context of civil-military relationship. In May 2013, for the first time in history, Pakistan saw an elected government complete a full term in office and transfer power through the ballot box to another civilian government. In view of such an important development, this book offers critical perspectives on Pakistan’s current democratic transition and its implications for national politics, security and foreign policy. It critically analyses the emerging political trends in the country, including their underlying sources, attributes, constraints, and prospects of sustainability. Drawing on history, diverse theoretical perspectives, and empirical evidence, it explains the dynamics of the democratic process, contested borders and spaces, and regionalism. Contributions are from 13 prominent scholars in the field, who provide a wide-ranging analysis of Pakistan’s contemporary national and regional challenges, as well as the opportunities they entail for its viability as a democratic state. Taking the debate on Pakistan beyond the outmoded notions of praetorian politics and security, the book explores the future prospects of civilian supremacy in the country. It will be of interest to students and scholars of South Asian Politics, Political Sociology and Security Studies, as well as policy-makers, diplomats, security experts and military professionals.


Geopolitics

Geopolitics

Author: Bert Chapman

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 2011-04-07

Total Pages: 251

ISBN-13:

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This concise introduction to the growth and evolution of geopolitics as a discipline includes biographical information on its leading historical and contemporary practitioners and detailed analysis of its literature. An important book on a topic that has been neglected for too long, Geopolitics: A Guide to the Issues will provide readers with an enhanced understanding of how geography influences personal, national, and international economics, politics, and security. The work begins with the history of geopolitics from the late 19th century to the present, then discusses the intellectual renaissance the discipline is experiencing today due to the prevalence of international security threats involving territorial, airborne, space-based, and waterborne possession and acquisition. The book emphasizes current and emerging international geopolitical trends, examining how the U.S. and other countries, including Australia, Brazil, China, India, and Russia, are integrating geopolitics into national security planning. It profiles international geopolitical scholars and their work, and it analyzes emerging academic, military, and governmental literature, including "gray" literature and social networking technologies, such as blogs and Twitter.


Pakistan's Nuclear Policy

Pakistan's Nuclear Policy

Author: Zafar Khan

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2014-07-17

Total Pages: 199

ISBN-13: 1317676017

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In May 1998, in reaction to India’s nuclear weapons tests, Pakistan tested six nuclear weapons. Following this, the country opted for a policy of minimum deterrence, and within a year Pakistan had altered its policy stance by adding the modifier of minimum ‘credible’ deterrence. This book looks at how this seemingly innocuous shift seriously impacted on Pakistan’s nuclear policy direction and whether the concept of minimum has lost its significance in the South Asian region’s changed/changing strategic environment. After providing a brief historical background exploring why and how Pakistan carried out the nuclear development program, the book questions why Pakistan could not sustain the minimum deterrence that it had conceptualized in the immediate aftermath of the 1998 test. It examines the conceptual theoretical framework of the essentials of minimum deterrence in order to question whether Pakistan’s nuclear policy remained consistent with this, as well as to discover the rudimentary factors that are responsible for the inconsistencies with regard to minimum deterrence conceived in this study. The book goes on to look at the policy options that Pakistan had after acquiring the nuclear capability, and what the rationale was for selecting minimum deterrence. The book not only highlights Pakistan deterrent force building, but also analyzes closely Pakistan’s doctrinal posture of first use option. Furthermore, it examines the policy towards arms control and disarmament, and discusses whether these individual policy orientations are consistent with the minimum deterrence. Conceptually providing a deeper understanding of Pakistan’s post-1998 nuclear policy, this book critically examines whether the minimum deterrence conceived could be sustained both at the theoretical and operational levels. It will be a useful contribution in the field of Nuclear Policy, Security Studies, Asian Politics, Proliferation/Non-Proliferation Studies, and Peace Studies. This book will be of interest to policy makers, scholars, and students of nuclear policy, nuclear proliferation and arms control related research.


Shaping Worldviews:

Shaping Worldviews:

Author: Richard Skiba

Publisher: Green Hill Publishing

Published: 2024-04-02

Total Pages: 984

ISBN-13: 1923156934

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"Shaping Worldviews" presents a thorough examination of belief systems and worldviews, emphasizing their far-reaching impact on society. The book highlights the crucial role of diverse worldviews in fostering cultural sensitivity, effective communication, and social harmony across various domains, including policymaking, conflict resolution, social justice, innovation, education, health, and global relations. Scholarly research is integrated to stress the importance of understanding recipients' worldviews for persuasive communication and overcoming challenges related to misinformation. The exploration extends to education, workplace cultures, policymaking, conflict resolution, innovation, and international relations, showcasing the pivotal influence of diverse worldviews. The book delves into specific religious traditions and political ideologies, emphasizing their profound effects on societal structures. It introduces the theory of practice architectures, elucidating how worldviews shape practices, promote inclusivity, facilitate change, build reflexivity, and enhance collaborative efforts. A focal point is the analysis of tensions and conflicts arising from religious and political ideologies, as well as worldviews shaped by combinations of these philosophies. The comprehensive coverage spans major world religions, including Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Mahayana Buddhism, Shinto, folk religions, cult groups, and atheism. The book further investigates various political ideologies such as Conservatism, Liberalism, Socialism, Communism, Feminism, and Nationalism. Additionally, it explores the influence of religious beliefs on social issues, perceptions of science, legislative behaviour, and tensions stemming from religious and political ideologies.


The Sheathed Sword

The Sheathed Sword

Author:

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2022-09-30

Total Pages: 317

ISBN-13: 9354359582

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After a brief interlude following the Cold War, nuclear weapons have regained their prominent place in world affairs. Yet our current nuclear age will not be a replay of the Cold War. New technologies, changing political contexts and the death of old arms-control agreements mean that today's nuclear strategists have to navigate unchartered waters filled with fresh perils. Unfortunately, the consequences of failure in the nuclear world can be catastrophic. The immediate imperative today is to lower the possibility of nuclear weapons use during a crisis or conflict involving nuclear powers. While deliberate or pre-emptive nuclear use is less likely, the rising danger of our time is that nuclear weapons will be employed due to some combination of miscommunication, misjudgment, misperception and sheer accident. The Sheathed Sword: From Nuclear Brink to No First Use is a collection of essays by leading scholars and practitioners on the role of nuclear weapons in global security. The contributors examine how individual states view nuclear weapons, the devastating effects of nuclear war on the world's climate and the issues around nuclear no first use. They also debate the feasibility and desirability of a global no-first-use (GNFU) agreement.