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In March 1946, President Truman decided to second roughly an eighth of all U.S. military forces to the United Nations. The New York Times declared the same month that the international police force initially proposed by U.S. planners would number "perhaps 2,000,000 men" and that it would "enforce the rules and regulations for world order." This article explores American visions of the postwar order through the lens of the UN military project. In particular, it analyzes how the UN military project played a major role in the American reassessment of Soviet intentions, and with it, America's global military strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of the Allies' grand strategy for the defeat of Japan in Southeast Asia usually focus on the discussions over Burma. This article examines the roles envisioned for the Bay of Bengal. It argues that operations within and based on the Bay of Bengal formed the basis of Allied strategy in Southeast Asia, but plans quickly diverged. The U.S. and China pushed for amphibious operations as part of the broader Burma campaign. Britain, however, wanted to use the Bay of Bengal as a springboard for operations into broader Southeast Asia. No party got what it wanted. Scrutinizing these strategic developments, however, provides a clearer understanding of the evolution of Southeast Asia's place in the Allies' grand strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United States has emerged as a prominent actor in the international fight against transnational terrorism in the Sahel region of Africa since 2002, exerting significant political influence on regional affairs. Under the leadership of the United States, a coalition of Sahel countries has collaboratively established security programs, notably including the Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP). However, the U.S. counterterrorism strategy in the Sahel region has not only proven ineffective in containing the deterioration of regional security, but also has exacerbated the vulnerability to coups in recipient countries. The observed deterioration can be attributed to various driving factors, such as deviations in the willingness and ability to involve and the security traffic jam. We contend that the U.S.-Sahel counterterrorism partnership is fundamentally misaligned and plagued by a securitization problem. Firstly, a significant impediment to international cooperation lies in the United States' pursuit of consolidating its dominant role in Sahel security affairs, which usually overlooks the pragmatic principle of 'African solutions to African problems'. In the counterterrorism process, there is a misalignment between U.S. national interests and those of Sahel states. Furthermore, the United States' extensive reliance on military strategies indicates a significant securitization of non-violent civil affairs in certain Sahel states, inadvertently creating an opportunity for genuine terrorist organizations to recruit members. In addition, U.S. interference in the internal affairs of Sahel states heightens the risk of coups, thereby undermining the legitimacy of U.S. leadership in the region. Currently, with both the withdrawal of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and France withdrawing their security forces from the Sahel region, there has a significant weakening effect on regional security capabilities. Therefore, it is imperative for the international community to collaborate with African nations and adopt more proactive measures to safeguard regional security and maintain order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The iron‐armored chain horse is a military strategy in ancient China to enhance the combat force of the entire army, especially when individual fighters are vulnerable to being picked off one by one. Herein, this strategy is adopted to generate highly efficient metal‐free blue room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) using the world's largest production of dicarboxylate acid. By encapsulating the commercially available chemical disodium terephthalate (DTPA) within the iron armor of α‐cyclodextrin (α‐CD), and subsequently linking the iron‐armored DTPA@α‐CD horses into a crystalline array mediated by hydrogen bonds and Na+ coordination, a highly confined and segregated arrangement of DTPA is achieved, leading to heavy atom‐free deep‐blue phosphorescence with a maximum efficiency of 83.3%. Since the crystalline array of the iron‐armored chain horse DTPA@α‐CD can be facilely obtained through water evaporation, the current phosphorescent material allows for rapid, high‐throughput solution processing of deep‐blue afterglow display, offering an economic and environmentally benign approach for deep‐blue RTP materials and facilitating their application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the decision to invade all of Ukraine and Russia's atrocious behavior and disastrous performance in the war may seem surprising and even irrational, Russia has in fact followed patterns that it used in the recent past with the two Chechen wars of 1994–1996 and 1999–2009. In this article, we compare key similarities and differences in the two Russo-Chechen wars and the current war on Ukraine by analyzing three aspects of the wars: Russian political strategy in the territories, Russian military strategy and conduct, and the Russian state's approach to war-related information and media campaigns. By drawing these comparisons, we hope to show how Russia's past war strategies in Chechnya might shed light on outcomes in Ukraine. In addition, in showing the similarities between Russian actions in Chechnya and Ukraine we highlight the argument that Russia is treating Ukraine not as a sovereign state, but as a part of Russia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the study of the challenges that disruptive technologies represent for industrial defence strategies and procurement policies. It focuses on the incorporation of drones into military arsenals and will be based on a study of the Brazilian Navy case. Drones are a disruptive technology both for the defence industrial base and for their implications for military tactics and the organisational structure of the armed forces. The analysis addresses the main difficulties encountered in incorporating these technologies into traditional military structures and acquisition systems. We explore the ways in which defence procurement adapts (or fails to adapt) to the emergence of disruptive technologies: are traditional military organisations and procurement structures capable of introducing disruptive technologies and engaging in the organisational and operating practices required to do so? Some lessons are drawn from this experience: even when the military relevance of drone technology is widely acknowledged and even officially recognized, procurement strategies and practices have not been able to shift from their focus on incumbent suppliers and conventional systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and their variants equipped with sophisticated weapon systems called unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) have completely changed the classical war strategies and concept of military operations. For guaranteeing the autonomous flight safety and success of the task being performed by these modern aerial vehicles, a path must be determined optimally after considering some kinematic constrains, existence of enemy threats, fuel or battery limitations. Immune plasma algorithm (IP algorithm or IPA) inspired by the implementation steps of a medical method gained popularity with the COVID-19 and known as convalescent or plasma treatment is one of the most recent intelligent optimization or meta-heuristic techniques. In this study, plasma treatment procedure of the IPA was changed with a newly introduced approach called the best individual guidance for short BIG that is based on using the most qualified solution found by the algorithm and three different donors when collecting plasma and BIGIPA was developed as a novel UCAV path planner. For investigating the path planning capabilities of the BIGIPA, a set of detailed experiments was carried out by using different battlefield configurations and assigning various constants to the control parameters such as population size and number of receivers and then obtained results were compared with the results of other path planners based on well-known meta-heuristic algorithms. Experimental studies showed that introduced treatment procedure gives a significant contribution to the convergence performance and qualities of the final solutions especially for the test cases with relatively high dimensionalities and BIGIPA calculates more promising, flight efficient, and safe UCAV paths compared to the tested algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have seen the U.S. Government and U.S. military branches produce national space strategy and military doctrinal documents for conducting military operations in or from space. This literature is produced by the White House and individual armed service branches and is often required by congressionally mandated legislation. This work will examine such literature produced during the Trump and Biden Administrations, emphasize the public availability of significant portions of this literature, assess that China and Russia are key rivals of the U.S. in the military space sphere, and will assess congressional reaction to these documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, I will try to provide the justifications according to the laws in force and the needs of democratic policies and institutions to allow the creation of PMCs according to international rules and standards by applying the constitutional laws and with particular emphasis on freedom and human rights in the civil-military aspect. So the challenge and the journey remain in the aspect of the formation of the professional framework within the organizational structure of the PMC from the functionality of the state military structures. During the work, I will be able to identify why there is a demand and implementation of PMC by many democratic states and how much these are covered by laws, regulations, and international conventions, considering that we are dealing with direct intervention in the civil-military aspect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Military organizations are generally defined by a "cult of the offensive." For cyberspace, this gives rise to an empirical puzzle, at least in the United States. What accounts for the early restraint and skepticism about cyber offense publicly expressed by many US military cyber leaders? In this article, I explore the US military's approach to cyberspace as a theory-developing case study. I examine more than a decade of public discourse among senior military leaders about when and how the military should employ cyber force. I argue that, in the formative years of US military cyber organization, the military's predisposition to the offense was challenged by other cultural and institutional influences, especially from the signals intelligence and strategic nuclear communities. Moreover, this influence shaped the public discourse even after US military cyber organizations gained greater autonomy and turned toward more objectively offensive strategies. This suggests implications for theory and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When states fight wars, they choose between multiple military strategies, e.g. whether to place boots on the ground or restrict efforts to an air campaign. We modify the standard crisis bargaining model to account for this by endogenizing a state's war strategy. Intuitively, states choose the more powerful strategy when the additional strength gained covers the additional costs of doing so. However, there is a counterintuitive second-order consequence of this. When stronger campaigns are expensive but still credible, states are more likely to reach a negotiated settlement to avoid the corresponding high costs. As the cost of the more powerful option increases, states substitute their actions with cheaper but weaker alternatives. Because of these lower costs, states become less likely to reach a settlement. In some cases, both parties may be worse off as a result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the collaborative efforts at Pikes Peak State College to support veterans within the institution and community. In partnership with PPSC's Military and Veterans Program and with assistance from professional colleagues inside and outside the institution, two English faculty spearheaded efforts to organize events and create a military arts publication they hope to turn into a national journal that accepts submissions from across the country. In keeping with military strategies encouraging teamwork and adaptation, they have built a framework for ongoing military and veteran outreach in the Pikes Peak region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Monumenta Serica: Journal of Oriental Studies is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Relações Internacionais is the property of Relacoes Internacionais and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article reflects on the complex security situation in the Sahel region, identifying the causes and drivers of conflicts. The main hypothesis underlying the article is that the security situation in the Sahel region is influenced by several different causes and conflict drivers which have cumulative effects, making conflict resolution extremely difficult. The first part of the article identifies the causes and drivers of conflict and classifies them into four main categories. In the second part, the article shows how the causes and drivers are interwoven, creating multiple spillover effects, making the Sahel region one of the most problematic regions in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Principle of distinction, one of the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law dictates, that participants in hostilities at all times distinguish between civilian objects and military objectives, as well as between civilians and combatants. This article addresses the adequacy of the protection offered by the principle in the cyber domain. Great reliance of militaries on civilian cyberinfrastructure expands the range of military objectives to the systems which key civilian activities depend on. There are many unknowns in fulfilling even the simple conditions for the combatant status, as well as in regulation of civilian direct participation in hostilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strategic information operations (IO) have normally been viewed as an issue above the military level. Nevertheless, they are critical both in shaping the larger operational environment and in providing a strategic initiative short of war. As such, they are crucial for military strategists. Also, in most Western countries, the focus has been on defensive measures against opponents' IO efforts. Such a defensive mindset is unlikely to succeed. Some long-term patterns and lessons learned in IO provide a useful template for both defensive and offensive IO campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the event of a conflict or contingency on the Korean Peninsula, one of the five People’s Liberation Army (PLA) theater commands is responsible for implementing China’s military strategy and operations in Korea—the Northern Theater Command (NTC). What capabilities does China deploy to the NTC? How does it compare to the other theater commands? And do NTC’s military capabilities change the existing balance of power on the Korean Peninsula? Using the most up-to-date data, this paper offers, first, a theater-level comparative analysis of the PLA and, second, a quantitative assessment of how China’s NTC capabilities affect the military balance of power between North Korea on the one hand, and South Korea and the U.S. Forces Korea on the other. Of PLA’s five theater commands, the paper finds that the NTC has maintained the largest and heaviest ground force, the largest air force, and the second most powerful naval fleet. When NTC military capabilities are added to the existing military balance between North Korean forces and the U.S.– South Korean alliance forces, the United States and South Korea’s air supremacy is challenged and naval dominance is overturned. This is especially the case in the West Sea of Korea, the Yellow Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Less armed parties resort to tunnel warfare to reduce military and technological superiority gap with their adversaries. The use of tunnels has prominently emerged since the 1970s by nationalist liberation movements, factions, and other non-governmental forces. Palestinian resistance in Gaza has benefited from this tactic to enhance its military capabilities against Zionist occupation. Over the past two decades, Israel has made destroying Palestinian resistance tunnels a primary objective in its comprehensive wars in the Gaza Strip. This study explores tunnel warfare in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict by tracing the historical development of Gaza tunnels, their types, effectiveness, and military operations, and understanding Israeli military strategy towards these tunnels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article delves into the impact of Chinese military strategy during the Korean War and its interplay with US intelligence at the time. It posits that intelligence analysts must grasp Chinese military strategy as a cornerstone of their training to enhance their effectiveness in estimative, current, and warning intelligence for operational gains. Drawing from an array of authoritative primary and secondary sources, it seeks to illuminate instructive insights through a juxtaposition of Chinese strategic maneuvers and US intelligence efficacy. By joining select multiservice and multiagency experiences, this article propels the performance of the US intelligence community today, offering a yardstick to gauge contemporary advancements. Intelligence analysts and operational planning teams markedly enhance their achievements by drawing from historical precedents to decipher Chinese intentions and capabilities. Embracing this paradigm equips military operations to adeptly tackle the realistic tactical, operational, and strategic challenges confronting US forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In March 2015, the Chinese government initiated an important reform program targeting the defense industry, namely civil–military integration (CMI), with the objectives of introducing military technologies to the civilian market and infusing private capital into military enterprises. On examining this unique exogenous shock in a 2007-2017 sample of Chinese A-share listed firms, we identify the following effects of CMI on military firms' performance. (1) The market value of military firms significantly increases after the establishment of the CMI policy in 2015 and the market value of military firms is on average 6.682% higher after 2015. (2) This effect is robust to propensity score matching, instrumental regression, alternative measures of corporate market value. (3) The positive impact of CMI on military listed firms' market value is stronger for firms with lower innovation ability and weaker corporate governance, suggesting that the CMI policy can improve the research and development abilities and ease the agency conflicts of military firms. (4) After 2015, military firms with weaker financial constraints and those located in provinces with lower marketization levels perform better. Overall, offering a micro-perspective on military firms, this paper complements the growing literature on defense economics and clarifies how CMI improves military firms' performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Planning and Strategy: Fundamentals for Confusing Times" highlights the importance of planning in different aspects of life. It is mentioned that technical planning requires specialists in each field and consists of making anticipatory decisions about actions that need to be carried out. Additionally, the importance of strategy and policies in planning is emphasized, as well as the need to have options and perform control to verify if the plan is being carried out correctly. The text also provides a glossary of terms and concepts related to strategic planning in a company, such as objectives, industry analysis, SWOT matrix, budget, among others. It is emphasized that planning is a technique that allows for selecting the appropriate means to achieve objectives and can be seen as an art and part of the political process of a society. [Extracted from the article]

Between 1854 and 1856 the shape of private and public collections of arms, armour, and ordnance were influenced directly by the conflict with Russia, especially from the main theatre in the Crimea and its key military engagements including Alma, Balaklava, Inkerman, and Sevastopol. While antiquities and some examples of militaria had entered private collections through personal travel during the first half of the nineteenth century, it was the outbreak of war with Russia that perhaps had the strongest influence on collections. The new theatre of war provided fresh opportunities to begin a collection or expand an existing one. Moreover, a greater number of individuals from all levels of society were given chances to acquire objects than hithertofore, from militaria to objets d'art to ordinary domestic items. Pictures and photographs were often the most highly prized, particularly of the time before war had started and the destruction of cities such as Sevastopol had occurred.1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examines the complex dynamics of proxy wars and militancy driven by the geopolitical rivalries between France and Russia in Africa. Focusing on conflict zones such as the Central African Republic, Mali, and Libya, it explores how these powers use local armed groups to secure strategic interests and access to resources. The study highlights the historical context of African nations as former colonies, particularly noting how dependent policy agreements with France maintain neocolonial ties. Through a comparative analysis of French and Russian military and political strategies, the research reveals significant impacts on regional stability and governance. It also addresses the humanitarian toll, including displacement and human rights abuses, and the economic damage from resource exploitation. The study underscores the greed of both nations for Africa's natural wealth, exacerbating conflicts and impeding development. Furthermore, the research evaluates international responses, focusing on the roles of the United Nations and the African Union in conflict mediation and peacekeeping. By providing a comprehensive analysis of these geopolitical maneuvers, the study aims to shed light on the broader implications for African security and development. It offers strategic policy recommendations to mitigate conflict, enhance stability, and promote sustainable peace, guiding policymakers, scholars, and international bodies in addressing the challenges posed by Franco-Russian rivalries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The celebrated idea of Prussian war strategist Carl von Clausewitz regarding conventional warfare played a dominant role up to the First World War in the West. In his seminal work "On War", Clausewitz posits: "If you want to overcome your enemy, you must match your efforts against the power of resistance!" In a way, his idea was akin to annihilating the enemy's army in major battles. However, this idea was challenged by British military strategist Basil Henry Liddell Hart in his book, titled "The Strategy", by proposing a different military theory called "Indirect Approach". The objective of this paper is based on making a comparative analysis between Clausewitz and Liddell Hart regarding the utility of their military theories in modern warfare. While taking a methodology based on a comparative analysis of the utility of the two doctrines, this paper explores the effectiveness of those military strategies against the current asymmetries in modern warfare. To buttress the reliability of this research, the examples from the Ukrainian war and the Sri Lankan civil war between 1990 and 2009 will be examined. The main objectivity of this paper lies in creating a novel discussion on the merits and demerits of Clausewitz and Basil Liddell Hart's theories of war in contemporary warfare. The results emerging from this research will demonstrate the relevance of re-reading both Clausewitz and Liddell Hart in an era where the orthodox idea of warfare is at stake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Military operating concepts are the mandatory starting point for the defence forces design and development. The Consolidated National Defence and the Integrated Joint Force, two operating concepts presented in the Military Strategy of Romania - 2021, provide the necessary vision for the transformation and adaptation of the Romanian Armed Forces and the joint force to the current and future realities of the operating environment. In this article the author presents some considerations related to the place, role and importance of operating concepts used by the armed forces of other states, accompanied by some examples and points of view that might help to better understand the terms, to develop and implement these concepts and their subsequent concepts, doctrines, and capabilities through which they are operationalized in the Romanian Armed Forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary wars illustrate the profound challenges faced by military leaders. The dynamics of warfare have transcended traditional notions of control as the battlefield has become increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA), as noted by the military strategist Carl von Clausewitz, who proclaimed, "war is the realm of uncertainty." Faced with this reality, military organizations are compelled to adapt rapidly to the changing environment. This essay explores the applicability and potential benefits of the VUCA PRIME behavioral leadership model within the Colombian Aerospace Force, with the aim to provide this organization with a tool based on four core elements: "Vision," "Understanding," "Clarity," and "Agility," enabling it to effectively address the challenges faced by her military leaders when they dealing with volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous situations. By examining how these model components can guide decision-making and leadership qualities, this essay aims to underscore the imperative role of the VUCA PRIME model in transforming the approach of the Colombian Aerospace Force towards the complexities of the VUCA environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The celebrated idea of Prussian war strategist Carl von Clausewitz regarding conventional warfare played a dominant role up to the First World War in the West. In his seminal work "On War", Clausewitz posits: "If you want to overcome your enemy, you must match your efforts against the power of resistance!" In a way, his idea was akin to annihilating the enemy's army in major battles. However, this idea was challenged by British military strategist Basil Henry Liddell Hart in his book, titled "The Strategy", by proposing a different military theory called "Indirect Approach". The objective of this paper is based on making a comparative analysis between Clausewitz and Liddell Hart regarding the utility of their military theories in modern warfare. While taking a methodology based on a comparative analysis of the utility of the two doctrines, this paper explores the effectiveness of those military strategies against the current asymmetries in modern warfare. To buttress the reliability of this research, the examples from the Ukrainian war and the Sri Lankan civil war between 1990 and 2009 will be examined. The main objectivity of this paper lies in creating a novel discussion on the merits and demerits of Clausewitz and Basil Liddell Hart's theories of war in contemporary warfare. The results emerging from this research will demonstrate the relevance of re-reading both Clausewitz and Liddell Hart in an era where the orthodox idea of warfare is at stake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Military operating concepts are the mandatory starting point for the defence forces design and development. The Consolidated National Defence and the Integrated Joint Force, two operating concepts presented in the Military Strategy of Romania - 2021, provide the necessary vision for the transformation and adaptation of the Romanian Armed Forces and the joint force to the current and future realities of the operating environment. In this article the author presents some considerations related to the place, role and importance of operating concepts used by the armed forces of other states, accompanied by some examples and points of view that might help to better understand the terms, to develop and implement these concepts and their subsequent concepts, doctrines, and capabilities through which they are operationalized in the Romanian Armed Forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ayer: Revista de Historia Contemporánea is the property of Asociacion de Historia Contemporanea and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The current US-China competition draws comparisons to the Cold War contest between the United States and the Soviet Union. But there are three crucial differences between the great-power contests of today and during the Cold War: China is now more economically powerful than the Soviet Union was; the American and Chinese economies are more intertwined now than the United States' and Soviet Union's ever were; and US allies today are wealthier and more militarily capable than during the Cold War. Because of these differences, the United States should approach its rivalry with China in a way that emphasizes economics and focuses less on the types of ideological and military contests that characterized the Cold War. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of the topic of the study lies in the fact that the problems of hybrid warfare, hybrid operations, hybrid influence have become especially important in the context of the complicated geopolitical situation in the world after February 2022. In the author’s opinion, Russia’s forced conduct of the Special military operation is one of the tools of the US hybrid influence on China. In the study several methods were applied: the content analysis of conceptualdoctrinal and normative documents, analyzed the views of Chinese scientists, political and military figures on hybrid warfare and operations, as well as publications of authoritative media on this issue. As a result, it is concluded that in the Chinese understanding hybrid wars and operations are becoming the main form of confrontation between states and blocs of states. At the same time, the hybrid impact is exerted on the national security assurance system, which should effectively counter “traditional and non-traditional” threats and challenges, that are hybrid. Chinese experts note that there is a risk of underestimating the responsibility for a possible global conflict, which may be caused by inadequate projection of hybrid threats onto a country or group of countries. The author also concludes that we may be witnessing one of the last stages of the unfolding U.S. hybrid war against China.