Irregular or guerrilla forces and warfare Books

Book SynopsisAudley End House in Essex - or Station 43 as it was known during the Second World War - was used as the principal training school for SOE''s Polish Section between 1942 and 1944. Polish agents at the stately home undertook a series of arduous training courses in guerilla warfare before being parachuted into occupied Europe.In 1943, Audley End was placed exclusively under polish control, a situation unique within SOE. The training was tough and the success rate low, but a total of 527 agents passed through Audley End between 1942 and 1944. Ian Valentine has consulted a wide range of primary sources and interviewed Polish instructors and former agents who trained at Audley End to write the definitive account of this Essex country house and the vital but secret part it played in defeating Hitler.He examines the comprehensive training agents at Audley End and describes the work undertaken by Station 43''s agents in Europe, set against the backgrou

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Book SynopsisIn late 1940 a group of five young Australian soldiers set out on a secret mission: one of the Second World War’s most daring operations and the first for Britain’s legendry Special Operations Executive.

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Book SynopsisIn September 2014, Azad Cudi became one of seventeen snipers deployed when ISIS, trying to shatter the Kurds in a decisive battle, besieged the northern city of Kobani. In LONG SHOT, he tells the inside story of how a group of activists and idealists withstood a ferocious assault and, street by street, house by house, took back their land in a victory that was to prove the turning point in the war against ISIS. By turns devastating, inspiring and lyrical, this is a unique account of modern war and of the incalculable price of victory as a few thousand men and women achieved the impossible and kept their dream of freedom alive.Trade ReviewA book to marvel at, learn from, and return to again and again -- John le CarréSimply outstanding . . . powerful * BOOKLIST *Profoundly affecting . . . There are horrors but also humanity - inspiration, even, alongside the tragedy. A surprisingly lyrical tribute to a much-put-upon people and to fallen comrades in arms that deserves a wide audience -- Fergal Hallahan * IRISH NEWS *Vivid * DAILY MIRROR *Striking and memorable * WALL STREET JOURNAL *A propulsive memoir that captures the grim reality of small-scale conflict and reveals the fragmented politics of the Middle East today * KIRKUS *Gripping . . . His story, elegantly told, will resonate long after the final ISIS fighter falls * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *

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Book Synopsis'The way I look at it is this...When you're behind the line and get yourself into trouble, you've got to get your bloody self out irrespective of anybody else. That's why I like it.'Scottish-born but a Queenslander to the bone, Jock McLaren was a true Australian hero. As a prisoner he escaped twice, first from Changi and later from the infamous Sandakan POW camp in Borneo. After paddling a dugout canoe across open sea, he fought for two years with American-led Filipino guerrillas, his exploits so audacious the Japanese put a price on his head.At the helm of his 26-foot whaleboat, the Bastard, McLaren sailed brazenly into enemy-held harbours, wreaking havoc with his mortar and machine guns before heading back out to sea. In early 1945 he joined Australia's secretive Z Special Unit, parachuting into Borneo to carry out reconnaissance and organise anti-Japanese resistance ahead of Allied landings. He cheated death on numerous occasions and saved his own life by removing his appendix without anaesthetic, using 'two large dessert spoons' and a razor blade.Drawing on Allied and Japanese wartime documents, Bastard Behind the Lines brings the story of a courageous digger vividly to life and throws light on a rarely explored aspect of Australia's Pacific war.

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Book SynopsisThe Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), founded as a small guerrilla movement in 1974, became the leading party in the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). After decades of civil war, the EPRDF defeated the government in 1991, and has been the dominant party in Ethiopia ever since. Its political agenda of federalism, revolutionary democracy and a developmental state has been unique and controversial. Drawing on his own experience as a senior member of the TPLF/EPRDF leadership, and his unparalleled access to internal documentation, Mulugeta Gebrehiwot Berhe identifies the organisational, political and sociocultural factors that contributed to victory in the revolutionary war, particularly the Front's capacity for intellectual leadership. Charting its challenges and limitations, he analyses how the EPRDF managed the complex transition from a liberation movement into an established government. Finally, he evaluates the fate of the organisation's revolutionary goals over its subsequent quarter-century in power, assessing the strengths and weaknesses the party has bequeathed to the country. 'Laying the Past to Rest' is a comprehensive and balanced analysis of the genesis, successes and failings of the EPRDF's state-building project in contemporary Ethiopia, from a uniquely authoritative observer.Trade Review‘A sharp and ultimately excruciating critique of the party to which [Mulugeta Gebrehiwot Berhe] once dedicated his life.’ -- Foreign Policy'A sympathetic yet thoughtful critical analysis … a remarkable case study.’ -- CHOICE‘Essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand contemporary Ethiopian politics … a remarkable work of scholarship.’ -- H-Africa‘This book deserves to be a reference book for everyone interested in the history of TPLF/EPRDF in Ethiopia … It is a highly illuminating book, filling a serious gap in the discourse about the TPLF/EPRDF.’ -- World Peace Foundation‘[The book is] a highly useful and relevant intellectual work [with] incisive insight and sound arguments.’ -- Addis Standard‘Will become required reading for academics studying rebellion, institutional development, transitions, and Ethiopian history and politics.’'Mulugeta's book draws uniquely on first-hand accounts of key politico-military junctures, a treasure trove of primary documents and incisive personal memories to tell the story of one of Africa's most remarkable state-building projects. A much-awaited and much-needed memoir of an important actor.' -- Harry Verhoeven, Associate Professor at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, and author of 'Why Comrades Go To War: Liberation Politics and the Outbreak of Africa's Deadliest Conflict''Celebrated or demonised, but rarely understood: the EPRDF is central to Ethiopia's contemporary history. Mulugeta Berhe provides the crucial missing element to that story. A true insider's account of how a rural revolution triumphed, transformed the country, and lost its way. Empirically rich, theoretically cogent, and incisively critical.' -- Alex de Waal, Executive Director of the World Peace Foundation and Research Professor at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University'A rare, first-hand, yet critical assessment of the TPLF/EPRDF's military victory and subsequent transition to government in Ethiopia. This book makes an important contribution to understanding a crucial period in Ethiopian history, with much wider implications for Africa as a whole.' -- Christopher Clapham, Professor Emeritus of African Studies, University of Cambridge'An absorbing and critical account of the rise of the TPLF/EPRDF, animated by the internal perspective of an author who fought in and served the liberation movement. Essential reading for students of Ethiopia, liberation movements, and democratic transitions in a post-communist world.’ -- Andreas Eshete, UNESCO chair for Peace, Human rights, and Democracy, and former President of Addis Ababa University'A poignant, critical and expert study of the TPLF/EPRDF through the eyes of an insider. Essential reading not only for students of liberation fronts, Ethiopia, and democratic transitions, but also for current and former members of the TPLF/EPRDF.' -- Abay Tsehaye, one of the founders, longest serving leaders and former chairman of the TPLF

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Book SynopsisAmerica's wars after the 9/11 attacks were marked by a political obsession with terrorist 'sanctuaries' and 'safe havens'. From mountain redoubts in Afghanistan to the deserts of Iraq, Washington's policy-makers maintained an unwavering focus on finding and destroying the refuges, bases and citadels of modern guerrilla movements, and holding their sponsors to account. This was a preoccupation embedded in nearly every official speech and document of the time, a corpus of material that offered a new logic for thinking about the world. As an exercise in political communication, it was a spectacular success. From 2001 to 2009, President George W. Bush and his closest advisors set terms of reference that cascaded down from the White House, through government and into the hearts and minds of Americans. 'Sanctuary' was the red thread running through all of it, permeating the decisions and discourses of the day. Where did this obsession come from? How did it become such an important feature of American political life? In this new political history, Michael A.K.G. Innes explores precedents, from Saigon to Baghdad, and traces how decision-makers and their advisors used ideas of sanctuary to redefine American foreign policy, national security, and enemies real and imagined.Trade Review'In Streets Without Joy, Michael Innes combines applied history and theory to explore how the dominant discourses of rebel "sanctuaries" and terrorist "safe havens" shaped the way in which the US waged war in the 9/11 era. The writing is compelling, and the author's constant attention to methodology and sense of time and place are deeply impressive. Not only is this intellectually ambitious book a fitting tribute to Bernard Fall, whose life and work inspired the author's own journey from practitioner to scholar; it is a singular achievement in its own right, one that demands the attention of every scholar of modern warfare.' -- Joe Maiolo, Professor of International History, King's College London'Innes' important book explores an understudied element of American foreign policy discourse. The author illustrates that the post-9/11 rhetoric about enemy sanctuaries in Afghanistan and Iraq was far from new; instead it drew on a long history that was both deeply embedded in and had a significant impact on policymaking.' -- Andrew Priest, Department of History, University of Essex'Extremely readable, lucidly stated and focused, Innes' analysis is enhanced by a sharp eye for concrete situations and an ear for the voices of people he has met up with in the course of his career. This book not only traces the history of sanctuaries since the Second World War it also offers a penetrating analysis of our own world of frontlines, "back alleys" and "safe" and "not-so-safe" spaces that defy sovereign jurisdiction.' -- Christopher Coker, Director of LSE IDEAS'Michael Innes provides an authoritative investigation into the origins, multiple meanings, use and abuse of America´s post-9/11 sanctuary discourse. Original and compelling, this book provokes numerous trains of thought that will serve to fertilise many new fields of War on Terrorism scholarship' -- Jeffrey Michaels, Senior Fellow, Barcelona Institute of International Studies‘In the aftermath of 9/11, the US military and CIA launched an unprecedented, 20 year “sanctuary denial” campaign that saw hundreds of thousands of troops and operatives deployed across the globe. But, even as CIA drone fleets wiped out Al Qaeda and Special Forces hunted ISIS insurgents in the “ungoverned spaces” of distant deserts, islands, and mountains, it became apparent to political scientist Michael Innes that the Pentagon had not begun to truly understand the underlying basis for America’s entire war and counter-terrorism effort; the concept of sanctuary. It is with the aim of chronicling, for the first time, the fundamental notion of sanctuary in America’s wars that Innes takes readers on a truly ground-breaking and riveting journey into the history of this concept that launched the superpower’s longest conflict. This story begins unexpectedly in the jungles of Vietnam in the 1960s and extends all the way to the hallways of power in Trump’s Washington D.C.’ -- Brian Glyn Williams. Author of Counter Jihad and former CIA Counter-Terrorism Center analyst‘Soldier-scholar Michael Innes’ Streets Without Joy is an especially timely and important contribution to the literature. His first-hand experience coupled with his grasp and analysis of the historical salience of this issue as well as its relevance to contemporary conflicts, is as original as it is insightful.’ -- Bruce Hoffman, Professor at Georgetown University and author of Inside Terrorism‘A timely, policy-relevant work that performs a tremendous service by arguing that rhetoric matters when it comes to war. In a series of insightful case studies, Innes perceptively examines how policymakers and military leaders define “terrorist sanctuaries” and “safe havens,” often in ways that undermine their own national security objectives.’ -- Gregory A. Daddis, USS Midway Chair in Modern U.S. Military History, San Diego State University'Despite their critical importance in armed conflicts, wartime sanctuaries rarely receive the scholarly scrutiny the topic deserves. In this highly readable book, Innes connects the dots with his fine analysis of half a century of US wartime sanctuary discourses, offering much new insight into a highly policy-relevant theme.’ -- Brynjar Lia, Professor of Middle East Studies, University of Oslo‘Michael Innes’ book on sanctuaries is an indispensable guide to an issue that has been central to the wars and security debates of the past generation – and will continue to be in future.’ -- Anatol Lieven, author of Pakistan: A Hard Country.'Michael Innes perceptively illuminates a construct that shaped the last twenty years of war, with tragic implications for millions of people, but which few have ever heard of. If you want to understand how the War on Terror went so awry, read this book.' -- David Kilcullen, author of The Dragons and the Snakes

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Book SynopsisAn examination of four recent military interventions by the international community: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Somalia, Cambodia, and Rwanda. The mixed record of partial successes, failures, and counterproductive interventions suggests a need to develop a framework for future policy choices.Trade ReviewThis volume is a must for anyone interested in the management of ethnic conflicts as it does a good job of highlighting the difficulties and dilemmas that have to be overcome if interventions are [sic] be more successful in the future than they have been in the past. -- Peter Viggo Jakobsen, University of Copenhagen, Denmark International AffairsTable of ContentsPart One Civil War and Insecurity 1. Civil War and the Security Dilemma, by Jack Snyder and Robert Jervis 2. Designing Transitions for Violent Civil War, by Barbara F. Walter Part Two Case Studies 3. Bosnia and Herzegovina: How Not to End Civil War, by Susan L. Woodward 4. Military Intervention in Rwanda's "Two Wars": Partisanship and Indifference, by Bruce D. Jones 5. Somalia: Civil War and International Intervention, by David D. Laitin 6. War and Peace in Cambodia, by Michael W. Doyle Part Three Comparative Analyses 7. When All Else Fails: Evaluating Population Transfers and Partition as Solutions to Ethnic Conflict, by Chaim D. Kaufmann 8. The Rationality of Fear: Political Opportunism and Ethnic Conflict, by Rui J. P. de Figueiredo, Jr., and Barry R. Weingast 9. Conclusion, by Barbara F. Walter Index

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Book SynopsisTells the story not only of the six years of negotiation and the peace process that transformed a country, its secret contacts, its international implications, and difficulties and achievements but also of the two previous decades in which Colombia oscillated between warlike confrontation and negotiated solution.Trade ReviewThe peace process that was the central policy of Juan Manuel Santos's two terms as president of Colombia finally reached an accord that ended the fifty-years conflict with the FARC, Latin America's oldest and largest guerrilla group. Making peace is never swift, simple, complete, or uncontroversial, and the necessary compromises were only reached in the face of many setbacks, fierce criticism, and opposition. The agreement was nonetheless a historic achievement, and it embodies a general recognition that the country's future is not going to be decided by the violent politics of armed struggle. President Santos's account of the negotiations-frank, detailed, and generous to those who assisted inside and outside Colombia-has important lessons for peacemakers everywhere." - Malcolm Deas, St. Antony's College, Oxford University"Santos was able to see-to have the imagination and the vision to see-that this was the moment when you could pivot to peace. This was someone who was completely sincere in his genuine desire to change the lives of the people and to bring peace where before conflict had been the norm for thousands and thousands of people suffering. This was a really tough thing to do. This was frankly tougher than Northern Ireland, tougher I think than any conflict I have been involved in, and I would put the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the same bracket. To have taken it this far is an extraordinary achievement. I'd say to the people of Colombia: just remember the darkest days of this conflict and what that was like. Debate, by all means, the right way to go forward but don't let this slip back. That would be a big mistake." - Tony Blair"Making peace after a long and bloody conflict is not a work for the faint-hearted, and you can't expect to be appreciated in the short run. You should do it if you believe it is the best way to give your kids and grandkids a better future. I think Santos wanted to give all Colombians different sorts of choices, and I think he was willing at the end to risk his standing in the short run to enhance Colombians' standing and quality of life in the long term. Slowly but surely, a more peaceful and more normal life has returned, making it possible for people to develop the natural resources of the country." - Bill Clinton"With the finalizing of a peace agreement between Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the longest-running war in the Western Hemisphere is coming to an end. We have witnessed, once again, that a sustained commitment to diplomacy and reconciliation can overcome even the most entrenched conflicts. This accord is a tribute to the hard work and cooperation of countless Colombian leaders and citizens-across parties and administrations-who painstakingly laid the groundwork for this milestone. I especially want to commend President Juan Manuel Santos for his courageous leadership during four years of difficult negotiations. I think this is an achievement of historic proportions. It ultimately will be good for the region as well as the people of Colombia. It took a lot of courage and a lot of hard work by a lot of people. And we are very proud to have played a modest part in helping the dialogue go forward." - Barack Obama

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Book SynopsisFrom Afghanistan and Sierra Leone to East Timor, the aftermath of any armed conflict presents a complex set of challenges. Whatever political agreements may have been reached, conflicts are often at risk of reigniting, and the fates of their former participants remain uncertain.Trade Review"An excellent primer to DDR, perhaps even the best available."—LSE Review of Books "This book examines in fascinating detail a neglected aspect of post-conflict peacebuilding: how to disarm, demobilize, and reintegrate armed groups back into civil society. Eric Shibuya makes a valuable contribution to the literature of unconventional conflict that should be the subject of discussion for years to come."—Tom Mockaitis, DePaul University "Written in a concise, easy-to-understand manner, and illustrated with several disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) case studies that highlight the importance of social/cultural contexts and flexibility at the psychological and operational levels, Demobilizing Irregular Forces will be essential reading for students in graduate and undergraduate courses as well as in professional military schools."—Mohan Malik, Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies "In this excellent study Eric Shibuya reminds us that for effective disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration, and for successful peacekeeping in post-conflict situations, the strategies and processes adopted by interveners must be both active and mutually reinforcing. DDR cannot be successfully undertaken without appreciation of political culture, local fighting traditions, or the identity of militants. Shibuya's findings resonate across the broad Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa, and also in the little-comprehended conflicts of the Pacific Islands; for example, in the Solomon Islands and Bougainville."—David Hegarty, Australian National University "A well-researched study on the important subject of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR). Covers considerable ground and ranges across Africa through Asia to the Middle East and Latin America. This will be a valuable introductory book."—Michael Evans, Australian Defence College "Shibuya provides a fresh look at the DDR process; emphasising psychological and cultural underpinnings of successful DDR programmes."—Central European Journal of International and Security Studies "Shibuya's main contribution is a clear articulation of how the individual components of DDR fit into the overall process. He is also adept at portraying the various underlying motivations involved, including social and psychological aspects of DDR such as the role of hopes and experiences." (Human Rights Review, 2015)Table of ContentsAcknowledgements page vii 1 Introduction 1 2 The History and Evolution of DDR 11 3 Disarmament: The Ephemeral Beginning 24 4 Demobilization: The Real Heart of the Matter 54 5 Reintegration: The End of the Beginning 85 6 Challenges and Conclusions 117 Notes 140 Bibliography 156 Index 165

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Book SynopsisFrom Afghanistan and Sierra Leone to East Timor, the aftermath of any armed conflict presents a complex set of challenges. Whatever political agreements may have been reached, conflicts are often at risk of reigniting, and the fates of their former participants remain uncertain. Armed groups may not be easily dissuaded from pursuing belligerent activities which they see as both profitable and understandable behaviour. In the face of these difficulties, the process of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) attempts to convince combatants to relinquish their weapons and return to civilian life. It is a crucial first step towards lasting peace.Demobilizing Militias is the first comprehensive introduction to DDR in the contemporary world. Examining regions as varied as Africa, Asia and Central America, it guides readers through the different stages of the DDR process as well as assessing competing perspectives surrounding its implementation. Attentive to theTrade Review"An excellent primer to DDR, perhaps even the best available."—LSE Review of Books "This book examines in fascinating detail a neglected aspect of post-conflict peacebuilding: how to disarm, demobilize, and reintegrate armed groups back into civil society. Eric Shibuya makes a valuable contribution to the literature of unconventional conflict that should be the subject of discussion for years to come."—Tom Mockaitis, DePaul University "Written in a concise, easy-to-understand manner, and illustrated with several disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) case studies that highlight the importance of social/cultural contexts and flexibility at the psychological and operational levels, Demobilizing Irregular Forces will be essential reading for students in graduate and undergraduate courses as well as in professional military schools."—Mohan Malik, Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies "In this excellent study Eric Shibuya reminds us that for effective disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration, and for successful peacekeeping in post-conflict situations, the strategies and processes adopted by interveners must be both active and mutually reinforcing. DDR cannot be successfully undertaken without appreciation of political culture, local fighting traditions, or the identity of militants. Shibuya's findings resonate across the broad Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa, and also in the little-comprehended conflicts of the Pacific Islands; for example, in the Solomon Islands and Bougainville."—David Hegarty, Australian National University "A well-researched study on the important subject of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR). Covers considerable ground and ranges across Africa through Asia to the Middle East and Latin America. This will be a valuable introductory book."—Michael Evans, Australian Defence College "Shibuya provides a fresh look at the DDR process; emphasising psychological and cultural underpinnings of successful DDR programmes."—Central European Journal of International and Security Studies "Shibuya's main contribution is a clear articulation of how the individual components of DDR fit into the overall process. He is also adept at portraying the various underlying motivations involved, including social and psychological aspects of DDR such as the role of hopes and experiences." (Human Rights Review, 2015)Table of ContentsAcknowledgements page vii 1 Introduction 1 2 The History and Evolution of DDR 11 3 Disarmament: The Ephemeral Beginning 24 4 Demobilization: The Real Heart of the Matter 54 5 Reintegration: The End of the Beginning 85 6 Challenges and Conclusions 117 Notes 140 Bibliography 156 Index 165

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Book SynopsisKimberly Marten shows why and how warlords undermine state sovereignty. Unlike the feudal lords of a previous era, warlords today are not state-builders. They thrive on illegality and rely on private militias for support.Trade ReviewA virtue of Marten's principal-agent framework is that it allows the reader to identify the state in bas-relief, the backdrop against which the warlord moves... for North American teachers looking to introduce the North Caucasus with a lively seminary discussion, I recommend assigning chapter 5, Marten’s biography of Ramzan Kadyrov—the archetype of the charismatic, media-savvy (p. 133), self-aware, celebrity gangster. He has money, weapons, sociopaths on speed-dial, political protection from great powers, and a twitter feed @RKadyrov. -- Jesse Driscoll * Political Science Quarterly *How can we understand the important phenomenon of modern-day warlords, often associated with state failure and transborder criminality even as state leaders frequently rely upon them as a source of order or peace in the most difficult of conditions? Kimberly Marten's Warlords blazes a new trail in answering this question.... This engagingly written book makes a number of major arguments,... [that are] pioneering in the study of warlordism, likely framing a debate for years to come on a subject about which there is as yet relatively little theory. -- Henry E. Hale * H-Diplo/ISSF Roundtable Reviews *I highly recommend Warlords: Strong-Arm Brokers in Weak States for anyone studying international relations or those working in foreign policy positions in the Department of State when faced with a developing or already entrenched warlord situation. The book is relevant considering today's worldwide economic concerns and weak states’ limited capacity to control their own people and territory. -- LTC David T. Seigel * Military Review *In Warlords, Marten provides a wonderfully nuanced description of the relationship between states and warlords. Warlords are individuals who require some level of state support and protection, but ultimately undermine state capacity by controlling small pieces of territory using a combination of force and patronage. In four substantive chapters, Marten gracefully outlines the trajectory of warlordism as a function of state construction in Pakistan, Georgia, Chechnya, and Iraq. Marten displays great depth of knowledge, and her description is rife with anecdotes, insider information, and humor, making it authoritative and enjoyable to read. -- Stacey L. Hunt * International Studies Review *Marten's book is a useful and informative one. Her analysis is persuasive for the four cases she examines, and her observations are pertinent. Although warlordism is sometimes a necessary evil, a national government should eliminate the warlord as soon as possible. A warlord is dependent upon patronage, and therefore, he is vulnerable to having his network of supporters undermined. Ethnic or sectarian tension may make this more difficult, but a popular national leader operating without effective opposition is in a strong position to act. In any case, removing a warlord requires that the national government possess specific information about the network of patronage and be willing to suborn the important members of that network. Marten has presented a great deal of information and analysis in only 262 pages. I recommend her book unreservedly. -- Kevin McMullen * Infantry *Kimberly Marten has made a major theoretical and policy-relevant contribution to the field's understanding of these illusive and dangerous actors. Also, readers not only will better understand how they come to and maintain their power, but also will be equipped with a new framework for analyzing the challenges and choices confronting weak states in their efforts at consolidating modern, legal rational authority and accommodating the demands for security and economic development. -- Jack J. Porter * Comparative Political Studies *Table of Contents1. Warlords: An Introduction 2. Warlords and Universal Sovereignty 3. Ungoverned Warlords: Pakistan's FATA in the Twentieth Century 4. The Georgian Experiment with Warlords 5. Chechnya: The Sovereignty of Ramzan Kadyrov 6. It Takes Three: Washington, Baghdad, and the Sons of Iraq Conclusion: Lessons and Hypotheses

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Book SynopsisWarlords are individuals who control small territories within weak states, using a combination of force and patronage. In this book, Kimberly Marten shows why and how warlords undermine state sovereignty. Unlike the feudal lords of a previous era, warlords today are not state-builders. Instead they collude with cost-conscious, corrupt, or frightened state officials to flout and undermine state capacity. They thrive on illegality, relying on private militias for support, and often provoke violent resentment from those who are cut out of their networks. Some act as middlemen for competing states, helping to hollow out their own states from within.. Countries ranging from the United States to Russia have repeatedly chosen to ally with warlords, but Marten argues that to do so is a dangerous proposition. Drawing on interviews, documents, local press reports, and in-depth historical analysis, Marten examines warlordism in the Pakistani tribal areas during the twentieth century, inTrade ReviewA virtue of Marten's principal-agent framework is that it allows the reader to identify the state in bas-relief, the backdrop against which the warlord moves... for North American teachers looking to introduce the North Caucasus with a lively seminary discussion, I recommend assigning chapter 5, Marten’s biography of Ramzan Kadyrov—the archetype of the charismatic, media-savvy (p. 133), self-aware, celebrity gangster. He has money, weapons, sociopaths on speed-dial, political protection from great powers, and a twitter feed @RKadyrov. -- Jesse Driscoll * Political Science Quarterly *How can we understand the important phenomenon of modern-day warlords, often associated with state failure and transborder criminality even as state leaders frequently rely upon them as a source of order or peace in the most difficult of conditions? Kimberly Marten's Warlords blazes a new trail in answering this question.... This engagingly written book makes a number of major arguments,... [that are] pioneering in the study of warlordism, likely framing a debate for years to come on a subject about which there is as yet relatively little theory. -- Henry E. Hale * H-Diplo/ISSF Roundtable Reviews *I highly recommend Warlords: Strong-Arm Brokers in Weak States for anyone studying international relations or those working in foreign policy positions in the Department of State when faced with a developing or already entrenched warlord situation. The book is relevant considering today's worldwide economic concerns and weak states’ limited capacity to control their own people and territory. -- LTC David T. Seigel * Military Review *In Warlords, Marten provides a wonderfully nuanced description of the relationship between states and warlords. Warlords are individuals who require some level of state support and protection, but ultimately undermine state capacity by controlling small pieces of territory using a combination of force and patronage. In four substantive chapters, Marten gracefully outlines the trajectory of warlordism as a function of state construction in Pakistan, Georgia, Chechnya, and Iraq. Marten displays great depth of knowledge, and her description is rife with anecdotes, insider information, and humor, making it authoritative and enjoyable to read. -- Stacey L. Hunt * International Studies Review *Marten's book is a useful and informative one. Her analysis is persuasive for the four cases she examines, and her observations are pertinent. Although warlordism is sometimes a necessary evil, a national government should eliminate the warlord as soon as possible. A warlord is dependent upon patronage, and therefore, he is vulnerable to having his network of supporters undermined. Ethnic or sectarian tension may make this more difficult, but a popular national leader operating without effective opposition is in a strong position to act. In any case, removing a warlord requires that the national government possess specific information about the network of patronage and be willing to suborn the important members of that network. Marten has presented a great deal of information and analysis in only 262 pages. I recommend her book unreservedly. -- Kevin McMullen * Infantry *Kimberly Marten has made a major theoretical and policy-relevant contribution to the field's understanding of these illusive and dangerous actors. Also, readers not only will better understand how they come to and maintain their power, but also will be equipped with a new framework for analyzing the challenges and choices confronting weak states in their efforts at consolidating modern, legal rational authority and accommodating the demands for security and economic development. -- Jack J. Porter * Comparative Political Studies *Table of Contents1. Warlords: An Introduction 2. Warlords and Universal Sovereignty 3. Ungoverned Warlords: Pakistan's FATA in the Twentieth Century 4. The Georgian Experiment with Warlords 5. Chechnya: The Sovereignty of Ramzan Kadyrov 6. It Takes Three: Washington, Baghdad, and the Sons of Iraq Conclusion: Lessons and Hypotheses

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Book SynopsisA companion to the study of the northern campaign, ""1777: The Year of the Hangman"", this volume deals with the American Revolution in the Carolinas. Pancake tells the story of the southern campaign, which was the scene of one of the deadliest guerilla wars on the North American continent.

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Book SynopsisEl Salvador’s civil war began in 1980 and ended twelve bloody years later. It saw extreme violence on both sides. Examining El Salvador’s vibrant life-story literature written in the aftermath of this terrible conflict - including memoirs and testimonials - Erik Ching seeks to understand how the war has come to be remembered and rebattled by Salvadorans and what that means for their society today.

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Book SynopsisAmerica's war on terror is widely defined by the Afghanistan and Iraq fronts. Yet, as this book demonstrates, both the international campaign and the new ways of fighting that grew out of it played out across multiple fronts beyond the Middle East. Maria Ryan explores how secondary fronts in the Philippines, sub-Saharan Africa, Georgia, and the Caspian Sea Basin became key test sites for developing what the Department of Defense called "full spectrum dominance": mastery across the entire range of possible conflict, from conventional through irregular warfare. Full Spectrum Dominance is the first sustained historical examination of the secondary fronts in the war on terror. It explores whether irregular warfare has been effective in creating global stability or if new terrorist groups have emerged in response to the intervention. As the U.S. military, Department of Defense, White House, and State Department have increasingly turned to irregular capabilities and objectives, understanding the underlying causes as well as the effects of the quest for full spectrum dominance become ever more important. The development of irregular strategies has left a deeply ambiguous and concerning global legacy.Trade Review"Maria Ryan has made an important contribution to the literature on counterinsurgency by showing that so-called peripheral theaters in the Global War on Terror were in fact central to the evolution of American thinking on irregular war. Her thoughtful analysis illuminates how U.S. ambitions for global 'full spectrum dominance' foundered on the realities of local conflicts that were poorly understood in Washington."—David Fitzgerald, University College Cork"Maria Ryan has provided us with a tour-de-force treatise on how the United States reoriented itself to the demands of fighting irregular war in the post 9/11 era. In unhurried, clear and concise prose, she has provided a definitive political and military history of how the country gradually descended down the slippery slope of into a series of unwinnable, ill-advised wars thousands of miles from home in which no amount of tactical and operational proficiency could deliver victory."—James Russell, Naval Postgraduate School"This well-written and tightly organized book...covers an important topic of American foreign policy: evolving US responses to global terrorism during recent administrations....[It] closes with a well-reasoned conclusion, supported by extensive notes and an index. Recommended."—M. A. Morris, CHOICE"Ryan offers an important contribution to the study of warfare, military intervention, and diplomacy in the twenty-first century...the policy implications of this book are noteworthy."—Matthew Timmerman, H-Diplo"Ryan has refocused attention away from the quagmires of Afghanistan and Iraq and turned our eyes instead to the Southern Philippines archipelago, the empty quarters of Mali and Niger, the Horn of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and the Caspian basin. In so doing, she illustrates how the events of 9/11 turbocharged the Bush regime's aspiration to supplement America's dominance in its conventional and nuclear capabilities by achieving 'full-spectrum dominance' in all forms of warfare."—Christian Tripodi, War in History

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Book SynopsisIn 1864 the capture of Brazilian steamer the Marquês de Olinda initiated South America's most significant war. Thousands of Brazilian, Argentine, and Uruguayan soldiers engaged in a protracted siege of Paraguay, leaving the Paraguayan economy and population devastated. The suffering defied imagination and left a tradition of bad feelings, changing politics in South America forever.This is the definitive work on the Triple Alliance War. Thomas L. Whigham examines key personalities and military engagements while exploring the effects of the conflict on individuals, Paraguayan society, and the continent as a whole. The Road to Armageddon is the first book utilize a broad range of primary sources and materials, including testimony from the men and women who witnessed the war first-hand.Trade ReviewA detailed narrative emphasizing both political and military biographyâ| will prove invaluable for readers. - J.M. Rosenthal, CHOICE Reviews

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Book SynopsisThe topic of proxy war is currently subject to intense debate with reference to US, British and Israeli accusations that Iran is sponsoring subversive and insurgent movements from Lebanon to Afghanistan; contemporary academic and media controversies over the effect of international assistance to the Afghan mujahidin in the subsequent destabilisation of the country; and the contentious circumstances surrounding the Russo-Georgian war of 2008, and the 'independence' of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. While there is no shortage of academic literature dealing with specific cases of proxy warfare, there is no work providing an overarching analysis of the factors which lead to this type of conflict, or the potential consequences for the states concerned, the non-state proxies and their external patrons. Using examples from post-1945 history, and focusing on three case studies (the Afghan war of 1978-1989, Lebanon 1975-1990, Angola 1975-1991), Geraint Hughes offers terminology intended to clarify scholarly understanding of proxy warfare, a framework for understanding why states seek to use proxies (insurgent groups, militias, terrorist movements, mercenaries, and even organised criminal groups) in order to fulfil strategic objectives, and an analysis of the potential impact of such an indirect means of waging war on not only the states that are subjected to this phenomenon, but also the proxies, their sponsors and the wider international community. This book has a historical focus, but will be of utility to contemporary security scholars, and those involved in political/military policy.

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Book SynopsisThe topic of proxy war is currently subject to intense debate with reference to US, British and Israeli accusations that Iran is sponsoring subversive and insurgent movements from Lebanon to Afghanistan; contemporary academic and media controversies over the effect of international assistance to the Afghan mujahidin in the subsequent destabilisation of the country; and the contentious circumstances surrounding the Russo-Georgian war of 2008, and the 'independence' of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. While there is no shortage of academic literature dealing with specific cases of proxy warfare, there is no work providing an overarching analysis of the factors which lead to this type of conflict, or the potential consequences for the states concerned, the non-state proxies and their external patrons. Using examples from post-1945 history, and focusing on three case studies (the Afghan war of 1978-1989, Lebanon 1975-1990, Angola 1975-1991), Geraint Hughes offers terminology intended to clarify scholarly understanding of proxy warfare, a framework for understanding why states seek to use proxies (insurgent groups, militias, terrorist movements, mercenaries, and even organised criminal groups) in order to fulfil strategic objectives, and an analysis of the potential impact of such an indirect means of waging war on not only the states that are subjected to this phenomenon, but also the proxies, their sponsors and the wider international community. This book has a historical focus, but will be of utility to contemporary security scholars, and those involved in political/military policy.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisTracing Japanese Leftist Political Activism (19572017) tells the story of the Japanese Red Army (JRA), a militant left-wing group founded in 1971 which was involved in numerous terrorist attacks.It traces the origins of the group in the Japanese New Left in the 1960s and looks at Red Army groups of the early 1970s in Japan, such as the Red Army Faction, and the United Red Army which became infamous for murdering its own members. The book also examines the JRA''s trans- and international links with other militant groups including the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, as well as the networks of intellectuals and fellow activists who supported them.This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of terrorism, radicalism, and Japanese social history.Trade Review"Claudia Derichs has gracefully completed the manuscript left behind by Kevin Coogan’s untimely death. It tells a richly detailed story of Japanese leftist political activism that sheds light on neglected connections spanning national, organizational, and chronological boundaries."Kenji Hasegawa, Yokohama National University, Japan, and author of Student Radicalism and the Formation of Postwar Japan"Studies of the Long Sixties are increasingly transnational in approach and this book is another bold entry in that growing canon. Gleaned from a multilingual array of sources — political publications, previous scholarship, memoirs, reportage, declassified materials, and more — it is an ambitious attempt to pull together the disparate and sometimes astonishing threads of the Japanese Red Army and Beheiren — respectively, perhaps the most notorious and lauded elements of the Japanese New Left — as they intersected through several key intellectual-activists and interacted with other radicals around the world."William Andrews, author of Dissenting JapanTable of ContentsPART ONE: TOKYO (1957–1973) Introduction: The Boomerang Flying Transnational Section One: The Rise and Fall of Student Radicalism 1. The Birth of the Japanese New Left 2. The First Bund 3. Ampo 4. Zengakuren’s Gangster Shōgun? 5. Profiling Zengakuren 6. The Return of Ikki Kita 7. Icarus Falling – The Second Bund 8. "Disorganize Tokyo Imperialist University!" Section Two: Beheiren 9. The Riddle of Shunsuke Tsurumi 10. Voiceless Voices – The Rise of Beheiren 11. The Intrepid Four 12. Beheiren’s War 13. "Destroy from Within" Section Three: Red Army 14. Sekigun! 15. The Yodogō Hijack 16. Sixteen Gravestones – Rengō Sekigun 17. Tsuneo Umenai Declares War PART TWO: GOING TRANSNATIONAL (1972–2017) Section Four: Arab and Japanese Red Army 18. Slaughter at the Airport 19. Paris Underground 20. Takahashi in the Curiel Network 21. Pyongyang Calling 22. The Hague 23. The Stockholm Arrests 24. Crisis in Kuala Lumpur 25. Trapping Takahashi Section Five: Return to Japan 26. After Dhaka 27. O! Japan 28. Station to Station Conclusion: Man of Ghosts

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisGuerrilla insurgencies rage across the globe, fueled by ethnic and religious conflict and the easy availability of weapons. This title examines eight key examples of urban guerrilla conflict across 4 continents, including Warsaw in 1944, Budapest in 1956, Algiers in 1957, Montevideo and Sao Paulo in the 1960s, and Grozny from 1994 to 1996.

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Book SynopsisWhile one military empire in Europe lay in ruins, another awakened in North America. During the Peninsular War (1808-1814) the Spanish launched an unprecedented guerrilla insurgency undermining Napoleon's grip on that state and ultimately hastening the destruction of the French Army in Europe. The advent of this novel system of warfare ushered in an era of military studies on the use of unconventional strategies in military campaigns and changed the modern rules of war.A generation later during the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), Winfield Scott and Henry Halleck used the knowledge from the Peninsular War to implement an innovative counterinsurgency program designed to conciliate Mexicans living in areas controlled by the U.S. Army, which set the standard informing a growing international consensus on the proper conduct for occupation.In this first transnational history of the Mexican-American War, historian Benjamin J. Swenson chronicles the emergence of guerrilla warfare in the Atla

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Book SynopsisConfronting insurgent violence in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. military has recognized the need to "re-learn" counterinsurgency. But how has the Department of Defense with its mixed efforts responded to this new strategic environment? Has it learned anything from past failures? In "The New Counterinsurgency Era", David Ucko examines DoD's institutional obstacles and initially slow response to a changing strategic reality. Ucko also suggests how the military can better prepare for the unique challenges of modern warfare, where it is charged with everything from providing security to supporting reconstruction to establishing basic governance - all while stabilizing conquered territory and engaging with local populations. After briefly surveying the history of American counterinsurgency operations, Ucko focuses on measures the military has taken since 2001 to relearn old lessons about counterinsurgency, to improve its ability to conduct stability operations, to change the institutional bias against counterinsurgency, and to account for successes gained from the learning process. Given the effectiveness of insurgent tactics, the frequency of operations aimed at building local capacity, and the danger of ungoverned spaces acting as havens for hostile groups, the military must acquire new skills to confront irregular threats in future wars. Ucko clearly shows that the opportunity to come to grips with counterinsurgency is matched in magnitude only by the cost of failing to do so.Trade ReviewIn compiling the developments of this latest chapter in the US military's doctrinal history, Ucko provides a useful and timely analysis. International Affairs An invaluable resource for anyone who wants to understand the halting, ambivalent and, as Ucko wisely notes, quite reversible evolution of the US military. Survival Ucko's thorough research and lively, uncompromising style make the case persuasively. RUSI Journal Perfectly captures the central paradox in contemporary defense policymaking ParametersTable of ContentsForeword Introduction 1. Framing the Reorientation 2. A Troubled History 3. Revisiting Counterinsurgency 4. Innovation under Fire 5. Counterinsurgency and the QDR 6. FM 3-24 and Operation Fardh Al-Qanoon 7. The Ambivalence of the "Surge" 8. Innovation or Inertia Conclusion: Kicking the Counterinsurgency Syndrome? Notes Bibliography About the Author Index

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