Description
Exposes the fallacy that an increased degree of socio-cultural understanding leads to a greater chance of success in counterinsurgency operations.
About the Author
Christian Tripodi is a Senior Lecturer at the Defence Studies Department, King's College London. He is the author of Edge of Empire: The British Political Officer and Tribal Administration on the North-West Frontier 1877-1947 (2011).
Reviews
'Christian Tripodi's highly original intervention into the debates about western counter-insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan represents a major contribution. Dr Tripodi perceptively demonstrates that, paradoxically, the quest for anthropological 'understanding' often compounded the predicament in which western counter-insurgents found themselves, rather than alleviating it. It will be required reading for scholars and practitioners alike.' Anthony King, author of Command: The Twenty-First-Century General
'Christian Tripodi underlines the limited degree of control and even influence that intervening great powers can exert over the politics of others and demonstrates with a fine selection of rich case studies just how much fog, friction, and chaos intrude upon the best-laid plans. This book should be read by scholars and practitioners interested in counterinsurgency, state-building, military intervention, peacekeeping, and related areas of endeavour.' Jacqueline H. Hazelton, author of Bullets Not Ballots: Success in Counterinsurgency Warfare
'An important and perceptive post-mortem which links the latest generation of COIN theory and practice firmly in the tradition of Western Imperial hubris, while demonstrating why success in 'political warfare' has proven both so elusive and fragile.' Douglas Porch, author of Counterinsurgency: Exposing the Myths of the New Way of War
'Recommended.' J. L. Meriwether, Choice
'... a thought-provoking, topical study ...' Matthew Hughes, International Journal of Military History and Historiography
Book Information
ISBN 9781108440714
Author Christian Tripodi
Format Paperback
Page Count 300
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 500g
Dimensions(mm) 230mm * 153mm * 20mm