A revolution in military affairs: some comparative approaches to the contemporary debate

The problem addressed in this paper is not fundamentally new or exclusive for it contains a historic line. In spite of this historic line, no general consensus exists. Therefore the first part of the paper is directed towards clarifying the concept before pursuing its historic roots and contemporary meaning. The historic analysis of a revolution in military affairs (RMA) might reflect much of an ex post facto and descriptive approach. This however, is perhaps inevitably the departure or entry point from which even the contemporary debate on the issue is to be pursued. Within the present debate two broad lines of thought become apparent. One, that the process is evolutionary and two, the view that developments contain dynamics that reflect a more revolutionary than evolutionary nature

South Africa and the search of strategic effect in the Central African Republic

This article provides a critical assessment from a strategic perspective of the South African military involvement in the Central African Republic that culminated in the Battle of Bangui. The strategic assessment was aimed at an understanding of the South African armed forces and their government’s strategic approach and logic (i.e. strategic ways) through a consideration of, firstly, their strategic objectives and end states and, secondly, a critical reflection on the military means that were available and employed in the Central African Republic. The authors question the logic of South African political and military objectives through an emphasis on the absence of South African interests in the Central African Republic, the failure of the executive to inform parliament, the dubious and blurred intentions of the African National Congress government and the absence of a clear political–military nexus for the operation. The lack of sufficient military capabilities for the deployment was assessed through a consideration of overstretch, obsolescence, neglect and mismanagement of military resources. The article concludes that not only did the government set the military up for failure; it also succeeded in creating the perfect conditions for a strategic fiasco

THE MAKING OF STRATEGY; RULERS, STATES AND WAR

The Making of Modern Strategy in the product of a spectrum of contributors working on the concept of strategy and in particular the strategy formulation processes. These contributors include not only historians but also political scientists, some of whom focus on security and strategic studies. Thus editors and contributors represent a necessary balance, as the making of strategy requires insights and understanding of both fields. Throughout the book the writers focus upon the historical Selous Scouts and the Fireforce Commandos of the Rhodesian Light Infantry are all here. Viewers are treated to an expose of their training regimes, weaponry and bush tactics. A point of note here is what Lt Col Ron Reid-Daly refers to as "that baboon" in his book - Selous Scout; Top Secret War. Well that baboon, or another one surprisingly similar, is a star attraction in the Pamwe Chete portion of this video - I found it revolting but aspiring bush battlers would probably disagree!</p

Introduction Turkey and Africa: Motivations, Challenges and Future Prospects

Turkey's presence in Africa has experienced significant growth over the last two decades. In recent years, Turkey's expanding African outreach has transformed media narratives and generated a surge of scholarly studies on Turkey's involvement in Africa. Turkey's renewed focus on the continent and its commitment to establishing an equal partnership with African nations came after years of neglect. Previously, Turkey's relationship with African countries followed a cycle of ups and downs. The interest in Africa was largely driven by short-term foreign policy considerations, such as breaking Turkey's international isolation and securing diplomatic support from African nations. Understanding how Turkey's carefully crafted discourses resonate with African countries in the face of competition from other external actors is a challenging task. Despite the existence of a rich and extensive literature on how external players engage with Africa, Turkey's role and the long-term impact of its involvement have often been overlooked. This special issue aims to contribute to the existing literature by exploring different dimensions of Turkey's multifaceted Africa policy, including its engagement in the security landscape, the African arms market, humanitarian efforts, and public diplomacy initiatives

THEORETICAL APPROACHES IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: THE SOUTH AFRICAN MILITARY AS A FOREIGN POLICY INSTRUMENT

The utility of theoretical approaches in international relations can be found in the fact that such approaches provide ‘lenses’ that can be applied to enhance our understanding of the social dynamics of the world we live in. Theoretical approaches are also instrumental in shaping perceptions of what matters in international politics as a social activity. At least indirectly, such approaches inform the choices made by decision-makers on foreign policy and related defence planning. The aim of this article is to revisit those theoretical approaches in international relations that underlie security studies, and to evaluate the relevance of the approaches with regard to a scholarly understanding of militaries and specifically their roles and functions in a foreign policy context. The latter pertains to militaries in general but also to the South African military in particular regarding its role and function as a foreign policy instrument of the South African government

PRIVATE MILITARY AND SECURITY COMPANIES: ETHICS, POLICIES AND CIVIL MILITARY RELATIONS/EDITED BY ANDREW ALEXANDRA, DEANE-PETER BAKER AND MARINA CAPARINI

This publication contributes to a growing body of literature on a phenomenon, theprivatization of the means of coercion, that manifests on the international strategiclandscape. Whether a phenomenon one agrees with, or not, private military andsecurity companies form an rising and real feature within the daily life ofindividuals, communities and states of the international system. International,regional and national security, as well as the security of the individual isincreasingly entwined in services provided by private military and securitycontractors. The editors accordingly acknowledge that “… [the] astonishing growthof private and security companies (PMSCs) is clearly one of the most noteworthydevelopments in national and international security arrangements …”.The content of the publication covers three fields of enquiry: ethics, policies andlaw, and civil-military relations and stems from a research programme sponsored bySouth African, Australian and Swiss institutions. At the heart of the publicationresides the inherent conflict and controversy between private contractors and thechallenge they bring to traditional views regarding the regulation and operation ofthe control over force and its application. Inherently the publication attempts tocontribute to the debate on how to regulate or control a new way of employing andcontrolling instruments of violence in the international system

From Theory to Culture: Emergent South African Strategic Culture

Within the field of Security Studies, strategic culture is no longer the sole domain of major powers as smaller and middle powers are receiving increasing attention and entering the debate on this important phenomenon. Although acknowledged as a difficult topic within the field of Security Studies and its interface with Strategic Studies, theoretical progress on strategic culture nonetheless comprises three distinct waves. These waves are buffeted between ideas on little (if any) scope for change and viewpoints of more scope for change than depicted by earlier thought. Nonetheless, no real consensus exists and the theoretical landscape is characterised by a multitude of different opinions. Although literature on this topic extends into the 21st century, strategic culture remains unexplored in South African academic literature on security and strategy. However, drawing upon third-generation theory, shifts in the practice of South African strategic culture come into focus. These shifts offer some insights into particular South African practices, but these preferences remain vulnerable to the declaratory-operational void posited by second-generation theory. It appears that progress in cultivating or even imposing a different South African strategic culture through changes in political culture, foreign policy and defence, is hampered by the operation of inconsistency and norm stretching

MODERN STRATEGY

This recent publication by Colin Gray is perhaps the most modern source of information for understanding the realm of strategy, the current as well as the future strategic environment and its complexities. The publication represents three decades of intellectual property of one of the world's leading theorists on strategic theory _ a phenomenon understood by very few decision makers, but in demand of their close and daily attention whilst grappling with its complexities in a demanding world. It is a publication in the words of the author •.... [b]ut this work is neither a strategic history of the 20th century nor a history of strategy in the twentieth century – rather Modern Strategy is principally about characteristically modern expressions of the ageless phenomena of strategy' The publication thus represents an effort to clarify and give enduring substance to the field of strategy as it increasingly becomes engulfed in rising layers of complexity.</p

REVISITING THE SOFT SECURITY DEBATE: FROM EUROPEAN PROGRESS TO AFRICAN CHALLENGES

Proponents of soft security strive to ensure the goal of individual securitywithout resorting to armed coercion. Given the extended scope of security sectorsfalling within the ambit of soft security regional co-operation is indispensable – aphenomenon most visible in European security architecture and that of NorthernEurope in particular. Not only European decision-makers, however, pursue the softsecurity option. As Africa entered the twenty-first century, co-operation and animplicit realisation of the importance of soft security threats increasingly configuredits regional security arrangements. A new wave of warfare simultaneously enteredthe African realm and any security approach had to contend closely with theinhumane profiles of these so-called new wars. Subsequently, African securityarchitecture had to straddle the resultant hard-soft security domains more acutelythan that of Europe. This required appropriate military options and the adjustmentof African armed forces towards softer security policy instruments. For Africa inparticular, the maintenance of a hard divide (even if only conceptually) betweenhard and soft security as imposed by Northern Europe in particular, remains moredeclaratory than real

PEACE, PROFIT OR PLUNDER: THE PRIVATIZATION OF SECURITY IN WAR TORN AFRICAN SOCIETIES

<p>This publication is about a theme that is presently a rising issue of concern on the national security agendas of states and other bodies grappling with security issues. This concern takes place against the tendency of an increasing number of issues being dumped into the security dustbin. Privatisation of security holds both the potential to soften the security dilemmas of countries as well as to threaten the marginal security of weak states. The publication deals with both sides by pointing out the constructive as well as the destructive potential of the private security industry.</p