The politics of civil-military cooperation
Subtitle: Canada in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan
By: Christopher Ankersen
Series: Rethinking peace and conflict studies; Rethinking peace and conflict studies
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Published: 2014
Place of publication: Houndsmills, Basingstroke, Hampshire
Language: eng
Number of pages: 233
ISBN-13: 9781137003348; 9781403995759; 9781403995766
Subjects: Foreign relations; Civil-military relations; Intervention (International law); Economic assistance; Diplomatic relations; Intervention; Zivil-militärische Zusammenarbeit; Internationella relationer; Militären och samhället; Intervention (folkrätt)
Other titles: Canada in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan
Description: Civil-military cooperation is a hallmark of contemporary military operations. Images of soldiers digging wells or helping to open schools characterize our view of what goes on in places such as Afghanistan. This book demonstrates that these operations overseas are indeed about winning hearts and minds - just not the ones we normally expect. By examining Canada's civil-military cooperation efforts in Kosovo, Bosnia, and Afghanistan through the lens of Clausewitz's 'Remarkable Trinity', Ankersen shows that military action is the product of influences from the government, the armed forces, and the people at home. Drawing on interviews with politicians and practitioners, as well as first-hand field research, this book provides an in-depth examination of the important domestic relationships that drive overseas military activity. It highlights that contemporary civil-military relations are not only about soldiers following orders, but also negotiations, vested interests and contested group identities.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 178-229) and index.
Table of contents: title: 1. Introduction: the politics of civil-military cooperation; title: 2. Missing pieces: thinking about civil-military cooperation; title: 3. The evolution of civil-military cooperation in peace and war; title: 4. A Clausewitzian framework for analysis; title: 5. The people: ambivalent supporters; title: 6. The government: delicious ambiguity; title: 7. The military: bmbitious institution, ad lib individuals; title: 8. Putting it all together: building an effective strategic narrative; title: 9. Conclusion: the many whys of civil-military cooperation.