Description
Teaching (e.g. Service learning comunity based learning). I was asked by Commandant Sean Murphy(DF) to give a guest lecture for the Junior Command and Staff Course of the Irish Defence Forces, June 13th. Abstract: This presentation provides an example of how a broad social science perspective can offer value to military professionals. Drawing on sociology and political-geography perspectives it is possible to critically examine an emerging theme in western militaries� thinking, training and doctrine towards 21st century war and conflict. Among the many predictions, trend-spotting and suggestions that are evident today, one commonplace observation is that warfare in the 21st century will be more and more likely to occur in cities and built-up areas. In part this is supposed to reflect the fact that urbanization is a rapid and global phenomenon: the world has crossed over a threshold from being predominantly rural to being mostly defined by growing cities, suburbs and towns. Western militaries have accordingly invested greatly in dedicated training facilities and in refining specific doctrinal innovations (MOUT FIBUA). However, what if it is less than clear that there is a trend towards future wars, insurgencies and other forms of conflict that occur in urban zones? What sort of evidence would we need to see a clear trend towards the growth of urban warfare in this century? Might the rush to assume that much of the terrain of future conflict will be urban, be misplaced? Could privileging urban based doctrines, lacking firm evidence, dangerously simplify the likely complexities and nuances as regards terrain, and the nature of future conflicts? This paper takes a systematic but skeptical look at one key assumption that western militaries are today making as regards future conflicts: the supposedly inevitable increase in the prevalence of urban warfare. It does so using a blended social science approach. The aim is partly to show how study of the social sciences could be of great benefit to military professionals to foster critical thinking and innovation, and partly to stimulate debate on the nature of future and emerging conflict.| Period | 13 Jun 2012 → … |
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