Comprehensive approaches,diverse coherences: the different levels of policy coherence in the Dutch 3D approach in Afghanistan

Since 2000, international organisations such as the UN, NATO and the EU, but also countries, have started to apply what has been called the comprehensive approach to crisis management. This article unpacks this comprehensive approach implemented by the Dutch in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan. It first borrows and expands a conceptual framework developed by De Coning and Friis. Subsequently, it maps the different sorts of coherence in the mission by applying the framework. It shows how in practice there was not one single comprehensive approach, but many different forms of interaction between a number of organisational units. Each interaction had its own distinct issues and its own level of coherence. The level of coherence differed depending on the level at which the interaction took place – strategic at headquarters level versus operational at field level – and at what point in the mission it happened – in most cases it moved towards more cohesion.     

SLOWING DOWN TO KEEP THE LEAD IN MILITARY TECHNOLOGY

We develop a model of military technology competition among states. States can choose to introduce new military technology, mimic rivals’ level of technology, or withdraw from the contest. States can choose to implement any level of technology within their current feasible technologies. We find that states with significant technological leads should sometimes withhold new technologies, only strategically releasing them to trump rivals’ efforts. We develop the model by refining Admiral Jackie Fisher’s roughly articulated concept of ‘plunging’. We then use this refined argument to reanalyze the case of naval rivalries among European powers between the Crimean War and the First World War. Finally, we conclude by discussing the model’s implications for current US military force structure planning.     

MICRO-DISARMAMENT IN WEST AFRICA

This article explores the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons in the West African sub-region and efforts by the regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to deal with the problem through the ECOWAS Declaration of a Moratorium on the Importation, Exportation and Manufacture of Small Arms and Light Weapons in West Africa. The paper analyses the degree of compliance with the Moratorium by four ECOWAS member states, namely, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Mali.     

CONSOLIDATING DEMOCRATIC CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS

Children have special protection under the South African constitution, including the right to safety, health and an environment conducive to their wellbeing and optimal development. Yet, firearms contribute significantly to the high incidence of deaths and injuries among South African children and in young males in their late teens. This case study is about the participation of the Child Health Policy Institute (CHPI) in a law reform process ultimately aimed at reducing firearm injuries and deaths in the country by exercising stricter gun control through legislation and other reforms. This feature briefly describes the political context in which the project was initiated, the research on firearm injuries and deaths in children conducted by the CHPI, and the dissemination of the research findings. The role of the CHPI as an academic institution within the Gun Control Alliance is also examined as are the lessons learnt in trying the bridge the gap between research and law reform.     

火灾公众责任保险与消防治理问题研究

阐述了火灾公众责任保险的涵义,分析了火灾公众责任保险在消防治理中的作用,梳理了火灾公众责任保险的发展现状问题,进而提出消防治理视阈下火灾公众责任保险的发展思路。     

武器装备发展战略研究中的体系能力评估分析

随着武器装备发展战略研究的科学化决策需求越来越高,对体系能力评估的要求也变得愈发迫切,但这也是目前的一个技术难点。首先分析了发展战略研究中,可能遇到的体系能力评估问题种类及其特点。然后,针对每类问题,重点分析了各自的要求,给出了在评估分析建模方法选择上的建议。     

量子信息研究概述

文章介绍了量子信息研究发展沿革,分析量子信息研究的重点领域,提出了我国量子信息研究未来展望。     

美国舰载标准系列导弹对海军防空导弹发展的影响

美国海军现役的标准导弹是一个庞大的系列,主要型号从标准1一直到标准6,每个主要型号又在不同的时期发展出多种改进型。它不仅是美国海军当前的主力舰空导弹武器装备,还出口到多个国家和地区,是世界上装备量最大、应用最为广泛的舰空导弹系统。本文主要结合标准系列导弹的发展历程,分析了标准系列导弹对世界海军防空导弹装备发展的深远影响。     

基于生态足迹理论的可持续发展评估研究——以石河子垦区为例

在生态足迹理论模型的基础上,以农八师和石河子市统计年鉴数据为依据,对石河子垦区2008年生态足迹进行了分析和评价。结果表明,研究区人均生态足迹为2.477327 hm^2,人均生态承载力为1.500542 hm^2,人均生态赤字已达0.976785 hm^2,反映出石河子垦区对生物生产性土地面积的需求大于区域内生态环境的承载能力,处于弱不可持续的发展状态。     

装甲车辆发动机智能化控制冷却系统发展

分析了国内外装甲车辆冷却系统的现状及智能化控制冷却系统的特点,介绍了国内装甲车辆智能化控制冷却系统的研制进展,对比国内外智能化控制冷却系统,提出了我国装甲车辆智能化控制冷却系统今后的发展方向。