Rethinking strategic culture: A computational (social science) discursive-institutionalist approach

ABSTRACT

The strategic culture approach has been suffering from a prolonged theoretical stalemate, despite a surge in case studies, which culminated in the Johnston-Gray debate and subsequent schism. The present paper outlines a new approach designed to overcome this deadlock, and consists of three arguments. First, the three previous generations of strategic culture studies have failed to explain how strategic culture influences behaviour. Second, aligning strategic culture theory-building with discursive institutionalism offers a way to overcome this fundamental fallacy. Third, a research programme for strategic culture should draw on computational social science to enable it to present and test middle-range theories.     

辅助镀膜离子源及立方氮化硼薄膜的制备研究

为选出合适的辅助离子源进行沉积制备c-BN薄膜,通过对高能和低能辅助镀膜离子源的重要性能进行比较研究之后,在单晶Si基体进行应用制备立方氮化硼薄膜,用红外光谱(FTIR)及光电子能谱(XPS)分析技术,对不同辅助离子源制备沉积的薄膜,进行比较表征,得出结论:低能辅助镀膜离子源,比高能辅助镀膜离子源更适用于制备立方氮化硼薄膜。     

以多元智能理论为指导的大学英语教学模式探析

由美国发展心理学家、哈佛大学研究生院心理学教授霍华德·加德纳于1983年提出的多元智能理论，对外语教学的革新提供了新的视角。该理论与外语学科关系密切，其内涵比任何一种教学法都更加丰富。发展学生的多元智能，已经成为21世纪外语教学的一种趋势。多元智能理论指导下的大学英语教学模式，对发展现代大学英语教学具有现实意义。     

The struggle of a Kantian power in a Lockean world – German leadership in security and defence policy

ABSTRACT

German security and defence policy has undergone substantial transformation. This transformation requires an unprecedented level of political leadership, suggesting that Germany needs to solve the dilemma of how to supply leadership to increasingly demanding partners. What are the conditions under which German leadership can unfold in security and defence policy? To what degree do German role-conceptions of international agency and role-expectations of German leadership coincide? What kind of leadership outputs are produced? This study offers a comprehensive analysis of German security and defence policy in terms of supply (role conceptions) and demand (role expectations). We outline three leadership role conceptions present in the German strategic debate, which we then assess in the context of the Wendtian theory of cultures of anarchy. We then analyse Berlin's leadership in terms of outputs via the case study on Anchor Army and the Framework Nations Concept. We conclude that while Germany has tried to match leadership role expectations both rhetorically and in action, Berlin's leadership inputs have so far been insufficient. This has led to an imbalance in terms of role conceptions and expectations hampering effective German leadership in security and defence policy.     

Rose-tinted lenses: how American functionalist strategy inhibits our appreciation of complex conflicts

Strategists and military professionals have previously questioned many of the methodological (theoretical underpinnings, the principles, and rules applied by the discipline) decisions associated with American military strategy, but the direction this essay takes is above and beyond the common methodological rivalries in how we pursue strategic desired future states. To get beyond methodological disputes entirely, we must consider thinking about our thinking as an organization on American strategy. Thus, this article hovers between philosophies, organizational theory, as well as our usually unquestioned belief in something called “strategy”. Questioning things about our basic understanding of the world tends to trigger strong organizational defense mechanisms, for good reason. Critical reflection at deep levels puts our worldview, and our role within it at stake. Nonetheless, as strategic disappointment emerges over multiple complex conflict developments, even the most cherished and guarded choices on how the world ought to work are ripe for critical inquiry. This essay examines the limited single strategic paradigm of the US defense industry and how the latest American National Security Strategy and Army Future Operating Concept (Win in a Complex World through 2030) presents a flawed strategic position. This essay presents valid alternative strategies that operate within different paradigmatic constructs.     

政府重塑理论在消防管理中的应用

利用政府重塑理论分析了我国消防管理模式的现状，指出近几年我国消防管理体制改革的思路和方向正是政府重塑理论所倡导的强调效率、注重“掌舵”而不是“划桨”的管理模式。针对我国现行消防管理体制存在的政府职能发挥不足、消防安全责任不明确、体制不顺的问题，结合我国国情和消防工作特点，借鉴政府重塑理论的思想精髓，提出了构建一个既“掌舵”又“划桨”的、充满竞争活力的、受效果驱动的、“企业行政”式的消防管理模式的改革思路。     

数字化部队作战能力评估指标体系

为加深对数字化部队作战能力的研究,完善数字化部队的编制体制,以系统科学与工程理论为指导,针对现代战争系统的四大要素对现代战争全过程进行分析,构建数字化部队战争系统模型分解图,将现代战争系统分解成部队与武器子系统、电子信息子系统、决策指挥子系统、后勤保障子系统.最后对各子系统的能力指标内涵及构成进行了详细的解释,并对其获取和度量方法进行了总结.     

Forces of heresy versus forces of conservation: making sense of Hezb-e Islami-ye Afghanistan’s and the Taleban’s positions in the Afghan insurgency

Ethnicity and ideology are frequently used to determine whether an armed group is hostile or friendly vis-à-vis the state. By contrast, I argue that the social structure of insurgent movements holds more explanatory power for their respective positions than ethnicity or ideology. To illustrate this, I apply Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of a contest between forces of ‘conservation’ and forces of ‘heresy’ to the current Afghanistan war. I demonstrate that the social structure of the Taleban renders them prone to ‘heresy’, while the formerly second biggest insurgent group, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s party, has rather been an impeded force of ‘conservation.’     

Moving Beyond Population-Centric vs. Enemy-Centric Counterinsurgency

Historically, insurgency is one of the most prevalent forms of armed conflict and it is likely to remain common in the foreseeable future. Recent experiences with counterinsurgency in Iraq and Afghanistan offer many lessons for future counterinsurgents, but the discourse on the subject continues to be mired in a traditional dichotomy pitting population-centric approaches to counterinsurgency against enemy-centric approaches. Historical analysis suggests that this traditional dichotomy is not a sufficiently nuanced way to understand or plan for such operations. Instead, discussions of counterinsurgency should focus on two dimensions: actions (use of physical force vs. political or moral actions) and targets (active insurgents vs. insurgent support). This perspective divides the space of possible counterinsurgency efforts into four quadrants, suggesting that effective counterinsurgency campaigns find a balance of effort across the four quadrants that is well matched to the specific context.     

基于改进粒子群算法的MIMO雷达布阵优化

针对MIMO雷达收发阵列在给定阵元数和阵列孔径下的布阵优化问题，将一种改进的粒子群算法———二分粒子群算法用于非均匀对称直线阵的旁瓣优化。该算法以MIMO雷达联合收发波束为优化对象，对MIMO雷达发射和接收阵列同时进行了布阵优化。仿真实验表明，当阵元数和孔径大小确定时，该算法可以在保证主瓣不展宽的情况下，将旁瓣峰值控制在－21dB以下，且与现有方法的相比，收敛速度更快。该算法在MIMO雷达设计方面具有一定的理论参考意义。