What Happened to Israeli Military Thought?

Abstract

This article addresses the following question: how can one explain the neglect of the intellectual aspects of the profession on the part of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)? The explanations offered for that neglect are a mixture of cultural and societal factors. The cultural explanation focuses on Israeli strategic culture; the traditional Israeli perception of the combination of rich experience and experience-based intuition as a winning ticket; the tendency to extol improvisation; a cult of material strength; and a strong belief in technology. The social explanation stresses the declining attractiveness of a military career for qualitative young Israelis. The article contends that change can take place only if the IDF undergoes a process of institutional intellectualism – if not willingly then one imposed by the political echelon.     

An Imperfect Jewel: Military Theory and the Military Profession

This article explores a perennial theme in the literature of strategic studies: the relationship between military theory and the military profession. It begins with a conceptual analysis of this relationship. It then investigates what military theorists themselves have had to say about the utility of their craft. It concludes by assessing the actual influence of military theory on selected individuals and institutions. The individuals are George S. Patton, Jr., and Ulysses S. Grant. The institutions are the United States Army and the United States Air Force in the late twentieth century. The fundamental finding is suggested in the title: military theory can indeed be quite useful in the maturation of military commanders and in the development of martial institutions, but it is not always necessary and by no means perfect. It should thus be studied assiduously but used with caution.     

Escalation in Irregular War: Using Strategic Theory to Examine from First Principles

Abstract

If all violence is intended to achieve political effects, what is distinctive about escalation in irregular war? Indeed, what is irregular war? To answer such fundamental questions this analysis employs the principles of strategic theory in an attempt to offer a theoretical and practical framework that will facilitate an appreciation of the subsequent contributions to this special issue. The assessment seeks to articulate how the escalation process in conditions of so-called irregular war might be conceptualized and, via examples, illustrate how certain broad observations may be held to be true. Ultimately, though, the argument emphasizes that the process of escalation cannot be distinctive or follow predictable patterns given that all wars are unique to their time and place and will be affected in their conduct by the contingent forces of passion, chance and reason.     

The contexts of strategy as a guide for defense planning in the Philippines

Efforts toward developing an independent and credible Philippine defense policy were revived when Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III was elected President of the Philippines in 2010. President Aquino renewed the military modernization program in 2012 and emphasized the necessity of a “minimum credible defense posture.” Given the modernization efforts of the government, this article aims to contribute to the development of the concept of minimum credible defense posture by exploring how theory contributes to defense planning. It argues that the contexts of strategy are useful in planning for national defense because these contexts can provide a conceptual framework for defense planners. It proceeds in three parts: the opening section reviews the literature on defense planning; the second surveys the context of developing strategies as discussed in the General Theory of Strategy; and the last provides a definition of minimum credible defense and applies the context of developing strategies to the case of the Philippines.     

如何提高学生《英语听力》课程的自主学习能力和效果

听、说、读、写是语言学习者必备的技能,而位居首位的听力,往往成为许多学生的绊脚石。仅仅靠有限的《英语听力》课堂时间,无法从根本上提高学生的听力水平。根据建构主义理论,听力的提高很大程度上要靠学生课后自主学习。而学生《英语听力》课程自主学习能力和效果的提高,取决于教师的课堂指导、书面作业及口头作业的选择。     

基于排队论的协同防空的作战效能分析

舰艇编队协同防空作战成为未来海战的重要形式,运用排队论对舰艇编队协同防空的作战效能进行了研究。以排队理论为基础建立了舰艇编队协同防空的排队模型,运用理论分析得到了以整个编队毁伤目标概率为指标的防空效能。通过对防空效能的计算与仿真,分析了几个重要参数对防空效能的影响,为多层舰艇防空系统的设计与运用提供了理论支持。     

无人机编队内快速协同目标分配的时序约束

协同分配的高效性和目标攻击的时序性是解决无人机编队内协同目标分配的关键技术之一.提出了基于时序约束的无人机编队内快速协同目标分配方法,在采用满意决策理论的快速目标分配框架下,引入了判断时序关系是否满足的约束条件和评价时序关系满足程度优劣的编队效能指标,不仅实现了编队目标的攻击时序要求,而且体现了攻击时序关系与编队效能的...     

Land power in the age of joint interdependence: toward a theory of land power for the twenty-first century*

This essay outlines a theory of land power. After explaining the absence of such a theory, the article establishes the modern context for such a theory, specifically within the concept of joint interdependence. The analysis defines key terms and premises behind the theory, to include a definition of land power. The argument then outlines the national elements of power that contribute to a theory of land power. The analysis next applies the theory to the fundamental purposes of military power: defeat, deter, compel, assure, shape and support to the nation. The analysis then tests key definitions, supporting premises, and utility of the theory. The essay argues that historical experience validates the applicability and utility of the theory, and offers a solid basis for extrapolating the validity of the theory into the near future.     

关联理论与阅读理解

本文从关联理论的角度讨论阅读理解的认知过程,提出关联理论对阅读理解的认知过程有极强的解释力,具体阐述了这一理论在阅读理解中的运用,揭示了关联理论对帮助学生改进阅读策略有指导意义.     

大学英语听力教学问题与对策研究

大学英语听力课堂教学效果对学生英语听力水平的提高具有重要影响。长期以来,听力教学费时又低效的问题一直困扰着教学双方,对此,应结合自身教学实践,从听力材料设计、教学方法、教学内容、课堂氛围等方面对当前大学英语听力教学存在的问题进行探讨,以期对当前英语听力教学改革提供有益的借鉴。