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.     

Civil–Military Relations in India: The China Crisis and After

The pattern of civil–military interaction in India is informed by the notion that civilians should refrain from involvement in operational matters. The emergence of this trend can be traced back to the defeat against China in 1962. In its aftermath, the belief that the debacle occurred because of civilian interference took hold. Thereafter, politicians restricted themselves to giving overall directives, leaving operational matters to the military. The Indian ‘victory’ in the subsequent war with Pakistan was seen as vindicating this arrangement. This essay argues that the conventional reading of the China crisis is at best misleading and at worst erroneous. Further, it contends that the subsequent war with Pakistan actually underscores the problems of civilian non-involvement in operational issues. The historical narrative underpinning the norm of civilian abstention is at the very least dubious.     

Stranglehold: The Context,Conduct and Consequences of an American Naval Blockade of China

The mounting challenge posed by China's military modernization has highlighted the need for the United States to analyze its ability to execute a naval blockade. A blockade strategy is viable, but it would be limited to a narrow context: the United States would have to be engaged in a protracted conflict over vital interests, and it would need the support of key regional powers. The United States would also need to implement a mix between a close and distant blockade in order to avoid imperiling the conflict's strategic context. If enacted, a blockade could exact a ruinous cost on the Chinese economy and state.     

‘Getting COIN’ at the Tactical Level in Afghanistan: Reassessing Counter-Insurgency Adaptation in the British Army

This article reassesses the extent to which the British Army has been able to adapt to the counter-insurgency campaign in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. While adopting Farrell's definition of bottom-up military adaptation, this article contends that the task force/brigade level of analysis adopted by Farrell and Farrell and Gordon has led them to overstate the degree to which innovation arising from processes of bottom-up adaptation has actually ensued. Drawing on lower level tactical unit interviews and other data, this article demonstrates how units have been unable or unwilling to execute non-kinetic population-centric operations due to their lack of understanding of the principles of counter-insurgency warfare.     

汉、回、维及其他民族3-6岁幼儿家庭教育期望研究——基于新疆兵团S市的问卷调查

利用"3-6岁幼儿家庭教养方式调查研究"基础数据,研究讨论了汉、回、维及其他民族3-6岁幼儿家庭教育期望及其影响因素,旨在回答汉、回、维及其他民族3-6岁幼儿家庭教育期望的基本状况,影响汉、回、维及其他民族3-6岁幼儿家庭教育期望的主要因素这两个问题。本文从学历期望、职业期望和能力期望三个方面研究家庭教育期望,研究发现幼儿父母对孩子的学历期望普遍偏高,以本科以上学历为主,同时表现出"顺其自然"的趋势;幼儿父母对孩子的职业期望呈现"尊重儿童职业兴趣"的特点;幼儿父母对孩子的能力期望以"学前技能"为主。族别与家庭教育中的学历期望存在差异;父亲文化程度与家庭教育中的能力期望存在极其显著差异;母亲文化程度与家庭教育中的能力期望存在差异,与职业期望存在极其显著的差异;家庭户籍与家庭教育中的能力期望存在差异,与职业期望存在显著差异;家庭收入状况与家庭教育中的职业期望和能力期望均存在极其显著差异。     

大学生领悟社会支持与应对方式的相关研究

对某校1000名本科生进行问卷调查,考察大学生应对方式特点和社会支持水平之间的关系。方法:领悟社会支持量表(PSSS)、《简易应对方式问卷》(SCSQ)作为测查工具,测查了1000名大学生。结果:①生源变量在领悟社会支持和应对方式各维度上差异没有统计学意义。②领悟社会支持和应对方式在性别、年级、专业变量上有显著差异,男性多运用积极应对方式;大二学生在消极应对方式上得分最高;大四学生他人支持和积极应对方式上得分最高。③领悟社会支持和积极应对正相关,领悟社会支持得分越高,越倾向采取积极的应对方式。     

师资队伍建设面临的问题与对策

如何进一步加强师资队伍建设,是摆在教育工作者面前的一个重要课题。我们既要看到多年来师资队伍建设已取得的成绩,也要看到存在的问题和不足,并采取相应的对策,大力提高教师职后继续教育质量,着重抓好骨干教师队伍建设和学科带头人的培养,引导教师自觉地向教学与科研双高的目标迈进。     

高师学生研究性学习能力培养的探索与实践

古代汉语课堂教学以培养学生研究性学习能力为目标,根据高师教育的特点,借鉴基础教育课程改革的理论和实践成果,以课堂教学改革的讨论交流模式、质疑研讨模式、案例教学模式、直接讲授模式对高师学生在本学科研究性学习能力方面的培养作了探索与实践。     

论武警法是独立的部门法

武警法究竞是否独立的部门法,是由来已久且必须回答的重要命题。《中华人民共和国人民武装警察法》的颁布为武警法的独立性提供了实证。武警法与相关法律部门,如军事法、行政法、警察法有本质的区别。武警法是我国法律体系中具有独立地位的部门法。