Explaining Cohesion in an Insurgent Organization: The Case of the Mizo National Front

Despite the prevalence of violent uprisings against the states, existing literature has produced a generalized explanation of the causes and onset of such uprisings ignoring crucial aspects of (non-state) armed group cohesion, such as their capabilities to manage intra-group tensions and rivalries. In this paper, I examine recent research in the field of civil conflict to understand the importance of investigating underlying constraints which can cause serious impediments to the capabilities of a state during the course of a war. The paper then focuses on the importance of internal strategic resources, such as pre-war and wartime sociopolitical networks in which insurgents mobilize, recruit new cadres and maintain intra-group cooperation, to suggest how it can contain the consequences of counterinsurgency operations and other state strategies on the internal cohesion of an insurgent group. A detailed case study of the Mizo National Front (MNF) in India demonstrates the argument’s plausibility.     

Civilian Cooperation and Non-Cooperation with Non-State Armed Groups: The Centrality of Obedience and Resistance

Abstract

Terms like ‘support’ and ‘collaboration’ are often used interchangeably to denote a loose set of acts or attitudes that benefit non-state armed groups (NSAGs). However, these terms are seldom defined, and the alternatives available to civilians are rarely identified. Moreover, existing approaches overlook that the interaction between civilians and NSAGs is often one between ruler and ruled, which makes obedience and resistance central. This paper proposes to conceptualize the choices available to civilians as forms of cooperation and non-cooperation, offers a typology, and discusses the implications for theory building on civilian and NSAG behavior, and on the functioning of armed social orders.     

Can security vetting be extended to include the detection of financial misconduct?

An analysis of the security vetting files of 19 employees within a South African national department who had been found guilty of financial misconduct in the last five years uncovered that the existing security vetting processes did not detect the financial misconduct of which these employees have been found guilty. This research sets out to establish whether security vetting can be extended to include the detection of financial misconduct within the department and, if so, how. Moreover, if security vetting can indeed be so extended, can it possibly enhance the management of fraud risk across all South African public sector departments? Qualitative interviews were conducted with 27 employees who are key to fraud risk management and security vetting within the researched department. During the interviews, the following five themes emerged: (1) the reasons why employees commit financial misconduct; (2) why it is not detected by the security vetting process; (3) the potential alignment of the security vetting process to facilitate the detection of financial misconduct; (4) the following through on security vetting findings; and (5) sharing these findings with the internal audit and risk management functions within state departments. These themes were probed and are reported on, establishing firstly that security vetting can indeed be extended to include the detection of financial misconduct within the researched department, and secondly that it can enhance the management of fraud risk across all South African public sector departments, given the specific mandate of the State Security Agency (SSA) and the national security vetting strategy.     

基于物联网的战地装备安全监管问题研究

针对战地环境中军事装备的安全监管问题,分析了战地装备安全监管应用系统的整体结构与功能层次,给出了基于RFID射频识别技术、无线传感器等物联网技术的硬件平台设计方案,以及基于数据采集、分析、融合、传输和可视化技术研发监管控制软件的实现方案。该系统部署应用后可实现对装备实时、连续、精确的分级监管,能够确保装备管理的安全和高效,提高部队指挥决策能力。     

电传动装甲车辆负载功率预测实时能量管理策略

针对电传动装甲车辆负载功率预测功能缺失导致控制作用滞后的问题,提出一种具有较高负载功率预测精度的实时能量管理策略。在分析整车结构的基础上,采用理论分析和数据拟合方法,建立各动力源数学模型。将差分自回归移动平均模型和自适应马尔可夫链两种预测方法相结合,设计非平稳趋势性负载功率组合预测方法。在非线性模型预测控制框架下,构建多目标优化函数,采用序列二次规划法在有限时域内实时求解最优控制指令,优化多动力源协调控制过程。依托硬件在环仿真平台进行多路面行驶实验,对比有无功率预测的能量管理控制效果。结果表明,改进的实时能量管理策略对未来负载功率具有较好的预见性,能够显著优化多动力源协调控制过程,提升车辆燃油经济性,稳定母线电压和电池荷电状态,对传统模型预测控制下的工程应用场景具有一定借鉴意义。     

军用发动机控制系统技术分析及改进研究

控制系统是航空发动机的重要组成部分。文章对国外航空技术强国,特别是美国和俄罗斯的航空发动机控制系统技术的发展历程进行了分析,着重介绍了某发动机控制系统的技术特点。针对该发动机控制系统提出了数字化改进方案,可以有效减轻控制系统重量,挖掘发动机潜力,并提升发动机性能。从航空发动机控制系统的发展历程可以看出,全权限数字电子控制技术(FADEC)是航空发动机控制系统发展的必然趋势,会对航空技术的发展产生巨大的推动作用。     

科学管理、精益管理与精确作战工程保障研究

设计是作战行动筹划的重要步骤,精确工程保障需要对工程保障行动进行精密的设计和精确管理与控制。科学管理采用科学实验的方法,通过劳动方法标准化和差别计件工资制度,有效提高了工作效率,其基本原理经过百余年的实际检验,被证明是一个成熟有效的管理方法。借鉴科学管理理论,需要对工程保障行动进行动作研究,进而研究工程保障行动的作业标准,以期提高其保障效率。精益管理是在科学管理在新的历史时期的发展与改进,它使用了准时制、零库存、均衡生产、持续改进等先进的管理理念和六西格玛管理、成组技术等先进技术,为基于信息系统体系作战的工程保障能力生成提供了有益的借鉴,可加深我们对精确工程保障的理解,促进精确工程保障研究的可操作性。     

量子保密通信技术前沿述评

量子保密通信是利用量子力学的基本原理来实现信息无条件安全传递的一种全新密码方法,其核心是量子密钥分发。2014年正好是量子保密通信的第一个协议—BB84协议提出30周年。经过30年的发展,量子保密通信在理论和实验上都得到了快速发展,实际工程应用也初具规模。文章对量子保密通信的历史发展及研究现状进行了简要回顾,特别介绍了基于实际量子保密通信系统的量子黑客和防御。最后,对未来的几个研究方向进行了简要讨论。     

美国网络安全战略管理体系分析

文章从美国政府颁布的政策文件、法律法规和各机构部门的职能三个方面,对美国网络安全战略管理体系进行了介绍和分析。     

未来数字化战场中的指挥控制语言研究

针对未来数字化战场中机器人部队指挥控制与协同作战这一新兴研究领域需解决的机-机协同和人-机智能融合等问题,综述国内外相关领域的研究现状,分析了构建我军指挥控制语言的必要性,研究了机器人部队指挥控制语言的技术架构与关键技术,并提出了指挥控制语言的一种形式化语法和语义标注方法和通信协议,并结合海军舰艇作战示例分析了指挥控制语言的可行性及有效性。