Too much Western bias? The need for a more culturally adaptable approach to post-conflict security sector reform

The existing guidelines for security sector reform (SSR) tend to draw on theoretical work in the field of civil–military relations, which in turn has been derived from Western, liberal democratic models of governance. Although guidelines strongly advise that local culture and context need to be considered when drawing up objectives for post-conflict SSR programmes, this is not often reflected in practice. This article considers some of the reasons for this, citing both in-country challenges and donor-related issues, and suggests that one of the biggest problems is a lack of alternative, non-orthodox models of civil–military relations to draw upon. It is further suggested that elements of suitable alternative models may be found in states which possess political structures not entirely dissimilar to the Western, liberal democratic ideal, but which can offer different perspectives. Detailed research of these structures should produce a pool of sub-models which could then be employed to create bespoke, culturally appropriate objectives for use in post-conflict SSR programmes.     

颠覆性技术发展面临的挑战与对策

信息攻防作战力量既可以独立成军成战,又可以和各军兵种、各种武器平台无缝衔接、联合协同,以发挥无限的战争潜力,是以信息攻防新技术为支撑、以软硬打击新能力为标志的新型作战力量。从核心信息基础设施建设,信息攻击和防护能力建设以及信息攻防协同作战三个方面论述了信息攻防新型作战力量建设的重要问题及战法对策,对信息攻防作战的特点规律和技术手段进行了剖析。     

Security sector reform in Africa: Donor approaches versus local needs

Many African states have security sector reform (SSR) programs. These are often internationally funded. But how do such programs account for previously existing security institutions and the security needs of local communities? This article examines SSR all over Africa to assess local ownership and path dependency from a New Institutionalist perspective. It finds that SSR, particularly in post-conflict countries, tends to be driven by ideas and perceptions of international donors promoting generalized blueprints. Often, such programs only account in a very limited way for path-dependent aspects of security institutions or the local context. Hence, the reforms often lack local participation and are thus not accepted by the local community eventually.     

Educate or Adjudicate? Socioeconomic Heterogeneity and Welfare

I present a formal framework to explore the welfare and distributional effects of a government’s optimal choice over two types of public spending in a closed economy: domestic security (DS) and investment in social capital (SC). Production is characterized as a function of social and physical capital stocks that both vary across the regions. DS stands for total factor productivity, while SC stands for human capital and civic cooperativeness combined. SC accumulates via public spending on universal primary education, cultural, and civic events and such, and is exposed to regional spillover effects. Numerical simulations of the static solution of the government’s welfare maximization problem reveal that the optimal rate of spending on SC (m^*) is negatively related with the income share of physical capital, SC spillovers and fiscal decentralization. Simulations also show that SC homogeneity is positively associated with both the level and equitability of aggregate income. The maximum attainable levels of income, welfare and social cohesion and the most equitable incomes are all observed to realize at some intermediate range of m^* values. In case DS augments SC, however, social cohesion improves and welfare declines monotonously in m^*.     

分布式指挥与控制关键技术及其发展

随着信息技术的发展,分布式指挥与控制已成为信息时代联合作战指挥的一种新方式。把握实施分布式指挥与控制主要环节的核心技术,运用物联网、大数据、量子通信、人工智能等前沿科技,是促进指挥信息系统在作战指挥领域发挥效能的关键所在。     

正确认识信息化战争的制胜机理

习主席强调,研究作战问题核心是要把现代战争的特点规律和制胜机理搞清楚。深刻认识信息化战争的五个时代特征,准确把握特点规律,真正搞清信息化战争的五个制胜机理,在将信息化建设成果转化为现实战斗力的过程中做到五个坚持,对于做好军事斗争准备,打赢信息化战争具有重要意义。     

美国陆军数据战略目标及实施

为深入研究美陆军数据战略目标及实施策略,为我军数据战略研究提供借鉴,文章对美陆军2016年发布的最新《陆军数据战略》进行分析,指出其目标是实现数据的可视化、可获取、可信任、可理解和互操作,并对美陆军数据战略的具体实施策略进行了剖析,指出美国陆军数据战略推动的是美军军事作战理论转型,从"网络为中心"转变为以"数据为中心"作战理念,其核心意图在于以数据优势实现指挥决策优势。     

地理信息服务系统软件架构设计

从目前我国指挥控制系统中地理信息使用存在的问题出发,结合指挥信息系统的实际工作需要和现代战争作战趋势与发展方向,应用服务化与网络化系统技术理念,提出了基于SOA的地理信息服务的软件架构,使部队现有的应用系统之间的地理信息协同与共享,为部队作战任务和决策提供地理信息的有力支撑,并给出了具体的软件模块设计。     

高校网络德育理念初探

高校由于信息资源和人才的优势,始终处于网络社会发展的最前沿。网络正深刻改变着高校师生的工作、学习、生活、思维、交往等各个方面,网络德育应运而生。要推动高校网络德育的建设,首先应在理念上与时俱进、不断更新。     

加强消防部队财务保障工作的思考

分析新时期加强消防部队财务保障的重要意义和当前财务保障工作存在的主要问题,提出了树立大局意识、加强财务预算管理保障建设、加强财务分析保障建设、加强财务监督保障建设、加强财务人才队伍建设等对策。