Westmoreland was right: learning the wrong lessons from the Vietnam War

Fourth Generation Warfare is a theory of contemporary warfare that posits a number of different ideas that are able to shed light on current conflicts. Whilst much of the debate has been concentrated on the linear development of warfare and also on analysis of the current situation of US forces in Iraq, it has resonance for a number of different conflicts taking place in Africa, if only because the US has become involved in contemporary conflicts in Somalia and the Mahgreb. There are clearly significant issues with the US-centric, flawed linear approach to history, but the actual analysis of modes of warfare has much to offer policymakers in a continent that is under-represented in the literature, and is also in danger of being forgotten in the shadow of analysis of Iraq. This paper moves on from criticising the stepped approach to history and looks at patterns of warfare in contemporary Africa, arguing that there is much in the theory that could be used to explain seemingly illogical tactics or patterns, and thus has much to tell policymakers engaged in conflict analysis.

Rebellions can be made 2 per cent active in a striking force, and 98 per cent passively sympathetic.1 ?1. T.E. Lawrence, ‘Science of Guerrilla Warfare’, 1929, published in Malcolm Brown (ed) T.E. Lawrence in War and Peace: An Anthology of the Military Writings of Lawrence of Arabia (London: Greenhill Books, 2005) p.284.      

From the sea to outer space: The command of space as the foundation of spacepower theory

Colin Gray once lamented the absence of a ‘Mahan for the final frontier’ and spacepower theory in strategic studies. This article proposes the command of space as the fundamental concept of spacepower theory, and that Mahan himself has much to offer in the endeavour of spacepower theory-making than has hitherto been realised. The theory is advanced by tempering versions of the ‘command of space’, stressing its educational intent, and explaining the nuanced sub-concepts of space control and denial through understanding some precedents set by seapower theory. In the process, aspects of Mahanian and Corbettian seapower theory are unified.     

The Dao of foreign policy: Understanding China’s dual strategy in the South China Sea

In the South China Sea, China neither implements power-maximizing policy nor engages a peaceful approach. Instead, China implements both coercion and cooperation in pursuing its strategic interest in the disputed area. How can we explain China’s paradoxical behavior? This article claims that the best way to explain China’s policy in the South China Sea is to understand the character of dualism in China’s strategic culture. Following constructivist theory that stresses culture, this article argues that Chinese duality approach in the South China Sea is rooted in the philosophy of Daoism. The symbol of Yin-Yang depicts Chinese assertive as well as cooperative behavior in dealing with the South China Sea dispute. Although from a normative perspective Daoism recognizes pacifism and non-violent behavior, the most important feature of Daoism is the assumption that reality consists of two opposing elements that are mutually embedded.     

Military autonomy: its origins,limits, and the politico-military dialectic of war

Military officers often oppose political interference in the conduct of war. Political leaders respond by citing Clausewitz’s contention that “war is the continuation of politics with the addition of other means.” Scholarship in security studies and civil-military relations argues that civilians are right to oppose military autonomy because it serves the parochial interests of the military. However, through the dialectical relationship between the violent essence of war and its political nature, Clausewitz provides an alternative explanation for military demands for autonomy. He shows that military and political leaders are prone to an incomplete understanding of war that can undermine strategy and policy.     

复杂波形反数字储频干扰思考

阐述了数字射频存储器的基本结构,以及干扰的优点和局限性,从设计复杂波形进行反数字储频干扰研究,对阶段相位扰动LFM信号、串并联信号、脉内非线性调频脉间相位编码信号进行了分析。这3种复杂信号能够造成干扰信号和雷达信号失配,弱化干扰和回波的相干度,能够区分出干扰信号和回波信号,达到反干扰的效果,为反数字储频干扰的研究提供理论依据。     

基于虚拟现实技术的空天作战效能评估研究

首先介绍了空天作战效能评估的常用方法,然后结合虚拟现实技术,提出了一种利用虚拟现实技术对空天作战效能进行评估的新方法,该方法将作战效能评估与虚拟现实技术相结合,总结了在虚拟现实条件下进行空天作战效能评估的指标体系,并对空天作战虚拟现实效能评估系统进行了研究,结果表明该方法具有快速、高效、准确和直观等优点,能够使传统的作战效能评估更加形象、直观.     

关于教师继续教育培训模式的思考

继续教育作为终身教育的重要组成部分和基本形式,对教师的发展成长意义重大。继续教育工作开展十多年来,取得了一定的成绩,但还存在不少问题,如学习动机较为被动,管理认识不到位,教学内容陈旧空泛,教学方法呆板机械等。随着课程改革的不断深入,继续教育必须采取相应的改进措施,树立以人为本,服务至上的观点,教学内容的前瞻性与实用性并重,教学人员进行整合,教学方法灵活多样,评价考核规范科学等,以此激活受训教师内在的学习动机,更大程度地提高继续教育培训的实际效果。     

转型期再分配中存在的问题及其治理对策

转型期再分配中存在的问题既有认识上的 ,也有操作上的 ,既包括理论研究层面 ,也涵盖政策设计领域。具体问题包括对再分配原因的认识、目标的选择、问题的认定、地位的判断、功能的界定与作用的发挥、主体的确定与手段的运用等。要治理这些问题 ,就必须强化原因认识、规范目标选择、准确认定问题、科学判断地位、合理界定功能、有效发挥作用、完善主体、健全手段     

“Flectas non frangas”: revisiting early twenty-first century UK–US defense relations (2000–2005) after five years

Adopting the analytical framework of the established interpretive “schools” of Anglo-American relations, this article offers several reflections on UK–US defense relations as they occurred over the significant years of 2000–2005. During those years, trajectories were established on which UK–US defense relations continue to travel today and outcomes emerged which are still being navigated. This article concludes that the Latin phrase, “Flectas Non Frangas” (essentially translated as: “Bend not Break”), is the most appropriate to adopt to characterize the developments undergone in recent UK–US defense relations. Many historical and strategic lessons with contemporary relevance are drawn.     

火炮炮闩击发机构可靠性强化试验技术

为提高炮闩的试验效率和可靠性,将可靠性强化试验理论引入其可靠性研究中。以火炮炮闩为强化试验载体,基于虚拟样机技术对击发机构磨损失效进行强化试验研究,依据受力分析确定了增大击针簧刚度的强化试验技术,通过仿真试验和分析,结果表明机构磨损量强化系数随强化应力水平的提高而变大,所确定的强化试验技术加快了零部件失效进程,有利于缩减可靠性试验的时间,为可靠性强化试验在装备机械系统中的应用提供理论和技术支撑。