African maritime security and the Lomé Charter: Reality or dream?

ABSTRACT

Traditionally the African concept of security concept has been dominated by land-based conflicts with little attention being paid to maritime threats and the protection of the maritime environment. With the rapid escalation of piracy on the East Coast, the African Union (AU) was compelled to develop a joint strategy to address its changing African Maritime Domain (AMD). This was achieved by the AU’s Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS 2050) in 2014, culminating in the adoption of a binding maritime security and safety charter in Lomé in 2016. The Lomé Charter should ideally focus the general provisions of AIMS 2050 so that Africa, as a continent, can take responsibility for security and economic empowerment of the AMD. This article considers various maritime security documents against the backdrop of an African context for understanding maritime security, in order to evaluate whether the Lomé Charter, as a manifestation of AIMS 2050, will realise its aspirations. Focussing on security is not sufficient and too much emphasis is placed in the Lomé Charter on restriction rather than development. Strong political will and leadership is required to facilitate implementation, identifying common security concerns to ensure better cooperative and collective strategies in a diverse implementation environment.     

POLITICAL CHANGE AND BORDER SECURITY REFORM IN EURASIA: The cCase of Georgia

This article presents four challenges to promoting border security in post-Soviet Eurasia, even in those states that have experienced regime change and profess new interest in constructing sound state institutions. The analysis is drawn from the specific example of Georgia—a major recipient of U.S. border security assistance and the site of several intercepted efforts of radioactive materials trafficking—but it is relevant to other states in the region, as well. The challenges assessed are: (1) the gradual nature of border regime reform, (2) trade-offs that subordinate border reform to other developmental priorities, (3) bureaucratic inertia and politics, and (4) the continued existence of unrecognized territories that lie beyond the reach of the state and of international law.     

Portfolio analysis for defense: taking account of networking

To manage their assets at an enterprise level, defense organizations have turned to portfolio theory for the planning, analysis and management of their military forces and materiel. Despite being well established in the commercial sector, the application of portfolio approaches in defense is problematic. The vexatious question for defense of how to define and measure benefits arising is complicated by the increased utility and effectiveness achieved through networking of military forces and the equipment they use. The authors discuss the challenges for defense in using a portfolio approach and propose a conceptual model for dealing with the effects arising from networking with information and communications technologies.     

论“空海一体战”与中国国家安全

“空海一体战”是美国的一种新型作战理论,是在20世纪80年代“空地一体战”等诸多战法及兵种妥协基础上形成的一种新型军事战略,旨在通过空海军力量的配合,进行近域作战,以抵消对手的反进入/区域拒止能力,取得战争的主动权与控制权.“空海一体战”作为美国战略重心东移的重要角力点与支撑要素,在美国亚太战略中的作用举足轻重,对亚太周边国家尤其是中国的国家安全构成重大威胁,为此有必要对其理论渊源、发展目标、策略行动及障碍缺陷进行剖析与解构,为中国维护国家安全,构建良好的国家安全环境提供战略储备与智力支持.     

公安边防机动部队实施跨区增援行动的思考

公安边防机动部队成建制、成规模实施跨区增援行动是遂行边境维稳任务的重要行动样式,也是当前公安边防机动部队实战能力建设的重大课题。分析了公安边防机动部队实施跨区增援的影响和制约因素,从战备工作、指挥协调、通信联络、装备建设、综合保障等方面对做好跨区增援行动进行了初步思考和研究,提出了若干建议,以期有助于当前公安边防机动部队的建设。     

公安现役部队危机传播中的人本思想研究

科学的危机传播包括危机预警传播、危机应急传播和危机善后传播.公安现役部队危机预警传播应以人为本,常态化传播危机预警信息;危机应急传播应体现人文关怀;危机善后传播应进行社会心理疏导,发掘并弘扬人性的善与美.     

公安边防工作中情报主导警务与社区警务结合之途径浅探

情报主导警务已成为继社区警务之后的新工作模式。但在实际的公安边防工作中,情报主导警务的推广并不能完全取代社区警务。为此,在比较美国情报主导警务与社区警务模式的基础上,分析了情报主导警务与社区警务结合的必要性及紧迫性,重点探讨在公安边防工作中情报主导警务与社区警务优势相结合的途径。     

环京消防部队做好首都重大活动消防安保工作之探讨

结合实地调研,分析了环京消防部队在首都重大活动消防安保工作中面临的形势任务和主要风险,从抓实"责任链"工程、"防火墙"工程、"一体化"工程、"生命线"工程等方面探讨了环京消防部队做好首都重大活动消防安保工作的对策。     

动态性警卫勤务卫星通信保障非技术性障碍及对策

卫星通信技术为警卫勤务的通信保障提供了可靠的技术平台,但临时现场、临时住地以及路线等动态性警卫勤务的通信保障问题一直没有得到较好地解决,动态性警卫勤务中应用卫星通信还存在着一些非技术层面的障碍。阐述了动态性警卫勤务运用卫星通信保障的必要性和可行性,分析了动态性警卫勤务卫星通信保障非技术性障碍,提出了消除动态性警卫勤务卫星通信保障非技术性障碍的对策。     

构建警种部队应急救援信息系统向“能打仗、打胜仗”聚焦

随着建设现代化武警部队的逐步推进,各警种部队信息化装备不断发展,引进和研发了许多不同类型、不同规模的信息系统。如何合理整合运用这些系统使之尽快生成应急救援能力,是当前部队和院校面临的重大课题。建设警种部队应急救援信息系统,发挥信息系统优势向“能打仗、打胜仗”聚焦,是实现统一指挥、快速反应、科学用兵、科学施救、密切协同的根本保证。