Feeding the Lion: China and defence development in African states

ABSTRACT

In analysing trends in Chinese defence engagement and their impact on defence development in African states, it is important to consider both China's changing policy priorities and its capabilities for the provision of defence support. China's international ambitions and its economic development contribute to its emergence as a key supporter of defence capability development in Africa, occupying a crucial niche as a provider of support, particularly arms transfers, appropriate to evolving local requirements. The economic and politico-military imperatives driving China's engagement of Africa, which stem from its economic reforms and re-emergence as a great power, are facilitating defence modernisation by accelerating the introduction of modern arms in substantial quantities. The commercial importance of arms exports and the growing importance of strategic ties strongly situate China to help sustain processes of defence capability development in African states over the long term.     

Israel’s Security Nexus as Strategic Restraint: The Case of Iran 2009–2013

This article examines the debates in Israel between 2009 and 2013 over Iran’s nuclear programme as a reflection of a particular type of civil–military or civil–security relationship. It analyses how key actors within that relationship – particularly those with an intelligence background – engaged with media outlets in Israel and further afield to influence domestic and international opinion over how best to contain Iran’s nuclear ambitions. In so doing, it seeks to address one fundamental question: are governments in Jerusalem any longer the final arbiters over deciding what is in the national security interests of the State of Israel?     

Saddam versus the inspectors: the impact of regime security on the verification of Iraq’s WMD disarmament

The discovery that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in 2003 raised the question of why Saddam had prevented UN weapons inspectors from fully accounting for his disarmament. The leading explanation for Saddam’s behavior is that he valued ambiguity as part of a strategy of ‘deterrence by doubt’. This article argues that Iraq’s obstruction of inspectors in the late 1990s was motivated by his desire to shield Iraq’s regime security apparatus from UNSCOM’s intrusive counter-concealment inspections. The failure to understand how strongly Saddam’s concerns about his personal safety drove Iraq’s contentious relationship with UNSCOM set the stage for the invasion of Iraq in 2003.     

Making a difference in peacekeeping operations: Voices of South African women peacekeepers

Recruiting more women into peacekeeping operations due to the perceived unique contributions they are said to make to missions has been widely advocated by the United Nations (UN) and other agencies as a means to overcome the unintended consequents of deployments – mainly the ongoing reports of sexual abuse of locals by male soldiers. However, taking into account the broader gender debates surrounding women’s contributions to peacekeeping, and by considering the experiences of women in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), this study reveals the challenges women face in realising these widely advocated contributions. These challenges include the current recruiting processes, the self-perception of female soldiers, the deeply patriarchal ideologies within South African society, and the hyper-masculine culture which overwhelms the military. The study concludes that, for women to be properly utilised, a reassessment of recruitment processes in the SANDF is necessary, gender training should be prioritised, and an androgynous soldier identity should be advocated.     

面向文本数据库管理系统的授权模型

构造新的授权模型以满足面向对象、语义、文本数据模型等对授权的需求是当前数据库技术的重要研究课题之一。本文提出了一个基于复杂对象数据模型的、以权主群及权体簇作为授权单位的多级授权模型,即MAM模型,并讨论了面向文本数据库授权系统的基本功能及基本操作。     

轻量级接入点协议LWAPP的应用及其安全性分析

轻量级接入点协议(Lightweight Access Point Protocol,LWAPP)是一个新的无线局域网协议,该协议被设计用来传输和控制无线接入点和无线局域网控制器之间的通信。LWAPP把一些传统的无线接入点的一些功能移到了无线控制器中,以实现对无线接入点的统一控制和集中管理。简单讲述了LWAPP的功能和作用,同时分析了LWAPP的安全性,列举了一些该协议可能会受到的攻击类型,并提出了一些解决方案。     

加强和改进警卫部队思想政治工作的几点思考

思想政治工作是政治建设中最核心的内容。在新的历史条件下,对警卫部队思想政治工作提出了新的更高的要求,思想政治工作必须不断改革创新,准确把握内在的特点规律,增强时代感、针对性、实效性和主动性。     

朝核问题对中国边境安全的影响

朝核问题一直是困扰东北亚地区安全的核心问题,自20世纪90年代第一次朝核危机至今．朝核问题不但没有得到妥善解决,反而更加复杂。2006年10月9日,朝鲜宣布成功进行了地下核试验,朝鲜半岛再一次成为全球关注的焦点。在前人研究的基础上,就朝核问题产生的背景,朝核问题对中国边境地区经济、地区稳定以及生态环境等方面产生的影响进行分析和探讨。     

公安现役部队后勤专业人才队伍建设的思考

公安现役部队后勤专业人才队伍建设是后勤信息化建设的重要智力基础,关系到部队后勤全面建设和长远规划。当前,复杂的国际国内形势与繁重的边、消、警任务,对后勤专业技术人才队伍建设提出了更高要求。如何认清形势,更新观念,实现部队后勤工作的跨越式发展,关键在于更快更好地培养融指挥、管理、技术为一体的“复合型”高素质人才。     

制约警卫形式改革的体制机制和法制因素分析

警卫工作体制、勤务运行机制和警卫法制是顺利完成警卫任务的制度保障,当其不适应警卫工作的发展要求时,就会成为警卫工作健康发展的掣肘因素,对警卫形式改革也会产生某些负面影响。当前,警卫规格由职务确定的体制,警卫勤务层层加码的运行机制,不合理的警卫勤务质量考评机制,难以实行的警卫危险评估机制,不科学的警卫工作领导管理体制及不健全的警卫法制,已成为制约警卫形式改革的重要因素。