Details

Defending the realm?

The politics of Britain's small wars since 1945

von: Aaron Edwards
32,99 €
Verlag:	Manchester University Press
Format:	PDF
Veröffentl.:	28.02.2018
ISBN/EAN:	9781526129956
Sprache:	englisch
Anzahl Seiten:	336

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Beschreibungen

Titelbeschreibung

Britain is often revered for its extensive experience of waging ‘small wars’. Its long imperial history is littered with high profile counter-insurgency campaigns, thus marking it out as the world’s most seasoned practitioner of this type of warfare. This is the first book to detail the tactical and operational dynamics of Britain’s small wars, arguing that the military’s use of force was more heavily constrained by wider strategic and political considerations than previously admitted. Outlining the civil-military strategy followed by the British in Palestine, Malaya, Kenya, Cyprus, Aden, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan, Defending the realm? argues that Britain’s small wars since 1945 were fought against the backdrop of an irrevocable decline in British power. Written from a theoretically-informed perspective, grounded in rich archival sources, oral testimonies and a revisionist reading of the literature on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism, this is the definitive account of the politics of Britain’s small wars.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Abbreviations Preface and Acknowledgements Introduction Drawing Lines in the Sand: Withdrawal from Palestine Winning ‘Hearts and Minds’: From Imperialism to Independence in Malaya Quelling Rebellion: Countering the Mau Mau in Kenya Securing the Base: Fighting Terrorists in Cyprus Holding the Thin Red Line: Retreat from Aden Soldiering the Peace: Combating Terrorism in Northern Ireland Return to Mesopotamia: The Politics of Britain’s Military Intervention in Iraq Building Peace amidst Conflict: Britain’s Changing Strategy in Afghanistan since 2001 Conclusion Select Bibliography Index

Autorenportrait

Aaron Edwards is Senior Lecturer in Defence and International Affairs at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst

Flap copy

Britain is often revered for its extensive experience of waging ‘small wars’. Its long imperial history is littered with high profile counter-insurgency campaigns, thus marking it out as the world’s most seasoned practitioner of this type of warfare. Britain’s ‘small wars’ ranged from fighting Communist insurgents in the bamboo-laden Malayan jungle, marauding Mau Mau gangs in Kenyan game reserves, Irish republican terrorists in the back alleys and rural hamlets of Northern Ireland, and Taliban fighters in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. This is the first book to detail the tactical and operational dynamics of Britain’s small wars, arguing that the military’s use of force was more heavily constrained by wider strategic and political considerations than previously admitted. Outlining the civil-military strategy followed by the British in Palestine, Malaya, Kenya, Cyprus, Aden, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan, Defending the realm? argues that Britain’s small wars have been shaped by a relative decline in British power, amidst dramatic fluctuations in the international system, just as much as the actions of military commanders and civilian officials ‘on the spot’ or those formulating government policy in London. Written from a theoretically-informed perspective, grounded in rich archival sources, oral testimonies and a reappraisal of the literature on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism, Defending the realm? is the definitive account of the politics of Britain’s small wars. It will be of interest to political scientists and historians, as well as scholars, students, soldiers and politicians who wish to gain a more critically informed perspective of the political trappings of war.