Amateur Soldiers, Global Wars: Insurgency and Modern Conflict

by Michael C. Fowler

Overview

Transnational politics, modern communications, and access to the tools of warfare have combined to give political movements the ability to wage global war to promote their own agendas, a development that has changed the face of both politics and warfare. Fowler examines current aspects of conducting war, including mobilization, funding, training, fighting, and intelligence to demonstrate how they are accessible to anyone and are well-suited to waging insurgency efforts in many places around the world. Such efforts force governments to deal with unforeseen enemies who violently advance their agendas in a quest for increased power and authority.

Because global insurgents, such as al Qaeda, build more direct connections between politics and the use of force, confronting them requires solutions that emphasize politics as much as the use of force. National governments must unite to seek cooperative solutions to issues that affect them. The implications of the adoption of such strategies by groups with varied agendas will undoubtedly change foreign policy planning for decades to come.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275981365
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	09/30/2005
Series:	Praeger Security International
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Michael C. Fowler is a defense analyst and freelance consultant, concentrating on topics such as insurgency, the evolution of war, and homeland security. He teaches at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Leadership and Mobilization
Warfare
Intelligence
Support
A Theory of Global Insurgency
Al Qaeda, The Nazis, and the Boxer Rebellion
End Notes
Works Cited
Works Consulted
Index

What People are Saying About This

Arthur S. Hulnick Associate Professor

"After the attack on the U.S. on 9/11/01, Americans sought to understand why we had been attacked in this way, and who was this new enemy. We know a lot more now than we did then, but we still lack a comprehensive analysis of our foe. Dr. Michael Fowler has done us a great service in his new book by describing the new enemies we face, why they fight, and their methods. He offers valuable insights in very readable fashion and suggests ways to reform our military and our defenses to combat Global Insurgencies in the 21st Century. For students and observers of national security issues, Amateur Soldiers, Global Wars ought to be high on their reading lists."

Arthur S. Hulnick: Associate Professor

"After the attack on the U.S. on 9/11/01, Americans sought to understand why we had been attacked in this way, and who was this new enemy. We know a lot more now than we did then, but we still lack a comprehensive analysis of our foe. Dr. Michael Fowler has done us a great service in his new book by describing the new enemies we face, why they fight, and their methods. He offers valuable insights in very readable fashion and suggests ways to reform our military and our defenses to combat Global Insurgencies in the 21st Century. For students and observers of national security issues, ^IAmateur Soldiers, Global Wars^R ought to be high on their reading lists."

Editorial Reviews

[A]mateur Soldiers, Global Wars provides keen insight into the forces that are waging war on the global battlefield today. Specifically, he argues there has been a paradigm shift in the conduct of warfare — today, amateur warriors, with an issue or cause, influence governments through unconventional warfare. Fowler argues that non-state-sponsored actors have the most impact on conflict and politics in places such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Chechnya….[F]owler's endeavor provides much food for thought concerning the way war will be waged in the future….[A]mateur Soldiers, Global Wars is worthy of their effort.” —ARMOR

“The bombing of World Trade Center transformed the thinking about warfare among American security analysts in particular and Western theoreticians in general. Michael C. Fowler, a defence analyst of the Roger Williams University, portrays the trajectory of warfare in the new millennium. The wars of the new millennium are not going to be bloodless as some Western theorists claim. True, cyber-terrorism and electromagnetic pulse guns for destroying electrical gadgets are the new weapons. It is also clear that the second Gulf War-style warfare will not recur in future….While the West woke up to the danger of insurgencies after the WTC bombing, India has been living with insurgencies for a long time. Al Qaida is also active in Kashmir and in the North-East. Fowlers book could thus be of use to Indian policy-makers, besides providing interesting insights to general readers.” —The Telegraph (Calcutta, India)

“Michael Fowlers book Amateur Soldiers, Global Wars: Insurgency and Modern Conflict is probably one of the few comprehensive attempts at seeking a thorough explanation of the nature and character of current conflicts in the world. These have generally characterised the 21st century so far and are typified by the attack on the Twin Towers on 11 September 2001….[a] must read for all working on issues of peace and security and probably an essential one for the rest. Eradication of insurgency/terrorism requires a partnership of all and sundry because of what Fowler recognises as thoughts, perceptions, and how governments solve problems rather than anything physical.” —Institute for Security Studies

“[H]as some interesting observations on how today's amateurs are able to perform comparable functions to professionals in preparing their military operations. Insurgent leaders can mobilize and train troops, develop strategies, collect intelligence, raise money, and procure weapons, tasks all made easier by globalization.” —Foreign Affairs

From the Publisher

Fowler follows the same line as Rupert Smith in pondering the implications of the shift from conventional war to insurgency. His book lacks the authority, lucidity, and historical sweep of Smith's, but he has some interesting observations on how today's "amateurs" are able to perform comparable functions to professionals in preparing their military operations. Insurgent leaders can mobilize and train their troops, develop strategies, collect intelligence, raise money, and procure weapons, tasks all made easier by globalization. But he comes up against a basic problem facing all contemporary insurgencies. Past masters, such as Mao Zedong, believed that the point of an insurgent force was to develop into a conventional army to defeat that of the state. Fowler recognizes that this may be difficult, so he suggests that modern insurgencies will go for a political takeover instead.

Foreign Affairs