culture

Arab Cultural Manifestations in the Iraqi Army

SWJED — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 04:11:31 +0000

Arab Cultural Manifestations in the Iraqi Army SWJED Fri, 11/01/2019 - 12:11am

Underpinnings of ethnic, religious, tribal, and demographic factors as well as their associated social identities remain a recurrent player in Iraqi politics and has affected the building of the Iraqi Army over the past 16 years. Researching Iraqi culture, social identities and their historical context is paramount to understanding the challenges the U.S. has faced in its efforts to train, equip, and advise the Iraqi Army. Independent thinking, creative ideas, information sharing, individual initiative, decentralized control, delegation of responsibility, and personal merit are all keys to success in U.S. military doctrine but contradict Iraqi sociocultural norms of centralized power, groupthink, and avoiding shame, embarrassment, and admission of mistakes. Training, equipping, and advising Arab militaries to follow Western military doctrine has had a history of at best mediocre results and rarely outlives the departure of Western advisors. U.S. capacity building doctrine in Iraq did not adjust to take into account Iraqi culture, instead it expected the Iraqi military to adapt to American military doctrine.

Modern War and Cultural Change

SWJED — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 05:56:29 +0000

Modern War and Cultural Change SWJED Thu, 08/08/2019 - 1:56am

Cultural knowledge and cultural change are – on various levels – of significant importance for modern Western warfare. What does this mean for strategy?

Lost In Translation: How Language Affects Perception During Armed Conflict

SWJED — Tue, 07 May 2019 17:39:54 +0000

Lost In Translation: How Language Affects Perception During Armed Conflict SWJED Tue, 05/07/2019 - 1:39pm

Military professionals need to be cognizant of language on both a macro level (translation issues) and a micro level (within one’s native language) because it affects perception in international conflict.

Understanding Culture Requires a New Approach to Its Analysis

SWJED — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 22:04:13 +0000

Understanding Culture Requires a New Approach to Its Analysis

Culture analysis may be the key that wins wars, not just terminate fighting. This analysis is complex, time consuming, and often not conducted.

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About the Author(s)

Joint Regional Experts: We Can Do Better

SWJED — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 06:22:15 +0000

Joint Regional Experts: We Can Do Better SWJED Fri, 04/07/2017 - 2:22am

If success was measured by how often a subject is mentioned or written about the U.S. military would surely be a smart culture-savvy force to be reckoned with.

The Importance of Cross-Cultural Capabilities to Win Armed Conflicts

SWJED — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 02:21:39 +0000

The Importance of Cross-Cultural Capabilities to Win Armed Conflicts SWJED Mon, 03/13/2017 - 10:21pm

This essay addresses solutions for how the Army can strengthen its landpower in terms of the comprehensible understanding and awareness of the human dimension of the environment.

Things Americans Need to Know: How to Be Better Partners

Peter J. Munson — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 07:30:00 +0000

Things Americans Need to Know: How to Be Better Partners Peter J. Munson Tue, 06/25/2013 - 3:30am

While we pay lip service to ‘partnership’, the US military is still used to being the dominant player. This ‘reality’ is changing.

On Targuité, Nomadism and the Nation: The Origins of Tuareg Militant Nationalism in North Africa

Peter J. Munson — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 07:30:00 +0000

On Targuité, Nomadism and the Nation: The Origins of Tuareg Militant Nationalism in North Africa Peter J. Munson Wed, 06/12/2013 - 3:30am

As contemporary North African societies continue to re-arrange themselves , one of the enduring dilemmas that continues to rise to the fore is what has been described as “the Tuareg question."

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A Tale of Two Warriors: Finding Belongingness after Battle

Peter J. Munson — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 07:30:00 +0000

A Tale of Two Warriors: Finding Belongingness after Battle Peter J. Munson Tue, 06/04/2013 - 3:30am

Together the tribe bears the burdens of war, while the American Soldier reflects in solitude, wondering who he truly is and how he can ever belong.

Religious Advising For Strategic Effect: US Army Chaplains as Change Agents

Peter J. Munson — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:30:00 +0000

Religious Advising For Strategic Effect: US Army Chaplains as Change Agents Peter J. Munson Mon, 05/20/2013 - 3:30am

The failure to understand and appreciate the religious dimension of political action is not without consequence.