Center of Gravity: A Most Important Concept Mostly Misunderstood

Center of Gravity: A Most Important Concept Mostly Misunderstood
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 35
Release: 1994
Genre:
ISBN:

This paper examines the concept of center of gravity and the military. The purpose is to determine if current understanding of the concept is correct, universally accepted and correctly applied at the operational level. The scope of the paper includes an examination of historical definitions and current understanding. Further, an original definition for center of gravity is proposed together with a framework for understanding its application during conflict. A broad review of case studies is conducted to support the definition and clarify the nature of center gravity. The general concept is narrowed to focus on joint doctrine and the operational commander. In summary, it is proposed that the book shouldn't be closed with the current understanding of center of gravity. Expert military opinion is diverse. Service and joint doctrinal definitions are not consistent. While there is agreement that center of gravity is important and must be defeated to win the war, the question of 'What is the center of gravity?' is open to almost limitless interpretation. Failure of the United States to understand the center of gravity was largely responsible for defeat in Vietnam. The current institutionalized misunderstanding of the concept of center of gravity could negatively impact the outcome of future conflicts. To conclude, center of gravity must be refined in joint doctrine. Also, guidance for the operational commander must focus more closely on the center of gravity and the various options available for its defeat. Clarifying center of gravity is critical to the future of US joint warfare and operations.

Contemporary Military Theory

Contemporary Military Theory
Author: Jan Angstrom
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 298
Release: 2014-07-17
Genre: History
ISBN: 1136169199

The book aims to provide the reader with a state-of-the-art introduction to classic and modern military theory. The text accounts for the most important theories within the field by developing and analyzing these theories, as well as problematizing both their normative and explanatory aims. While focusing on military theory, the book does not only reflect a single way of relating to knowledge of war and warfare, but furthers learning by introducing contrasting perspectives as well as constantly criticizing the theories. There is a clear need for an introductory text for the entire field of military theory that focuses whole-heartedly on the theories – not on their context or how they are expressed in practice during war. This book covers such questions as how we should understand the changing character of war, the utility of force and how the pursuit of political ends is achieved through military means. It draws upon and illustrates military thought through a wide-ranging number of examples from the Napoleonic Wars to the current war in Afghanistan. This book will be of great interest for students of military theory, strategic studies, security studies and defence studies.

Joint Operational Warfare

Joint Operational Warfare
Author: Milan N. Vego
Publisher: Government Printing Office
Total Pages: 1496
Release: 2009
Genre: Health & Fitness
ISBN: 9781884733628

Smallholder farmers and pastoralists fulfil an invaluable yet undervalued role in conserving biodiversity. They act as guardians of locally adapted livestock breeds that can make use of even marginal environments under tough climatic conditions and therefore are a crucial resource for food security. But in addition, by sustaining animals on natural vegetation and as part of local ecosystems, these communities also make a significant contribution to the conservation of wild biodiversity and of cultural landscapes. This publication provides a glimpse into the often intricate knowledge systems that pastoralists and smallholder farmers have developed for the management of their breeds in specific production systems and it also describes the multitude of threats and challenges these often marginalized communities have to cope with.

DNA Is Not Destiny: The Remarkable, Completely Misunderstood Relationship between You and Your Genes

DNA Is Not Destiny: The Remarkable, Completely Misunderstood Relationship between You and Your Genes
Author: Steven J. Heine
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Total Pages: 248
Release: 2017-04-18
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0393244091

“[An] important book.… Heine’s vibrant writing makes it come alive with personal significance for every reader.”—Carol Dweck, author of Mindset Scientists expect one billion people to have their genomes sequenced by 2025. Yet cultural psychologist Steven J. Heine argues that, in trying to know who we are and where we come from, we’re likely to completely misinterpret what’s “in our DNA.” Heine’s fresh, surprising conclusions about the promise, and limits, of genetic engineering and DNA testing upend conventional thinking and reveal a simple, profound truth: your genes create life—but they do not control it.

Directions in International Terrorism

Directions in International Terrorism
Author: Hussein Solomon
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 363
Release: 2021-08-30
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9811633800

This book examines novel and nonmainstream aspects of international terrorism in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. It explores issues that are not really explored in the mainstream literature such as the environmental message of terror groups, the issue of female jihadists and the social media strategy of terror groups. Whilst old issues remain and deserves a dissident perspective, like the Iran nuclear deal, newer issues like the impact of the Abrahamic Accord on the Middle East comes to the fore. At the same time, policy-makers need to be bold in responding to terror threat, including pooling sovereignty when confronting a truly global threat. Taken together this study reflects the most up to date volume on recent development in terrorism globally.

Extremisms in Africa Volume 2

Extremisms in Africa Volume 2
Author: Alain Tschudin
Publisher: Jonathan Ball Publishers
Total Pages: 213
Release: 2019-06-18
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0639992838

Over the past two decades, the rapid emergence and spread of both local and transnational extremist organisations has become a primary source of insecurity in Africa. Extremist organisations represent the fluid and variable nature of conflict systems today and are at the heart of some of Africa's most enduring conflicts. Moreover, the inability of African states to contain the threat of extremism, or of heavy-handed security responses, has led to the loss of thousands of lives, displaced millions, and deeply impacted the continent's democratisation and development goals. This is the second anthology published by Good Governance Africa (GGA) on the topic of extremism and political violence in Africa. Extremisms in Africa, one of the first anthologies of its kind on this topic to be authored - and published - on the African continent, provided an account of how extremist groups arose in Africa and the various ways in which they have harnessed their global agendas to local conflict dynamics and structural challenges, enabling them to exploit the grievances of individuals and communities for their cause. This anthology, Extremisms in Africa Volume 2, looks forward, giving special attention to the ways in which emergent trends, global geopolitics and conflict dynamics merge to impact upon the African continent. To this end, we have sought to engage diverse topics ranging from ecological concerns surrounding climate change and migration, the implications of such human movement for modern-day trafficking and slavery, and the roles of women and youth. State responses to extremisms on the African continent are not uniform; the capacity of individual states to detect/identify, police, investigate and prosecute is highly variable. At the most fundamental level, extremisms are ripe to arise in contexts where governments are failing, especially when democracy is on the wane. This anthology identifies some of the most pressing challenges in addressing extremisms today and provides chapters that could offer actionable policy insights to governments and civil society. Given the nature of Africa's geopolitical landscape, state and security services alone cannot prevent extremism. It will take a 'whole-of-society' approach, where government, civil society, academia, communities, families, and individuals collaborate to better understand the local dynamics of recruitment and radicalisation and develop context-specific strategies in response. This anthology will hopefully provide practitioners with improved insight into some of the key challenges and potential solutions in preventing extremism, while also being of interest to the general reader.