Citation

Schuurman B. Small Wars Insurg. 2011; 22(1): 32-54.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/09592318.2010.518849

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

It seems paradoxical that powerful Western states are at their most vulnerable when the disparity in military capabilities between them and their opponents is at its largest. Yet it is precisely in such 'asymmetric conflicts' that Western countries have failed to achieve their overall political objectives the most often. Focusing on the post-1945 world, this article will examine governmental, military, and societal reasons for Western failures in asymmetric conflicts. Politicians' lack of understanding regarding war's fundamental nature, militaries' tendency to dissociate operational goals from grand strategy objectives and citizens' moral aversion to warfare appear to be among the main obstacles to success.

Language: en

Keywords

asymmetric conflicts; Clausewitz; counterinsurgency; Strong-power defeats; trinitarian framework; Western states