Amateur Soldiers, Global Wars Insurgency and Modern Conflict

Subjects:

• Military Studies » Military & Politics
• Political Science » Comparative Politics
• Political Science » International Relations
• Military Studies » Military Studies (General)

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 September - October 2006
• 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) September 8, 2006
• 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 2006
• [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 March/April 2006

• Endorsement From Arthur S. Hulnick
  Associate Professor, Boston University: 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.

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