How do the weak win wars? The likelihood of victory and defeat in asymmetric conflicts depends on the interaction of the strategies weak and strong actors use. Using statistical and in-depth historical analyses of conflicts spanning two hundred years, in this 2005 book Ivan Arreguin-Toft shows that, independent of regime type and weapons technology, the interaction of similar strategic approaches favors strong actors, while opposite strategic approaches favors the weak. This approach to understanding asymmetric conflicts allows us to makes sense of how the United States was able to win its war in Afghanistan (2002) in a few months, while the Soviet Union lost after a decade of brutal war (1979-89). Arreguin-Toft's strategic interaction theory has implications not only for international relations theory, but for policy makers grappling with interstate and civil wars, as well as terrorism.
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How do the weak defeat the strong? In this 2005 book, Ivan Arreguin-Toft argues that although many factors affect asymmetric conflict outcomes, the interaction of each actor's strategy is the best explanation. This book has implications for scholars of international relations, and policy makers grappling with interstate and civil wars, as well as terrorism.
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List of figures; Preface; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; 1. Introduction; 2. Explaining asymmetric conflict outcomes; 3. Russia in the Caucasus: the Murid War, 1830-59; 4. Britain in Orange Free State and Transvaal: the South African War, 1899-1902; 5. Italy in Ethiopia: the Italo-Ethiopian War, 1935-40; 6. The United States in Vietnam: the Vietnam War, 1965-73; 7. The USSR in Afghanistan: the Afghan Civil War, 1979-89; 8. Conclusion; Appendix; References; Index.
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'Arreguin-Toft has made a major contribution to the literature on a fascinating and very timely subject. How the Weak Win Wars should be required reading not only for International Relations scholars but also for would be US presidents who still do not grasp the limits of American military power now on display in Iraq.' Survival
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In this 2005 book, Ivan Arreguin-Toft examines the nature of asymmetric conflicts to explain how weaker powers can win.

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780521548694
Publisert
2005-12-08
Utgiver
Vendor
Cambridge University Press
Vekt
410 gr
Høyde
229 mm
Bredde
152 mm
Dybde
16 mm
Aldersnivå
06, 05, P, U
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
274

Biographical note

Ivan Arreguin-Toft is Fellow at the International Security Program, the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. He has authored numerous conference papers and his articles have appeared in International Security and The Cambridge Review of International Affairs. He is a veteran of the US Army where he served in Augsburg, Germany as a military intelligence analyst from 1985 to 1987.