Winning the Asymmetric War: Political, Social and Military Responses

The study of asymmetrical warfare extends from the earliest known writings of man to the present day. While the term «asymmetrical warfare» may be unfamiliar to the lay person, the concept is by no means strange to any who have even minimal exposure to historical events. From the biblical story of David and Goliath to Herodotus’ account of the Battle of Thermopylae to the American Revolution asymmetrical warfare has been recounted or documented throughout human history. Latest since 9/11 the phenomenon of asymmetric warfare has become a subject within the international relations. The essays in the book offer a detailed look at various aspects of asymmetrical warfare from the theoretical to the practical to manifestations of asymmetry in recent history. While not a comprehensive list of all the contemporary avenues of research on the subject, the authors provide a sample of the broad range of approaches to the study of asymmetrical warfare.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Edwin R. Micewski: Asymmetry and Western Society/Culture-Critical Reflections – Josef Schröfl: Worldwide Asymmetries – Heinz Gärtner: International Institutions, Multilateralism and Powerful States: Asymmetries in International Relations Theories – Werner Freistetter: Asymmetric Wars in the Bible? Theological-ethical Considerations on Violence and War in the Old Testament – Edwin R. Micewski: On the Moral-Philosophical Legitimacy of Asymmetric Warfare – Murad L. Wisniewski: Ecological Threats to National Security: Should the Security Policy Agenda be Expanded to Incorporate Environmental Security? – Walter E. Feichtinger: Asymmetry in International Politics – Herfried Münkler: Asymmetry and the Process of Asymmetrization – Thomas Pankratz/Tibor Benczur-Juris: Necessity, Opportunities and Limits on the Cooperation of Intelligence Agencies in the Fight against International Terrorism in the Framework of the European Union – Wolfgang Schober: Conflict Communication in Times of Asymmetric Warfare – Samuel R. Schubert: The Asymmetric Power of Terrorism – Martin Malek: Asymmetric Warfare in Chechnya – David Francis: Asymmetrical Warfare and the Regionalisation of Domestic Civil Wars in Africa: Implications for EU Interventions – Stefan M. Aubrey: Combating Al-Qaeda and the Jihadist Ideology: An In-Progress Review of the US National Counter-Terrorism Strategy – Joey S.R. Long: Managing Security and Addressing Asymmetric Threats through Multilateral Means in East Asia – Klaus Peter Lohmann: On Development of Modern Warfare. Basic Asymmetries and a Possible Strategy.

About the Author :
The Editors: Josef Schröfl, Colonel of the Austrian Armed Forces, Political Scientist; Fulbright Graduated University of Delaware (2005); Present Posting at the Austrian MOD, Department for Military Strategy, lectures and writes on Asymmetries, Asymmetric Warfare, Terrorism and Strategic Cultures. Sean Michael Cox, Associate Director for Special Projects at the Center for International Studies, University of Delaware; secondary appointment in the Department of Political Science and International Relations; teaches courses on the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Thomas Pankratz, Political Scientist; Contract teacher at the institute for Political Science at the University of Vienna; Expert in the Office for Security Policy/Federal Ministry of Defence; Research: International terrorism and countermeasures, intelligence Community.