The Dictator's Army - Battlefield Effectiveness in Authoritarian Regimes (Hardcover)

In The Dictator's Army, Caitlin Talmadge presents a compelling new argument to help us understand why authoritarian militaries sometimes fight very well-and sometimes very poorly. Talmadge's framework for understanding battlefield effectiveness focuses on four key sets of military organizational practices: promotion patterns, training regimens, command arrangements, and information management. Different regimes face different domestic and international threat environments, leading their militaries to adopt different policies in these key areas of organizational behavior.Authoritarian regimes facing significant coup threats are likely to adopt practices that squander the state's military power, while regimes lacking such threats and possessing ambitious foreign policy goals are likely to adopt the effective practices often associated with democracies. Talmadge shows the importance of threat conditions and military organizational practices for battlefield performance in two paired comparisons of states at war: North and South Vietnam (1963-1975) and Iran and Iraq (1980-1988). Drawing on extensive documentary sources, her analysis demonstrates that threats and practices can vary not only between authoritarian regimes but also within them, either over time or across different military units. The result is a persuasive explanation of otherwise puzzling behavior by authoritarian militaries. The Dictator's Army offers a vital practical tool for those seeking to assess the likely course, costs, and outcomes of future conflicts involving nondemocratic adversaries, allies, or coalition partners.

General

Imprint:	Cornell University Press
Country of origin:	United States
Series:	Cornell Studies in Security Affairs
Release date:	July 2015
Authors:	Caitlin Talmadge
Dimensions:	235 x 155 x 25mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover
Pages:	320
ISBN-13:	978-0-8014-5347-2
Categories:	Books > Social sciences > Politics & government > Political science & theory Books > Social sciences > Warfare & defence > Theory of warfare & military science Books > Humanities > History > History of specific subjects > Military history Books > Social sciences > Warfare & defence > Defence strategy, planning & research > General Books > Social sciences > Warfare & defence > War & defence operations > Battles & campaigns Books > Humanities > History > World history > From 1900 > Postwar, from 1945 Books > History > History of specific subjects > Military history Books > History > World history > From 1900 > Postwar, from 1945
LSN:	0-8014-5347-X
Barcode:	9780801453472

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