Bordieuan Field Theory as an Instrument for Military Operational Analysis

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Frontmatter

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2. Theory and Background Field Theory as an Instrument for Operational Analysis

   1. Frontmatter

   2. Chapter 1. Terms in Search for a Theoretical Definition

      • Open Access

      Håkan Gunneriusson

      Abstract

      This chapter deals with why social theory can be relevant in the context of military operations. The chapter does also give some examples of what have been done before in this matter, specifically the concept Effect-Based Operations (EBO). The French sociologist and theorist Pierre Bourdieu is also introduced here.

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   3. Chapter 2. Field Theory

      • Open Access

      Håkan Gunneriusson

      Abstract

      In this chapter, the theoretical framework of field theory is presented. The freedom of framing the field depending on the task is discussed along with terms as capital, autonomous vs. heteronomous and illusio. An example of a social field of the discipline of history of war is also presented.

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   4. Chapter 3. The Political Field in the Operational Area

      • Open Access

      Håkan Gunneriusson

      Abstract

      This chapter deals with one possible implementation of field theory in a generic operational area. The main challenge is to operationalise the concept of field-specific capital in order to classify and affect the adversary and other actors on the field.

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   5. Chapter 4. Field Operations as Information Warfare and Operationalisation of Theory

      • Open Access

      Håkan Gunneriusson

      Abstract

      This chapter touches on concepts of information warfare, for example COIN-theory. Field theory as information warfare is the main topic. The purpose is to frame the field theory as a valid example of both method and theory regarding information warfare. This is especially important as a lot of the practice regarding information warfare is not anchored in a social theory but mostly in a best practice way of acting. That is all well but a theory provides a wider range of generalising and thus options of free-thinking.

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3. Empirical Example

   1. Frontmatter

   2. Chapter 5. The Pre-war Strategic Situation in the Balkans from a Field Theory Perspective

      • Open Access

      Håkan Gunneriusson

      Abstract

      The following is a short account of the events leading up to war in the Balkans, in particular in Bosnia. The intention and overall description in these few pages will help provide an example of the practical application of a field theory perspective to conflict, rather than describing the conflict in full. Some actors are chosen as examples for the purpose of theoretical explanation, even though there are others to focus on if one wants a complete historical account. Main actors as for example Slobodan Milošević and Franjo Tudjman are also presented in this chapter.

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   3. Chapter 6. The Events in 1990

      • Open Access

      Håkan Gunneriusson

      Abstract

      This chapter deals with the continuation of the conflict and the breaking up of Yugoslavia. By 1990, Federal Yugoslavia was unpopular. Most Yugoslavs wanted to move from communism to democracy, yet they associated federation with communism and Serb domination.

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   4. Chapter 7. The Events in 1991

      • Open Access

      Håkan Gunneriusson

      Abstract

      This chapter deals with the final blows against Yugoslavia as the state it once was and its eventual reduction to an extension of Serbian politics. From the point of legitimacy, one can see this as the height of Milošević political career, even if his power would be strong well beyond this year. Serbian forces attack eastern Croatia and sack the city of Vukovar as the first major hostilities between the two parts of the former Yugoslavia.

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   5. Chapter 8. The Events in 1992

      • Open Access

      Håkan Gunneriusson

      Abstract

      This chapter deals with how and why the war emerges in Bosnia and how the involved actors acted. Serbian and Croatian leadership with Slobodan Milošević and Radovan Karadžić, respectively, pushed for hostilities all when the leadership in Bosnia with Alija Izetbegović and parts of the international community as Germany did little to avert the coming disaster.

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   6. Chapter 9. Epilogue: Beyond 1992

      • Open Access

      Håkan Gunneriusson

      Abstract

      The empirical example was to show just the initial years of the war, but a few things can be said of the last years of the war, without being conclusive on the matter. As war went on the violence escalated and the escalation gave way for even more violence. The logic of practice continued to change as the structuring field continued to be restructured. Without going into details it is worth mentioning that Milošević, who already had lost Serbian support, lost even more as he tried to balance between the international and national arenas at the same time. At the same time less international prolific actors could go full out on the national arena in support of Serbian interest.

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   7. Chapter 10. Conclusions of the Empirical Example

      • Open Access

      Håkan Gunneriusson

      Abstract

      The discussion above demonstrates that it is possible to acquire useful knowledge for military purposes by studying the prelude to the conflict in Bosnia from a field theory perspective. As seen the method here is more the historian’s than one which one would need on a contemporary example. But the case here was to present the use of the theory, not of the methods. As has been said earlier, one can use almost any kind of method when one works with field theory.

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   8. Chapter 11. Post Scriptum: Hybrid Warfare and the Yugoslavian Blueprint

      • Open Access

      Håkan Gunneriusson

      Abstract

      With the recent development of Russian international politics, it is of interest to revisit Yugoslavia and discuss the lessons learnt there in the light of hybrid warfare. The events in Yugoslavia in the 1990s resemble in parts to what has been described as hybrid warfare in Ukraine in 2014–2017.

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4. Backmatter

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