Culture, Conflict, and Counterinsurgency

"The editors and contributors to this volume make a convincing case that culture matters a great deal in the outcome of insurgencies and counterinsurgency warfare. Although this book has probably come too late to change the outcome of the conflict in Afghanistan, perhaps it is timely enough to educate the next generation of military leaders, who most certainly will see this type of war again."-Peter Mansoor, H-Diplo "This book's cogent and insightful essays, by a multi-disciplinary group of scholars and combat soldiers, shows how culture shapes insurgencies, especially in Afghanistan. Years of experience gained among Afghanistan's diverse peoples and unforgiving mountains, as well as through stateside analysis, infuse these essays, valuable reading for anyone concerned with Afghanistan's future."-David Isby, author of Afghanistan: Graveyard of Empires "Culture, Conflict, and Counterinsurgency illustrates how much wiser parts of the US security establishment are in the wake of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Technological prowess and military fire-power cannot insulate the US from the need for profound cultural knowledge of contexts where its military operates. This volume lays out how to acquire, structure and apply that knowledge."-Michael Semple, Visiting Professor, Centre for Conflict Transformation and Social Justice, Queen's University, Belfast