The China Choice: Why America Should Share Power   Written by: Hugh White,  Black Inc, 2012,  ISBN: 9780199684717, 208 pp Reviewed by: Andrew O’Neil, Professor in the School of Government and International Relations at Griffith University and Director of the Griffith Asia Institute After a period in which numerous observers claimed that relations between states were becoming a secondary consideration with the rise of globalisa- tion and its symptoms such as jihadist terrorism, geopolitics has returned to …

Abstract The evolving lethality and accuracy of weapon systems in the battlespace should drive dismounted combat platoons to continually modify Tactics, Techniques and Procedures in order to mitigate threats. Implementation of Manoeuvre Support Section down to Company and Platoon level combined with improving communication systems offer new opportunities for dismounted combat platoons to disperse and manoeuvre sub units far more effectively than ever previously seen. This article examines the ways in which …

Abstract The RAA role in Afghanistan provided an opportunity to demonstrate and refine the artillery capability after decades of doubt over its future. Its Afghanistan experiences have enabled the RAA to evolve, refining, enhancing and reinforcing what is a crucial role. With the imminent conclusion to the Australian commitment in that theatre, the RAA will reconstitute and reorientate towards providing an invaluable capability for Army in future conflicts; this capability, however, may be entirely …

Abstract The current landscape of military operational thinking is dominated by the complex warf- ighting paradigm that embodies a shift to war among the people . In such wars, the precise application of force to produce effects — targeting — is critical to achieving military objec- tives while supporting civil aims and avoiding undesired outcomes. Contemporary warfare challenges the practice of targeting and the philosophy of its purpose, promoting a shift from targeting for effect to targeting to learn . …

Abstract Viewed superficially, the 2005 London bombings appeared to be a fairly standard, albeit devastating terrorist attack. However, post-blast investigations pointed to the use of a potent new weapon in the modern terrorist’s arsenal — organic peroxide explosives (OPEs). Through analysis of the London bombings and other key incidents in which these explosives have been used, this article will reveal a gradual but unequivocal increase in the manufacture and employment of OPEs in explosive attacks. In …

The past decade has been one of constant change and adaptation for the Australian Army. Since the deployment to East Timor in 1999, the Australian Army has been constantly deployed in a range of different environments on several continents. The resulting tempo has challenged our personnel, training and material resources. While this keeps Army busy, there is an ongoing need to ensure that the Army keeps its eye on the future. The threats to the forces deployed on operations are not static in nature. New …

Abstract As the Australian Army begins a transition from a decade abroad it is timely to ask what we know about its officer culture, how that has been moulded by operational deployments and whether the Army officer corps is ready for the challenges ahead. This article argues that egalitarianism, the ‘natural soldier myth’ and bureaucracy in the Australian Army combine to create an officer culture in which excellence and professionalism are not respected and officers are overly keen to minimise the rank …

‘In THAT direction,’ the Cat said, waving its right paw round, ‘lives a Hatter: and in THAT direction,’ waving the other paw, ‘lives a March Hare. Visit either you like: they’re both mad.’ ‘But I don’t want to go among mad people,’ Alice remarked. ‘Oh, you can’t help that,’ said the Cat: ‘we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.’ ‘How do you know I’m mad?’ said Alice. ‘You must be,’ said the Cat, ‘or you wouldn’t have come here.’ - Lewis Carroll 1 The Australian Army — our army — has its own culture, just …

Abstract The reality of service life for gay soldiers is far from straightforward. 2 What is valued and cherished by some, such as a hyper-masculine culture, excludes others. For some, being gay is no more significant than possessing other characteristics, while for others, being gay singles them out for bullying and harassment: it seems there are no common denominators. Despite legislative and policy reform, incidents of bullying and harassment call into question the cultural attitudes that underpin our …

Abstract For some time, the Australian Army has been moving from Huntington’s institutional culture model, characterised by a sense of service above self, to Janowitz’s more occupational model which is defined in terms of market principles. This shift from one cultural model to another is a result of both internal and external pressures and is reflected in what is broadly referred to as Army’s ‘culture’. This article uses the twin issues of recruitment and retention to measure this shift and provide some …