MACMILLAN Before Military Intervention: Upstream Stabilisation in Theory and Practice

This book explores the natures of recent stabilisation efforts and global upstream threats. As prevention is always cheaper than the crisis of state collapse or civil war, the future character of conflict will increasingly involve upstream stabilisation operations. However, the unpredictability and variability of state instability requires governments and militaries to adopt a diversity of approach, conceptualisation and vocabulary. Offering perspectives from theory and practice, the chapters in this collection provide crucial insight into military roles and capabilities, opportunities, risks and limitations, doctrine, strategy and tactics, and measures of effect relevant to operations in upstream environments. This volume will appeal to researchers and practitioners seeking to understand historical and current conflict. Review “A timely and important examination of the changing nature, purposes and politics of conflict and intervention in the entirely new conditions which confront us in the world today.” (Lord Howell of Guildford, Chairman of the House of Lords International Relations Committee, UK)  “Conflict prevention is an uncertain business. It requires good timing, excellent understanding, and no small amount of good luck. Tim Clack and Rob Johnson’s volume gives us an excellent starting point for knowing the challenges we must address, where we must prepare, and what we must avoid. I recommend it for all those engaged in the theoretical and the practical side of this work.” (General Sir David Capewell, Former Commander of Joint Operations, UK)  “In an age of growing instability alongside a reluctance to engage in ‘post-conflict stabilization,’ it is wise to take an increasing interest in engaging ahead of conflict―this valuable book presents both practitioners and researchers with an excellent smorgasbord of insights.” (Major-General Andrew Sharpe CBE, Director, Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research (CHACR), UK) From the Back Cover This book explores the natures of recent stabilisation efforts and global upstream threats. As prevention is always cheaper than the crisis of state collapse or civil war, the future character of conflict will increasingly involve upstream stabilisation operations. However, the unpredictability and variability of state instability requires governments and militaries to adopt a diversity of approach, conceptualisation and vocabulary. Offering perspectives from theory and practice, the chapters in this collection provide crucial insight into military roles and capabilities, opportunities, risks and limitations, doctrine, strategy and tactics, and measures of effect relevant to operations in upstream environments. This volume will appeal to researchers and practitioners seeking to understand historical and current conflict. Timothy Clack is Fellow and Lecturer of St Peter’s College and Senior Research Fellow of the Changing Character of War Centre, University of Oxford, UK. Robert Johnson is Director of the Changing Character of War Centre and Senior Research Fellow of Pembroke College, University of Oxford, UK. About the Author Timothy Clack is Fellow and Lecturer of St Peter’s College and Senior Research Fellow of the Changing Character of War Centre, University of Oxford, UK. Robert Johnson is Director of the Changing Character of War Centre and Senior Research Fellow of Pembroke College, University of Oxford, UK.