Occupational Hazards by David M Edelstein
Edelstein elucidates the occasional successes of military occupations and their more frequent failures through 26 cases since 1815 in which an outside power seized control of a territory where the occupying party had no long-term claim on sovereignty.Occupational Hazards is one of those rare books that seamlessly blends theory, historical case studies, and policy relevanceFor all of those reasons, this is a very good book. I really hope that it attracts the attention it deserves from U.S. policymakers, the ones who most need to do so before they embark on future military occupations.
* Perspectives on Politics *Military occupations are inherently risky affairs. According to David Edelstein, only seven of the twenty-six international military occupations conducted since 1815 have succeeded. Occupational Hazards attempts to explain not only this high failure rate for military occupations but also what distinguishes a successful occupation from an unsuccessful one. Given the challenges the United States faces in its recent occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, this broad analysis is a welcome addition to the literature.
* Military Review *This is an excellent work that is also a groundbreaking piece of scholarship. Occupation, especially after a dictatorial regime, often gives rise to nationalistic and ethnic groups who may have been oppressed and have incentive to organize and resist foreign troops. Also, without internal controls such groups may declare war on one another, hence the probability of civil strife and war. Therefore, chaos usually is the result because the occupiers want to impose new political institutions and cultural values. This is a powerful work that should be required reading in all of the military academies and war colleges. Policymakers in the Bush administration may have learned a thing or two had the book been available five or six years ago. Policymakers of the present and future should put it on their must-read list. Essential.
* Choice *David M. Edelstein is Assistant Professor in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service and the Department of Government at Georgetown University. In addition, he is a core faculty member in Georgetown's Security Studies Program and Center for Peace and Security Studies.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780801476242 |
| ISBN 10 | 0801476240 |
| Title | Occupational Hazards |
| Author | David M Edelstein |
| Series | Cornell Studies In Security Affairs |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Cornell University Press |
| Year published | 2010-04-15 |
| Number of pages | 248 |
| Prizes | Winner of A 2009 Choice Magazine "Outstanding Academic Title. |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |